Quote of the Day by Mimi Kalinda

March 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“We have to dream bigger dreams for ourselves and believe that we have the potential to make those dreams come true.”

Mimi Kalinda, founder of Africommunications Group (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Tatenda Rungisa

January 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“… the choices we make on a daily basis can either bring us closer to, or further from, our dreams.”

Tatenda Rungisa, co-founder of Twin Connect Solutions (Zimbabwe)

Dream followers

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane, founder of Isabella Estetica & Cosmeticos

A few days ago I had a conversation with someone which reminded me why I started an entrepreneurial journey. During the chat, I mentioned how talented the person was and the brilliant ideas she had. Interestingly, I asked what was keeping her from starting a business and, as I predicted, she gave me all the excuses you can imagine, but only three of them stood out.

Entrepreneur Advice from Lilly Alfonso: Know yourself

October 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Know yourself...

"... it is important to know yourself. Understand and believe in your dreams. Give yourself room to research and plan for whatever you are dreaming of venturing into. Giving up isn’t the only way if things get tough ahead. Challenges build you up, and so does criticism. Failures make you unique, so use them and turn them into positives."

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Entrepreneur Advice from Lizl Naude: Pursue your dreams now

October 7, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa) — **Lizl Naude**, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)

Pursue your dreams now....

"Maybe some of us think it is too late to take on our dreams. We fear that too much time has passed, or we worry what others may think. We scurry around daily to make ends meet and put off our wild dreams for later. How about pursuing them now? How about forgetting the birth pains and scars of our entrepreneurial battles and venturing into new, innovative ground?"

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Geraldine Eve Kasambara

August 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

"I am working for a dream that is becoming a reality."

Geraldine Eve Kasambara, founder of 143 Communications (Zimbabwe)

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)

Entrepreneur Advice from Devotha Ntuke Minzi: Hold onto your dream

December 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Devotha Ntuke Minzi, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania)

Hold onto your dream....

"The dream - that burning urge inside that drives your momentum. This is critical. If you don’t have it, it is very easy to give up. Doing business and for that matter being your own boss, is not easy."

Devotha Ntuke Minzi, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania)

Quote of the Day by Carrol Boyes

October 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“My dream was to be an artist and to earn enough money to survive from my art … I realized that I would have to risk it at some point, or end up spending the rest of my life wondering whether I could make it”

Carrol Boyes, founder & CEO Carrol Boyes (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Judith Msonthi

March 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Do not be afraid of your dreams, everything you are dreaming of is going to come true. The catch is, you just have to really want it.”

- Judith Msonthi, founder of Judie Emcee (Malawi)

Quote of the Day by Evandra Cossa

January 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Sometimes life is about risking it all for a dream that no one can see but you.”

- Evandra Cossa, founder of Ezee Money (Mozambique)

Quote of the Day from Cristina Margarida Rocha

January 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Start small, dream big, do it with passion and be resilient.”

- Cristina Margarida Rocha, founder of Daisy Social (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Messaynesh Geberesilassie: Follow your dreams

October 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Messaynesh Geberesilassie, founder of Mela — **Messaynesh Geberesilassie**, founder of Mela

Follow your dreams...

"... follow your dreams. It can be hard and it takes time and energy. If you have faith and believe in yourself you will find a way. Talk to people, share your idea, you never know what happens next."

- Messaynesh Geberesilassie is the founder of Mela, a small scale, family-owned enterprise providing employment to a handful of artisans who produce beautiful traditionally hand woven 100% Ethiopian cotton scarfs and leather products. She is passionate about creating viable markets for artisan crafted goods in order to preserve the ancient traditions of craftsmanship.

Quote of the Day by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

September 4, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda) — **Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka**, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda)

“Follow your dreams and the rest will follow. Being a social entrepreneur is often a journey of hills and valleys, and very fulfilling if you always keep your goals in sight.”

- Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gorilla Conservation Coffee (GCCoffee) established in 2015, which is a social enterprise of a 14-year-old award winning NGO and non-profit, called Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) that promotes biodiversity conservation by enabling people, wildlife and livestock to coexist through improving their health and livelihoods in and around protected areas in Africa. CTPH implements and champions integrated approaches to conservation, health and community development, with field programs at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas, and in other protected areas in Africa. GCCoffee promotes livelihoods of coffee farmers around Bwindi reducing their dependence on the gorillas' habitat to meet their basic needs for food and fuel wood. A donation for every coffee bag sold to primarily LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) consumers is given to CTPH to continue the critical health and conservation programs.

Quote of the Day by Eugénia Langa

July 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Eugénia Langa, founder of Nweba (Mozambique) — **Eugénia Langa**, founder of Nweba (Mozambique)

"No dream is impossible to realize. With faith, determination and persistence, anyone can achieve what they want."

- Eugénia Langa is the founder of Nweba, the first Mozambican company dedicated to Procurement and Logistics for Construction. Her main service areas cover Project Management, Contract Management, Material Supply or Service Provision, Permits Consulting, Logistics, and Procurement Training. From a young age Eugénia was enthralled by the idea of seeing man form structures larger than himself on the basis of using calculation and science. This fascination with science led her to study Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic University. She went on to work in the construction sector for 10 years before launching Nweba (which means means Persistence in Zulu) in 2015.

Entrepreneur Advice from Judith Owigar: Do not stop

July 14, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Do not stop....

"Dream big, start small, start now. Just because you're not where you want to be does not mean you should give up. As long as you do not stop you will progress. I think this journey has developed some courage that I never thought I had within me."

- Judith Owigar is a coder, blogger and technologist; and the co-founder of Akirachix, a revolution for African women and technology. This social entrepreneur who uses technology as a tool to empower youth and young women, believes that exposure, education and use of technology can change the world. Through Akirachix she sought to increase the number of women who create technological solutions and in effect change the perception of technology by women. Judith is currently an ICT Advisor to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

Entrepreneur Advice for Wacy Zacarias: Dare to dream

April 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Wacy Zacarias, founder of Karingana Wa Karingana Textiles (Mozambique) — **Wacy Zacarias**, founder of Karingana Wa Karingana Textiles (Mozambique)

Dare to dream....

"Dare to dream and start your business, you are absolutely capable. We need your vision, we need your dreams, please bring them to life. Africa needs you, the world needs you. Let us women be the unapologetic leaders of African growth."

- Wacy Zacarias is the founder of Karingana Wa Karingana Textiles in Mozambique, a company that designs custom prints, develops artisanal textiles, produces a customisable online print catalog, creates surface design and print textiles for fashion and homeware industry, and also provides supply chain management services. Wacy is passionate about designing luxury African textiles, challenging the status quo, and giving a voice and a platform to African artists to tell their stories through their textiles.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sharon Sinclair - You deserve the dream

December 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sharon Sinclair, founder of Chandramala (South Africa) — **Sharon Sinclair**, founder of Chandramala (South Africa)

You deserve the dream....

"Follow your passion, your instinct, surround yourself only with people who inspire your dream. Never give up, no matter what, you deserve the dream, otherwise you would not have the dream. Love Life!"

- Sharon Sinclair is the founder of Chandramala in South Africa, a Mindful Business Consultancy, bringing a holistic approach to business through people understanding and development. Sharon has 22 years experience within the Financial, Human Resources & Recruitment industries, all on a senior management level. Sharon follows a harmoniuous flow within Chandramala, looking always at business from a global and holistic approach.

Entrepreneur Advice from Rozanne Collings: Chase your dreams

November 8, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rozanne Collings, founder of Chillalas (South Africa) — **Rozanne Collings**, founder of Chillalas (South Africa)

Chase your dreams....

"Don’t listen to logic. If you know that there is more to you than your 9-5, more to you than just being a mommy or a wife, then abandon logic and chase your dreams with all you have. Don’t let the naysayers kill your dreams!"

- Rozanne Collings is the founder of Chillalas in South Africa, a company that produces fresh, home-made and healthy chilli paste. Rozanne is a passionate and talented home cook who took her love of spice and turned it into a business that is inspiring other cooks who appreciate the culinary power of the chilli. Her new chilli paste brand Chillalas is livening up kitchens and meals across South Africa.