As a rule, I love Fridays, always have done! It marks the culmination of a week’s hard work done, hopefully milestones reached, projects launched or completed, and a time to plan for the week ahead. This Friday is particularly special as I am touching back down on the African continent following the latest leg of my Lioness on Tour trip to Germany, and it’s good to be back. I don’t know about you, but I make sure I use all that essential flying time whilst on tour to catch up on things such as writing, brainstorming new ideas, and reading interesting new books from women business writers. It’s that perfect quiet time when the phone doesn’t ring, when you can be offline for a few precious hours, and just enjoy some quiet thinking time. As entrepreneurs, we tend to get too little of such time as we are constantly thinking about our businesses. So this Friday, I encourage you all to find some of that precious ‘you time’ that is so necessary to maintain creativity and importantly perspective in life and business.

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Last week, having heard the news about the death of Stephen Hawking, one of the most famous and influential scientists of our time, I took the opportunity to read some of his thoughts on life, the universe and our place in it as human beings. His was a truly brilliant mind locked in a disabled body that beat all the medical predictions over the years, but which ultimately couldn’t defeat the debilitating disease that affected it. But his mind remained intellectually razor sharp until the end. He had so many insights to share with the world, but one leapt out at me this morning that I wanted to share. He said, ”One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist... Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” Great words to remember when we are running around as entrepreneurs trying to create that perfect product or service instead of actually getting it out to market quickly. Perhaps we should stop striving for perfect and just get things done!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Back in one of my favourite European cities this morning, Berlin, I am reminded about the power of networks to make visiting different parts of the world such a pleasure as an entrepreneur. At Lionesses of Africa, we have women entrepreneurs from the Diaspora in many of the major cities around the world, building really interesting businesses and harnessing their proudly African heritage to create unique products and services. Here in Germany, we have around 7,500 Lionesses of Africa users, and over 1,000 in Berlin alone, so you are never far away from a fellow women entrepreneur in the community. It’s quite a comforting thought, knowing that there is always a great member of the Lionesses network to connect with in any major city. I’m enjoying doing just that with many of them here in Berlin this week and looking at ways of collaborating, opening up connections with fellow women entrepreneurs in Africa, and showcasing their businesses and brands. Look out for my report-backs and news over the coming days on interesting initiatives and opportunities here.

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Did you know that today the UN celebrates the Day of the French Language and the International Day of La Francophonie, an occasion to share the common language of French on all five continents? So I would like to start the day by saying Bonjour Lionesses to all the women entrepreneurs in all the Francophone countries on the African continent. This year, we are looking forward to rolling out our Lioness Lean In events in more of the Francophone countries, making them accessible to all women entrepreneurs in our network. We also have some exciting plans to bring more of our daily news and information to our readers in different languages, including French, over the coming year. We have already launched our Portuguese edition of Good Morning Lionesses, and we have more to come. It is a powerful way to connect Africa’s women entrepreneurs to important global markets and to one another. Keep reading each day for more announcements as they happen. 

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Lioness on Tour hits the road again today as I head off to Berlin for the latest in our series of Start-up Night! Africa events, in partnership with the BMWi and hosted by Minister Brigitte Zypries and her great team. Once again, we will be showcasing some of Africa’s most exciting women entrepreneurs and their businesses. The theme of this latest event is digital entrepreneurs, and I’m joined on this trip by two inspirational women entrepreneurs (Dorcas Muthoni from Open World in Kenya, and Jacqueline Rogers of My Pregnancy Journey in South Africa) who are going to be pitching their latest high impact apps and digital solutions to a high profile audience of German investors, decision-makers and opinion-formers. Watch a live stream of the event online at de.digital, which will be made available tomorrow starting at 6pm Berlin time. See you there!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Did you know that it’s World Sleep Day today? I was reminded of this fact as I re-read Ariana Huffington’s great book, The Sleep Revolution, this week. It’s a wake-up call (excuse the pun) for all of us entrepreneurs out there who don’t get enough sleep each day and a reminder that sleep is key to our success, in business and in life. Sleep is not just vital for our health, but also critical to helping us achieve our goals. In today’s increasingly connected world, where our smartphones and other devices seem to rule our waking hours and increasingly encroach into our sleeping hours, we need to ensure we are recharging our own personal batteries each day by getting a really great night of uninterrupted sleep. As Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and author of Lean In, says: “Sometimes we need to sleep in to lean in!”

