Entrepreneur Advice from Christelle Kwizera: Listen to our inner voice

November 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda) — **Christelle Kwizera**, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda)

Listen to our inner voice....

"My biggest piece of advice is to listen to our inner voice and do what we think is good for us. As women we tend to hear others over ourselves, but in the end during our hard times we only have ourselves left. So make sure you are not being misguided by others or letting other people's comments reduce your self-esteem. One more thing is to surround yourself with other succesful women and to find role models without necessarily trying to fit into a masculine mould."

Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (South Africa)

South Africa’s women entrepreneurs get a high-powered start to the Lioness Lean In event in Centurion

November 6, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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At the final Lioness Lean In event of the year for South Africa, women entrepreneurs were given a unique opportunity to let off some steam and experience the thrill of adrenaline pumping, high-speed advanced driving, courtesy of impact partners Volkswagen. It was a great way of starting the morning’s programme with something a little different.

Mavis Nduchwa, a serial, impact driven agripreneur in Botswana empowering local farmers to be the solution to hunger and poverty

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mavis Nduchwa, founder of Chabana Farms (Botswana) — **Mavis Nduchwa**, founder of Chabana Farms (Botswana)

A growing interest from consumers in knowing where their food comes from, how it is produced, and who is producing it, inspired serial agripreneur Mavis Nduchwa, founder of Chabana Farms, to create a solution. Today, her endeavours in agribusiness are making a real difference to people and lives all along the value chain.

Michelle Smith, a South African entrepreneur creating the perfect gifting service for all occasions

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Smith, founder of Woven Bark Studios (South Africa) — **Michelle Smith**, founder of Woven Bark Studios (South Africa)

If you have ever struggled to find the perfect, personalized gift for your corporate clients or loved ones, then help is at hand. Michelle Smith, founder of Woven Bark Studios, is creating beautiful, thoughtfully curated gift boxes and gifting experiences that leave lasting feel-good memories. The added bonus is that each of the gift products is sourced from local artisans in South Africa, creating business opportunities that really make a difference to other entrepreneurs’ lives.

Awards and Accolades: Margaret Hirsch 2018 Women in Business Awards recognize South Africa’s leading women entrepreneurs

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

The Margaret Hirsch 2018 Regional Women in Business Achiever of the Year Awards Evening took place at Emperor’s Palace in Gauteng, South Africa on 2 November. This prestigious event saw over 500 people, including top entrepreneurs and business women from around Gauteng attending the event to see who would be announced as the Regional and Branch winners. The event was co-sponsored by GRUNDIG, one of Hirsch's Homestore's most valued suppliers. Guest Speaker at the event was Melanie Hawken, the founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa and a Champion of Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs.

100 Lionesses: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder of Ethiopian homegrown coffee brand Garden of Coffee, launches the brand in China

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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Entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is on a mission, to encourage consumers around the world to taste hand-roasted Ethiopian coffee. Her company, Garden of Coffee, produces a brand that uses artisanal methods to source, process, roast, and package Ethiopia’s legendary beans. This month sees the brand venturing into an exciting and potentially vast new market, China, traditionally a tea loving market but one whose taste buds are now developing a love for coffee.

Imperfect Courage: Live a Life of Purpose by Leaving Comfort and Going Scared by Jessica Honegger

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

In her book Imperfect Courage, Jessica Honegger, founder of the popular fair trade jewelry brand Noonday Collection, shares her story of starting the rapidly growing business that impacts over 4,500 artisans in vulnerable communities across the globe. She invites readers on a journey of transformation, challenging them to trade their comfort zones for a life of impact and adventure.

We should be chasers in business

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation

There are so many things I witness every day on my way to work. I see the same people rushing to work late. I see school children excited and almost dancing their way to school transport services. I also see ladies fixing their make up in vehicles by the robots. What struck my attention was when I saw two different sets of people - the sellers and the beggars in the streets.

Grow Your Brain

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho, PhD

Did you know that your brain is constantly rewiring itself? That’s what neuroplasticity is all about. Use this knowledge to grow your brain! Psychologist and researcher Dr. Carol Dweck coined the “growth versus fixed mindset” framework more than 10 years ago. This concept allows you to train your brain to be a better problem solver by adapting more of a growth mindset.

