Lebitso Ramphore, a South African entrepreneur building an organic hair and beauty brand that harnesses the natural power of shea butter

January 18, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lebitso Ramphore, founder of Ostibel Africa (South Africa) — **Lebitso Ramphore**, founder of Ostibel Africa (South Africa)

For all those with skin challenges, help is at hand with a new organic skin and haircare brand from South Africa. Ostibel Africa, founded by serial entrepreneur Lebitso Ramphore, is giving hope to all those who battle dry skin and hair and who are looking for a natural, environmentally friendly solution.

Aphiwe Madlavu, a South African event planner creating memorable eventing experiences for all occasions

January 18, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Aphiwe Madlavu, founder of AP Royalty Events Management (South Africa)

Harnessing your practical experience and a particular skills-set is always a good foundation for a business. At AP Royalty Events Management in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, entrepreneur Aphiwe Madlavu is using her knowledge and expertise in the field of event management to build a business with great potential.

Quote of the Day by Susan Barnes

January 18, 2019 Melanie Hawken

"Hold onto your dream. It’s your dream, you can achieve it."

Sue Barnes, founder of Project Dignity and Subz Pads (South Africa)

LIONESS LAUNCH: Sukha Yogi Retreats announce a special launch event on 20 March 2019

January 13, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Sukha Yogi Retreats will be hosting a special launch event on 20 March 2019 - an all-inclusive Yoga Retreat at Victoria Falls (Session I) Mar 20, 2019 – Mar 24, 2019. Join an exciting, yet relaxing yoga retreat at the breath-taking, all-inclusive Zambezi Sands Resort, an ecotourist destination, which is a part of the Imvelo Safari Lodges in Zimbabwe, Africa.

100 Lionesses Project: Tabitha Karanja, founder of Keroche Breweries - Africa's gender and monopoly busting brewer

January 13, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya) — **Tabitha Karanja**, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya)

Tabitha Karanja is founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries. She is one of Kenya's leading entrepreneurs, a remarkable trailblazer and an example of a woman made good against all the odds. Tabitha chose to venture where none before her had dared. She took on an 87-year-old business monopoly and entered an industry with a deeply entrenched male gender stereotype. Tabitha broke the mould to become Kenya’s first home-grown beer and alcoholic drink manufacturer. Today, her company's state-of-the-art production facility is targeting 20% of the Kenyan market.

Mandisa Makubalo, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help clients reshape their wasteful cost structures in business

January 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Mandisa Makubalo, founder of Rehoboth Waste Management Services (South Africa)

In South Africa, many companies find it a challenge to manage an efficient business that doesn’t at the same time comprise on customer service. Mandisa Makubalo, founder of Rehoboth Waste Management Services, is building a business that helps companies to address their wasteful cost structures and achieve a competitive advantage in the market place.

Elsa Chissano, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a passion for creating special occasion events

January 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Elsa Chissano, founder of Katike Serviços (Mozambique)

Those special occasions in life and in business deserve special events with which to celebrate, and in Mozambique, Katike Serviços founded by entrepreneur Elsa Chissano is bringing her clients’ event dreams to reality.

10 Ways To Become A Better Leader in 2019

January 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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by Thato Mokhothu-Ramohlanka founder of MR Consulting

It’s a new year and what better time to invest in yourself and to become a better leader in business. Here are ten ways to kickstart that process.

Dusty pink

January 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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by Brigitte Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Would you believe I have been creating dusty pink bridesmaids dresses since the inception of Roka Roko? My second group of bridesmaids in 2014 was a chiffon and lace dusty pink dress design; and that experience was terrible. Well, not because of the colour, but you can imagine I have had a few scary attachments to this colour. I have had a love hate relationship with the colour dusty pink for a while now. I think it is because as a creative you come to accept that things change and you expect the world to move with you…well no!

Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose by Jean Case

January 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

In her brand new book, Be Fearless, renowned philanthropist, investor, and technology pioneer Jean Case brings to life the five principles common to the people and organizations that change the world. This book is a call to action for those seeking to live extraordinary lives and bring about transformational change.

The Execution Factor by Kim Perell

January 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Serial entrepreneur, Kim Perell, author of The Execution Factor, first made headlines for her amazing transformative story of a startup entrepreneur to an internationally renowned CEO and prominent angel investor. From her modest beginnings at her kitchen table, she went from broke to multi-millionaire in just a few short years. Today, she has investments in over 70 startups many of which have been sold to some of the largest Fortune 500 companies. Now, in The Execution Factor, she offers indispensable wisdom as she shares her personal journey and proven program for achieving success.

Larissa Pienaar, an entrepreneur and co-founder of an innovative all-woman app design and development company in South Africa

January 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Larissa Pienaar, co-founder of Elemant Applications (South Africa) — **Larissa Pienaar**, co-founder of Elemant Applications (South Africa)

Find a problem and develop a unique solution that will fix it - that’s often the starting point for any business, especially in the tech sector. For the all women team behind South African startup business, Element Applications, their goal in life and in business is to develop smart apps that will solve a range of challenges for other businesses and organisations. Their first foray into the commercial app space sees them creating a much-needed solution for salon owners who need to manage their businesses more efficiently.

Looking back

January 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions

As I sit and reflect, I look back on both the challenges and the blessings of 2018 and realize that the challenges are a given, but choosing to celebrate the blessings is a choice. I encourage everyone to reflect on and celebrate both your big and small victories.

O Medo de Vencer. The Fear of Winning.

January 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Nereyda Ah Hoy, writer, author and founder of Indika platform and digital magazine

Falhar é um dos maiores medos do Ser Humano. Mas já pensou que há pessoas que têm medo é de VENCER?

Failure is one of the greatest fears of the Human Being. But have you ever thought that there are people who are afraid of WINS? The fear of winning is not only a reality, but it is also one of the biggest obstacles to people's success.

100 LIONESSES: Featuring Kofo Akinkugbe, innovator and smart card technology market leader

January 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Kofo Akinkugbe is recognised globally for her entrepreneurial success story and strong business track record. She is founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd a market leader in smart card technology and digital security. SecureID is a world-class manufacturing facility with the only smart card production plant in West Africa and one of only six on the continent. This company serves 16 countries across Africa and is fully certified by VISA, Verve and MasterCard. In 2012, Kofo won the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Mature Business Award.

Elizabeth Crotty, an entrepreneur in South Africa helping global clients relocate to Australia to start new lives

December 30, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Elizabeth Crotty, founder of Aurora Migration Consulting (South Africa)

Relocating to a new country is a daunting prospect for many people, and for those interested in making Australia their new homes, it can seem particularly challenging to make the move. That’s where entrepreneur Elizabeth Crotty, founder of Aurora Migration Consulting, comes in. She has created a one-stop-shop to help any would-be relocator to Australia with all the fine details.

Temilade Adegbite, a Nigerian shoemaker creating bespoke footwear with a social impact

December 30, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Temilade Adegbite, founder of Right Legs (Nigeria)

Everyone loves great shoes that both look good and feel great, but for many school-children in Nigeria, having such shoes is simply not an option. For entrepreneur shoemaker, Temilade Adegbite, founder of Right Legs, her passion for making great shoes combined with her desire to make a difference to these young lives, was the inspiration for her business.

LIONESS LAUNCH: African Queen Magazine Online launches in Zimbabwe and globally

December 30, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Tofara Lindsay Chokera, founder of African Queen Zimbabwe

African Queen Zimbabwe has already built a reputation as a supplier of high quality African Print Fabric and Finished Products. But it is now launching an exciting new online publication, African Queen Magazine, which is aimed at motivating women and young people to start and grow their businesses online. The company is also offering advertising services in the magazine. TofaraOnline (Internet Marketing Coaching) also aims at assisting small businesses on strategies to grow their businesses online. These are exciting times for African Queen Zimbabwe.

True Empowerment - from order, right through to delivery and payment

December 30, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions

A big thank you to all those corporates who had the courage to give SMMEs a chance this year. It has made a difference in profits, in creating more jobs and sustainability. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is a mutually beneficial relationship for all concerned when the SMME has all the right credentials and also provides high quality services and products. I’ve been in workshops where we are taught on how to do business with corporates, and I think it is equally important to teach the corporates on how to do business with entrepreneurs.

"Hold onto your dream. It’s your dream, you can achieve it."

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