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

If you are a tennis fan, you will have undoubtedly been following the news over the past week that Serena Williams announced her return to the professional tennis circuit, choosing International Women’s Day to officially go back on tour at the Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Her return is typical of her pure self-belief and determination, having given birth to her first child a year ago, and surviving a pulmonary embolism in the last six months. During an interview before the start of the tournament, she said, “I never questioned my return.” Serena is a great example of how to harness the power of self-belief and use it as the X-Factor in the search for success, and women entrepreneurs would do well to follow her example. Self belief can keep you going when times are tough, when detractors are doing their best to dissuade you from your goals, and when business is just hard. So, anyone for a spot of tennis watching?

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

I am sure like me you followed International Women’s Day last week on 8 March on social and mainstream media as it launched its #PushForProgress campaign, aimed at encouraging global society to think, act and be gender inclusive. This year’s commemorative day looked to challenge stereotypes and bias, and to increase the positive visibility of women in the workplace. So here’s the challenge - the statistics being quoted by the IWD campaign bemoaned the fact that too few women in the world’s listed companies occupy seats in the boardroom and that this situation is likely to continue for many more years to come. As a result, if we are looking for visible women role-models in business that can help to drive real change through example, then surely we are focusing attention in the wrong place. Shouldn’t we instead be celebrating the game-changing women entrepreneurs who are not content simply to wait around for corporate boardrooms to change, but instead are building major companies and brands themselves - and disrupting established business and industry sectors in the process.  Now surely that is a way to #PushForProgress.

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

They say timing is everything in life, and for many people, finding the right time to take a leap of faith and start a business can be a long process. I was chatting to a wonderful creative woman entrepreneur in South Africa recently who said it had taken her until she was 50, divorced, and with her children having left home to study at university, to be brave enough to follow her passion and start a business. She is not alone - many women entrepreneurs look at entrepreneurship as a viable life choice only later in life. But the thing to remember is that there is no one perfect time to become an entrepreneur or to start a business from scratch. It’s whatever time makes best sense to you - and age is no barrier to success for encore entrepreneurs. It can actually be an advantage as you bring a wealth of life and corporate experience with you. So, if you have a business idea or a passion that could be turned into a successful business but you have been waiting for the right moment, perhaps that moment is here right now!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

There is nothing I like better than hearing fellow women entrepreneurs sharing their business building experiences and stories - it’s enlightening, often entertaining, and always inspirational. That’s why I’m thrilled to have kickstarted our Lioness Lean In event tour for 2018 in one of our favourite African cities, Johannesburg, on Friday last week. This is going to be an exciting year for us at Lionesses of Africa as we take not only our Lioness Lean In events around the continent, but also our Startup Night Africa events around the world. Our mission is simple - to connect Africa’s women entrepreneurs with one another in key cities to provide important access to markets and networks; and to provide a showcase for Africa’s women entrepreneurs to connect with potential buyers and influencers in those cities. At the end of the day, we recognize that there is simply no substitute for meeting people face-to-face and building great relationships in those markets where you want to do business.

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Like many of you, I have been watching the recent global news with interest around the announcement that the big US toy company, Toys ‘R’ Us, was forced to close many of its US stores after filing for bankruptcy, hoping to restructure and recover in the future. You would think that such a move signalled greater problems for the toy industry as a whole. And yet at the 115th North American International Toy Fair in NYC last month, an interesting trend was seen. The market was looking instead to nimble, small businesses to create new toys faster than the larger established corporations. For small niche companies, this increasingly more accessible global market means there are great opportunities to be explored. At the fair, small toy companies said it’s about having the right product, delivering it to market faster, and smart marketing. There’s a lot we can learn from this sector and apply it in our own business approaches to accessing new market opportunities. 

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

I have been back on tour again this past week, travelling through South Africa, meeting with women entrepreneurs and talking about the current business environment in key cities. It seems like many women business owners are bullish about the year ahead, which is always good to hear. Often I am asked about the places I visit, about the women entrepreneurs I meet, and about the potential opportunities to do business in those cities for those who haven’t yet put a toe in the water there. So, in an effort to bring these cities I visit and these women entrepreneurs I talk to whilst on tour around Africa and the Diaspora, closer to the Lionesses of Africa community, I will be launching my new podcast radio show, Lioness On Tour, shortly.  It’s my way of virtually bringing you all along with me as we build our global Lionesses of Africa community. Watch this space for more news about the launch of the new show. 