Entrepreneur Advice from Zainab Ashadu: Organic growth is what you want

October 31, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Zainab Ashadu, founder of Zashadu Bags, Nigeria — **Zainab Ashadu**, founder of Zashadu Bags, Nigeria

Growing your business organically is the way to go....

“In terms of expansion, I strongly believe in organic growth as there is nothing more motivating or satisfying… The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to dream big, but start small.”

Zainab Ashadu, founder of Zashadu (Nigeria)

100 Lionesses: Divine Ndhlukula celebrates the 20th anniversary of Securico in Zimbabwe

October 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

hZimbabwe’s multi-award winning security industry market leader, Securico, founded by Divine Ndhlukula, celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, a real milestone in the company’s history. Speaking at the company’s special anniversary celebrations at its Harare headquarters, Divine said: “The last 20 years have been very exciting for me, for all of us and for our clients and our families. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary and 20 years of quality and excellence, we are also unveiling our new look.”

Victorine SARR, a tenacious entrepreneur building an organic beauty brand for women of colour in Senegal

October 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Victorine Sarr, founder of Lyvv Cosmetics (Senegal)

For many women, putting a splash of colour onto their lips gives an instant feeling of confidence and glamour. In Senegal, one woman entrepreneur is building a proudly African beauty brand that is creating beautiful organic lipsticks specially designed for women of colour. Victorine Sarr, founder of Lyvv Cosmetics, is making women feel and look good, whilst also being kind to the environment.

LIONESS COLAB: Dounia Home X AphroChic

October 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dounia Home & AphroChic wanted to bring something special to the world, a lighting collection that is a true marriage between form, function and craftsmanship. The Amur collection, inspired, designed and handcrafted in the ancient city of Amur Akush, today known as Marrakech.

The Suitcase Entrepreneur by Natalie Sisson

October 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

In her No #1 Bestseller, The Suitcase Entrepreneur, author Natalie Sisson teaches you how to package your skills to earn enough money to work and live anywhere, build a profitable online business you love, and live life according to your rules. If you’ve always thought that running a profitable business from your laptop, and having the freedom to do what you want when you want was just a pipe dream, then think again.

Thembe Khumalo, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur helping small businesses to grow their brands through great communication.

October 27, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Thembe Khumalo, founder of Brandbuilder (Zimbabwe)

Behind every successful business is a great brand that connects products and services to those all important customers. But building a great brand takes hard work and specialist expertise, and in Zimbabwe, that’s where Thembe Khumalo and her company Brandbuilder come in. They bring 20 years of specialist expertise to any client brief and make the process of brand building a whole lot easier.

Own your Anxiety

October 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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by Lori Milner, author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

The equation, ANXIETY = Uncertainty x Powerlessness, comes from Chip Conley’s insightful book ‘Emotional Equations’. Chip believes that the product of what you don’t know (uncertainty) and what you can’t control (powerlessness) creates the emotional condition of anxiety, which is greater than the sum of its parts.

Are you an Ant Queen?

October 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser, founder of PicketFence Life

The wonderful, crazy city buzz is a place that energizes most of us, whether it’s New York, London, Milan, or Jozi, and many more cities in Africa. High tempo, people doing their things, and life goes on and on and on… Very much similar to an ant city.

Quote of the Day by Eva Muraya

October 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Eva Muraya, founder and CEO of Brand Strategy and Design (Kenya)

“Who is going to feed Africa? Who will ensure Africans are educated? Across the board, the entrepreneurs are the ones carrying this continent to the next season.”

Eva Muraya, founder and CEO of Brand Strategy and Design (Kenya)

Entrepreneur Advice from Hend El Sherbini: Trust your gut

October 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Hend El Sherbini, CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH) (Egypt)

Trust your gut….

"Don’t listen to what people are saying, because they’re probably jealous. You have to have a lot of self-confidence…. You’re not a second-rate citizen. Trust your gut.”

Hend El Sherbini, founder & CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH) (Egypt)

Benji Coetzee and Empty Trips scoop a number of exciting awards for their innovation

October 23, 2018 Melanie Hawken

(L) Benji Coetzee, founder & ceo of Empty Trips (South Africa)

Awards and Accolades

This is an exciting time for South African entrepreneur Benji Coetzee and her company Empty Trips, which is on a mission to make cargo transportation more eco and cost efficient. The company has just received some valued recognition through a number of exciting global awards.