5 Ways a Strong ESG Proposition Can Create Brand Value

August 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is officially no longer a buzzword like most people thought that it was for a really long time. ESG is a necessary factor for companies and businesses striving to succeed and create lasting brand value. According to Forbes, companies with strong ESG ratings have outperformed the market by an average of 3.5% per year over the past decade. Additionally, BusinessWire reported that 85% of millennials say they are more likely to buy from companies that are committed to ESG.

Put on your own oxygen mask first, before assisting others

August 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

…And so the Olympics closed for another four years. Checking for the last time the brilliant coverage from Rebecca Eliot and her tireless team at ProTouch™️ Africa here, shows as she says, “The Paris 2024 Olympics marked a historic moment for Africa, as athletes from across the continent delivered their best performance yet on the global stage. With a total of 39 medals, Africa’s talent and determination shone brightly, leaving a lasting legacy and filling the continent with immense pride. The time is now to start investing in the continent’s top talent ahead of #LA2028 and beyond!”

Celebrating South Africa’s game-changing women entrepreneurs in growth mode and creating local impact and jobs

August 18, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Event Report

As part of celebrations for National Women’s Month in South Africa, Lionesses of Africa’s latest Lioness Business Agility Webinar took place on 14 August 2024, with 120 women entrepreneurs joining the event online. Once again hosted in partnership with Absa, the webinar focused on the theme of “Celebrating game-changing women entrepreneurs in South Africa who are in growth mode and creating local impact and jobs.” It’s an important topic and Lionesses of Africa believes in the need to recognize and support the work and commitment of women entrepreneurs who are building sustainable businesses that are creating much-needed jobs and driving economic growth in their communities.

New Lioness Playbook launched to help women entrepreneurs manage their cash flow

August 15, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Playbook Launch

Maintaining a strong cash flow is key to business success - it’s the oxygen that keeps it alive. However, many entrepreneurs find it harder to achieve good cash flow management in practice. That’s why Lionesses of Africa, a social impact innovation business with a fast-growing community of 1.8 million women entrepreneurs across the African continent, has responded to the challenge with the launch of a new Managing Your Cashflow Playbook. The new Playbook, sponsored by Absa, is the latest in a series of digital publications produced by Lionesses of Africa, providing practical business advice and insights delivered directly by leading African women entrepreneurs selected from the Lionesses of Africa community.

The Power of Meditation and Spiritual Practices in Entrepreneurial Life

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, maintaining mental clarity, reducing stress, and boosting productivity are essential. A powerful way to achieve this balance is through meditation and other spiritual practices. Let’s explore how practices such as meditation, Ho'oponopono, and creative visualisation can transform your entrepreneurial journey, enhancing your well-being and success. I will also share personal experiences of how these practices have positively impacted my life and career.

5 Powerful Questions for Specific Situations

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho, PhD

As a leader, telling people what to do is easy. I love it. The only problem is it doesn't work. Asking questions engages the brain at a deeper level than simply listening. Questions also foster co-creation, build better relationships, and spark new ideas.

Are There Risks Associated with Real-Time Verifications?

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

We are often asked for real-time information when conducting background checks for clients, but with the rise of Artificial Intelligence and new global legislation pertaining to this, it is essential that companies understand the risks they face with this information.

Halfway there - ditch the hype, embrace the unlearning

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Zanele Njapha

We've all been there. January 1st rolls around, bursting with possibility. Our vision boards are plastered with dream vacations, career milestones, and that elusive "get-fit" goal. But by mid-year, that initial enthusiasm often fizzles. Life gets busy, unforeseen hurdles arise, and those resolutions start to feel like a distant memory.

The Family Secret: The Business and Franchise Owner's Guide to Building Generational Wealth by Kerri Harper-Howie

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Kerri Harper-Howie is an attorney, an entrepreneur, and now the author of a great new book, The Family Secret: The Business and Franchise Owner's Guide to Building Generational Wealth. She shares her inspirational story of how she travelled her very personal journey to success, entrepreneurship, and building a generational legacy.

“Those who are already entrenched, select people.”

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

As we write this the Olympics is moving into its second week, and African athletes are starting to lengthen their stride and impact more of the medal table. With such a fabulously varied and diversified continent, it is fascinating to note the way the medals flow from the south as we move from Swimming (Tatjana Smith setting the pool alight!) and 100 metres track (with both South Africa and Botswana in the final), up and into the Kenyan and Ethiopian dominance of middle and long distance running. Dominance it is too as Kenya took Gold and Silver in the 5000 metres (take a massive bow Beatrice Chebet - Gold, and Faith Kipyegon - Silver) and in the Men’s 10,000 track Uganda took an incredible Gold with a new World Record through the power that is Joshua Cheptegei, with Eithopia’s Berihu Aregawi just behind.

Refilwe Sebothoma, a visionary entrepreneur combating energy poverty by making LPG accessible in marginalised communities

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Refilwe Sebothoma, founder, Hakem Energies (South Africa)

Startup Story

Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of Hakem Energies in South Africa, continues to grow as a visionary entrepreneur with proven business savvy and qualities. Harnessing her business acumen, she founded her businesses in monopolized industries and established them as high-growth start-ups which are highly recognized and are now medium and large businesses. Her purpose is about impacting and empowering the lives of ordinary people through her work because she believes that when individuals are empowered and self-sufficient, they can go back to their communities and replicate that impact. She loves to spend time mentoring, coaching, and sharing her journey with upcoming entrepreneurs as part of her paying it forward. The business has created jobs for 9 local people.

Gisela Monteiro, a Mozambican natural cosmetics and artisanal perfume brand builder

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Gisela Leonor Monteiro, founder, Sublime Produtos Cosmeticos Naturais (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Gisela Leonor Monteiro is the founder of Sublime Produtos Cosmeticos Naturais in Mozambique, a business dedicated to the production of 100% natural cosmetics and artisanal perfumes. Having completed a hotel and tourism course as a student, she embarked on her entrepreneurship journey when she was 26 years old after taking cooking courses, cooking for events, and providing meals to companies close to her area of residence. She worked in several businesses, including catering, event promotion, culinary training, and clothing sales, always with the dream of becoming a businesswoman. Her entrepreneurial journey kickstarted after participating in business management and financial education courses, undertaking transformational training at IDEIALAB, the FEMTECH training program, FÓRMULA MILIONÁRIA and OFFICINA DE NEGÓCIOS with coach Arcelio Tivane.

Isabelle Kamariza, a nutrition security leader in Rwanda

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Solid’Africa, creating nutrition security for all by increasing the awareness, affordability, and availability of healthy meals in Rwanda’s vulnerable communities.

Isabelle Kamariza, founder and president of Solid'Africa, is a dedicated leader in addressing Rwanda's nutrition gap. Recognizing nutrition as a fundamental human right, she has developed a holistic approach to nutrition security, focusing on the entire process from farm to fork. By emphasizing local, sustainable agriculture, Isabelle tackles the root causes of nutrition insecurity. Through providing healthy and balanced meals to patients and students, building nutrition awareness, and dedicating efforts to agriculture, she addresses broader nutrition challenges. Isabelle's innovative approach shifts the conversation from food security to nutrition security, aiming to create lasting change in the lives of those most vulnerable. Solid’Africa launched in 2010 and today has created jobs for 211 employees.

Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt, an agri-techpreneur focused on improving traceability, transparency and sustainability in global food supply chains

August 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt, founder and CEO, Open Food Chain (The Netherlands)

Startup Story

Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt is the founder and CEO of Open Food Chain in The Netherlands. She is a seasoned and award-winning entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in agri-tech. Open Food Chain is focused on improving traceability, transparency and sustainability in global food supply chains. She founded the business 7 years ago and now employs about 20 people from diverse nationalities and backgrounds. Her vision is to bring the new internet to the food system and launch the first bitcoin for food.

Introducing the holistic Absa Women and Youth Proposition

August 4, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner

An interview with Khanya Matshikwe, Head: Proposition Enablement - SME Relationship Banking – Strategy & Customer Value Management, Absa

In this week’s edition of Lioness Weekender, we are focusing on how women entrepreneurs can get access to better financial advice and support for their businesses, to help them to grow and thrive. So to learn more, who better to speak to than Khanya Matshikwe, Head: Proposition Enablement - SME Relationship Banking – Strategy & Customer Value Management at Absa. Khanya will be a familiar face and name if you have attended one of the popular Lioness Business Agility webinars over the past year, where she provides great insight and information on what Absa is practically doing to support women-led SMEs.

Women and Entrepreneurship - How Do We Beat The Odds? by Chariel Dye

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Women and Entrepreneurship, “How Do We Beat The Odds?” written by Chariel Dye, is about the resilient entrepreneur woman of today. Many women of the new millenia have begun to step out of the era of employment and into the era of entrepreneurship. They understand the need to create financial freedom for themselves. This book is a platform that helps them to understand the steps needed to break through the barriers of entrepreneurship.

10 Questions to Harmonise Work, Life, and Time - Part 2

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

The real way to harmony is to interrupt the inner conflict between how you would like to spend your time and how you think you should be spending it. I am not here to provide a magic formula to create harmony with how you divide your time. However, I can gift you ten questions from Oliver Burkeman's book, Four Thousand Weeks, which provide some thought-provoking questions to help you determine what matters for you now. I say now because these choices will ultimately change based on life stage, circumstances and values, which are constantly evolving.

The Journey of Empowerment: From Single Mother to Successful Entrepreneur

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

The journey of a single mother to becoming a successful entrepreneur is a story of resilience, determination, and courage. It is a journey that can inspire and motivate many other women to believe in their potential and pursue their dreams, regardless of the challenges. In this article, we will explore the essential steps of this transformation, offering practical tips and inspiring stories to empower each reader to follow her own path to success.

ESG Integration: A Game-Changer in Corporate Governance

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

The nature of business has evolved, and corporate considerations are not what they once were. Gone are the days of profitability and outsized returns at all costs. The world is currently facing many urgent challenges, from climate change to environmental degradation, and social inequality. These challenges are putting a significant strain on organisations, and governments alike. A study by the World Economic Forum found that 85% of CEOs believe that environmental risks will have a significant impact on their businesses in the next five years.

Empowering Growth: Businesswomen and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Tsitsi Mutendi

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals serve as a blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. For women entrepreneurs, aligning their businesses with the SDGs presents a unique opportunity to drive positive social, environmental, and economic impact while also fostering business growth. This article explores how women entrepreneurs can contribute to the SDGs, and offers practical strategies for integrating these goals into their business operations.

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