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

We are in the exciting final stages of preparations for the big Start-up Night Africa! Berlin event in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy which takes place on 20 March. And, we are thrilled to be showcasing two women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community at the event who have developed exciting new digital products and platforms that have the potential to grow and make a big impact. Firstly, Dorcas Muthoni, founder and ceo of Open World in Kenya, whose new app called Open Business is an affordable point of sale app giving micro-entrepreneurs the tools to run and grow their businesses by keeping track of sales and inventory in real time. It sounds like a game changer for entrepreneurs. Secondly, Jacqueline Rogers, founder of My Pregnancy Journey in South Africa, an app which taps harnesses the power of technology to provide real, high impact, digital content that connects with Africa’s moms to be. Catch their pitch sessions live through our digital streaming link on the night - keep reading each day for more details.

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

I never tire of reading and sharing each day the truly inspirational stories of women entrepreneurs in the Lionesses of Africa network who are building great businesses and brands across the African continent. Everyone’s story is very personal to them, but their experiences (good and bad), personal insights, challenges and solutions when shared, can benefit all of us as entrepreneurs. Building a business requires us to be open to learning new things constantly, and therefore being able to share with others who are undertaking similar entrepreneurial journeys can be invaluable. It also helps us to know that we are not alone. So this month, I encourage all of you to share your startup story and connect with the 600,000+ other women entrepreneurs in the Lionesses of Africa network who are just like you. That’s the power of sharing!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

For all you film fans out there, you will already know that last night the 90th Annual Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars, took place in Hollywood, always a glittering occasion. It reminded me once again about the power of celebrating great work, celebrating people who are passionate about their chosen craft, and the practical business benefit of showcasing the best in the public domain. As entrepreneurs, we can learn from this celebratory approach. We all need successful women entrepreneur role models in Africa and the Diaspora to look up to. By showcasing their work and their leadership in their chosen business fields, we too can be proud of their achievements. There is nothing quite like seeing other women entrepreneurs making it in the world of business, it inspires us all to keep pushing to reach our own goals each day. 

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

Today’s Image of the Day tells a story of the power of social entrepreneurship to make a difference to people’s lives - and the story of Solar Sisters and Hafsat Yahyah really struck a chord with me. It’s a story of how giving Africa’s aspirant women entrepreneurs the opportunity to harness their talents and strengths, and to support them in fulfilling their potential, can make a huge impact. Because of the support and encouragement from social entrepreneurs such as Solar Sisters and their willingness to create opportunities for micro-entrepreneurs to step up to the next level, Hafsat Yahyah today is turning her natural ability to sell into a sustainable business, and one that is set to grow. That’s the power of social entrepreneurship in action!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

I was at a wonderful gathering of fellow women entrepreneurs recently and it was great to be able to share stories, experiences, and challenges with other like-minded people who just understand what you are going through. It was a very uplifting evening, with everyone cheering each other on and offering support and friendship on our entrepreneurial journeys. It reminded me of how important it is to have cheerleaders on our side in business, those people who know us well enough to celebrate with us when things go well, keep us grounded when things get complicated and stressful, and be there for us when we need that extra boost of encouragement. Every entrepreneur needs a cheerleader in their lives!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

I was reading an article early this morning and a quote caught my attention. It read, ‘to be a successful entrepreneur you need to dream while you are awake’. It made me smile, but there is a certain amount of truth in that statement. When you start a business, you have a dream, a vision of how you would like it to grow, and a goal you are trying to reach. Yet to help that business to survive and to realise its potential, it’s essential to keep that dream alive whilst you are doing the hard yards - hence the need to dream while you are awake. So, no longer is dreaming confined to your sleeping hours in the day!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

It’s great to see an increasing number of women entrepreneurs in Africa creating world-class beauty and wellness brands, and manufacturing a host of beauty products that celebrate the unique natural ingredients from the continent. Some of these brands are now finding their niche and their consumer bases in global markets, where the interest in natural beauty products is growing. So, to celebrate these pioneering women who are putting Africa on the global map, we are designating March as our Focus on Beauty and Wellness month. Each week, we will be showcasing some of the leading women brand builders who are an inspiration in this specialist business sector. Look out for our special series of feature articles, radio interviews, and guest blogs all next month on these leading women in the beauty and wellness business. 

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

I have always been a great believer that you can’t wait for the world to come to you in business, you have to put yourself and your brand out there and excite the market proactively. It’s why this year, Lionesses of Africa is really taking a global approach to helping Africa’s women entrepreneurs to get the world talking about their products and services. It’s about providing powerful showcases in key global cities for Africa’s women entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses and brands to audiences that can help them on their journeys. The next in our series of global events takes us to London in April for our inaugural UK Startup Night Africa event in partnership with Standard Bank. We have an amazing lineup of women entrepreneurs from across the African continent and the Diaspora who will be pitching their businesses, plus some inspirational and highly established women global brand builders who will be sharing their insights. To find out more, visit our Start-up Night! Africa webpage. 

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie