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Lionesses of Africa

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The Pride of Africa's Women Entrepreneurs

the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs

Lionesses of Africa

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Thinking Bigger: Why Women Entrepreneurs Must Embrace Bold Ambitions

September 15, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Sarah Dusek

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned throughout my entrepreneurial journey, it’s this: success requires us to think bigger. Far too often, I meet female entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas who aren’t dreaming big enough. We hold ourselves back by playing small, thinking that modest goals are more achievable. But the truth is, by limiting our ambitions, we’re not only underestimating ourselves—we’re also undercutting the potential of our businesses.

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Sarah Dusek, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Growing Your Business
Comment

Meet 23 Mozambican Women Green Business Builders Making A Positive Impact on the Environment

September 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Mozambique Green Businesses In Focus

Regular attendees at Lionesses of Africa’s Green Lioness Lean In events in Mozambique will know that as an impact-driven organisation we are committed to showcasing women eco-preneurs who are creating sustainable businesses, and importantly, much needed green jobs too. Each one is making their mark in their sector and community. But what they share in common is a passion for the eco-focused businesses they are creating, the desire to innovate in order to find solutions to real environmental challenges, and the motivation to create opportunities and jobs for local people. These Lionesses of Africa are not just showcasing their own unique green products and services to the world, but they are also making a real difference to their communities and their country as a whole.

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In In Focus, Team Lioness Tags Mozambique, Green Business
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Partnering Success: The Force Multiplier to Achieve Exponential Growth by Theresa Caragol

September 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Theresa Caragol

Book Review

In Theresa Caragol’s new book, Partnering Success: The Force Multiplier to Achieve Exponential Growth, she and her AchieveUnite team present a groundbreaking approach to building strategic alliances that drive innovation and success. This book guides readers through the transformative impact of trust, collaboration, and genuine partnerships in the modern business landscape.

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In Essential Tags Books
Comment

Marta Uetela, a Mozambican eco-innovator constructing bicycles from marine plastic waste

September 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Marta Uetela, founder, Baaike (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Marta Uetela is the founder of Baaike in Mozambique, a studio dedicated to designing and constructing bicycles from plastic waste collected from the ocean, Marta is on a mission to offer alternatives to conventional transportation while raising awareness about the environmental impact of plastic pollution in our oceans. She is a product design engineer and a solutions-oriented entrepreneur with a deep passion for product design and alternative manufacturing systems. She believes in the potential of Generation Z and the transformative power of design and engineering to rethink and reshape a more sustainable world.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Mozambique, Green Business
Comment

Brenda Hart, a South African entrepreneur realizing a dream of building a bespoke furniture design business

September 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Brenda Hart, founder, Soft&Co (South Africa)

Startup Story

For South African entrepreneur Brenda Hart, starting a bespoke furniture design business at the age of 50 is a bold and rewarding endeavour. As founder of Soft&Co, she draws on her extensive experience in interior design to create furniture that is both beautiful and meaningful. She says, “Soft&Co gives me a niche to concentrate on and a fresh channel for my enduring love for design. It’s not just a business to me, but a celebration of a life’s work and a testament to the power of following your dreams at any age.”

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In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Manufacturing, Furniture
Comment

Hellen Dausen, a Tanzanian natural skincare brand-builder

September 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Hellen Dausen

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Hellen Dausen is the founder and owner of Nuya's Essence based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and business leader. Hellen's skincare business, which was founded in 2013 and today employs 12 people, aims to help women find readily available skincare products for daily use to enhance healthy living, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Hellen was listed by Forbes Africa 30 under 30 in 2016 as the most promising entrepreneur to watch in Africa. Her resilience, hard work, and determination have brought Nuya's Essence local and international recognition. Hellen holds a bachelor's Degree from the United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya. She lives with her husband and daughter in Dar es Salaam.

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In Cover Story Tags Tanzania, Beauty & Wellness, skincare
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The Case for Accountability, Transparency and Authenticity

September 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles with stakeholder management have become essential for present-day organisations looking to succeed and make a positive impact. This is because ESG is more than sustainability reports, it’s a compass through which an organisation can navigate its relationships with stakeholders.

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In Guest Blog Tags Nkemdilim Begho, ESG
Comment

Mentorship as a Key Strategy for Entrepreneurial Development

September 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Ntsoaki Sibiya

I think most of us can agree that you cannot do life alone.  You cannot take certain journey’s alone and you cannot advance in your entrepreneurship endeavours alone. The power of partnerships also applies to mentorship. Mentorship is a transformative force that guides entrepreneurs through challenges, offers wisdom, and fosters growth. As an entrepreneur, a mentor's guidance will provide you with clarity, accelerate your learning, and instils confidence. Their support and perspective illuminate paths which help you to nurture your talent, unlock your potential, and shapes both your personal and professional success. There are many value adds to finding a mentor and to understanding the context of mentorship (leveraging the experiences of those who are further along than you are).

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Ntsoaki Sibiya, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Mentoring
Comment

How to Discover Your Formula for Happiness

September 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Happiness is subjective because we all have different rules for what it will take to be happy. I am not here to give you a magic formula but rather to offer a set of questions to help you understand what it means for you.

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In Guest Blog Tags Lori Milner, Personal Development, Entrepreneurial Mindset
Comment

When Next You Review Your Employee Screening Policy Consider Making Skills Assessment Part of It

September 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

Employee Screening is an ever-evolving process, no employee screening policy should be cast in stone and remain that way long term. This process should be regularly reviewed and updated to evolve as the human risk factor evolves. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Jenny Reid, People Management
Comment

Absa invites women and youth business owners to level up their skills at the SME Funding Readiness Webinar Series

September 1, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content

As part of an active commitment to support women entrepreneurs, Absa in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, is launching a capacity-building training programme specifically designed to help level the playing field for women in business. The training programme is designed to address the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs by leveraging the expertise and resources of all three partners. Using different learning platforms, the programme will deliver tailored training, mentorship and financial solutions to help fill in the skills gap currently faced by business owners.

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In Impact Partner Tags absa, Event
Comment

Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit by Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian and Maria Fernandez Guajardo

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian & Fernandez Guajardo

by Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian and Maria Fernandez Guajardo

In their new book, Sail to Scale, authors Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian, and Maria Fernandez Guajardo acknowledge that most new businesses fail, and yet most failures are avoidable. While some startups may catch favorable winds, most will encounter stormy seas that can capsize their ventures. Understanding how to navigate these choppy waters is crucial. You don't learn to captain a warship by training to sail fast on calm seas.

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In Essential Tags Books
Comment

YOU are brave enough to do this!

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

Imposter Syndrome. Yes that’s right, it’s time to pull back the duvet and look this thing straight in the face and call it out for what it is. In the HBR article ‘Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome’ by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey (here) they say: “Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.” Note - ‘high-achieving people’, not high-achieving women, yet women seem to admit to it more or are allowed to own it more (‘allowed’ - you know what we’re talking about!). Yet over 70% of us have experienced this at one or more times, that’s both male and female.

Read more
In Team Lioness Tags Entrepreneurial Mindset
Comment

Master Your Business: 17 Proven Strategies for Turning Passion into Profit

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo

Starting and running a business is no small feat. It requires more than just passion; it demands a strategic approach, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to growth. Let’s delve into some essential strategies that will help you handle your business like a pro.

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Thembe Khumalo, Passion, Management Advice
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The Art of Bouncing Back and Sustaining Real Change

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu

We don’t know our strength until we are tested! We do not know what we can achieve until we start getting to work. Imagine a situation where the world as you knew it, has changed. Your whole family structure, living arrangement, and budget changed. This was me. I woke up one day, and my life was changing. I was divorcing. I remember feeling depressed and down and out. I remember feeling suicidal and hopeless. I saw how I was losing myself and I knew I had to make a choice. I could either keep ruminating or I could get up and take things step by step. As much as I did not know where it came from, I found that deep in my broken heart, I had hope. I believed that a better ending would prevail, and so, I got up. At first, I knew I had to refuel because I had nothing to pour into my business. I also knew I must heal and be whole to be creative in my craft.

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Phindile Tapula, Entrepreneurial Mindset
Comment

Request for Tenders, Bids, Quotes, and Proposals - Understanding the Differences

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Ilse Sfreddo

This blog discusses the intricacies of procurement documents like tenders, proposals, and quotes, emphasising the types and importance of each, especially in the South African context. It outlines the differences between Expressions of Interest (EOI), Requests for Information (RFI), Requests for Quotation (RFQ), Requests for Tender (RFT), and Requests for Proposal (RFP). It simplifies decision-making by detailing the rules and thresholds for procurement actions under South African public sector guidelines (MFMA and PFMA).

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Business Development, Proposal Writing, llse Sfreddo
Comment

Understanding Email Compromise and Scams: Prevention and Response

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw

Email compromise scams are a growing threat in the digital world. These scams can have devastating financial and reputational consequences for individuals and organisations.

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Nicolene Schoeman–Louw, Legal, Cybersecurity
Comment

Ifeoma Malo, a Nigerian clean energy access champion

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Ifeoma Malo

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Clean Technology Hub, an organization working on the frontlines of energy access and climate change in Africa

Ifeoma Malo is the co-founder of Clean Technology Hub, an organization working on the frontlines of energy access and climate change, across 80 communities in seven countries, including Nigeria, the Gambia, Congo DRC, Ghana, Uganda, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Senegal. The business was established in 2016 and today has 35 employees. She is an energy access expert and a climate action champion with over 23 years of experience building and directing organizational operations and strategy, supporting start-ups and MSMEs across Africa. In the past 10 years, Ifeoma has become a recognized and credible leader in the energy and utility markets, working on the intersection of energy transition, energy markets, energy and climate financing, and climate adaptation markets.

Read more
In Cover Story Tags Nigeria, Renewable Energy, Green Business
Comment

Afifah Zualo, a Mozambican artisan entrepreneur creating ethnic contemporary jewellery celebrating beadwork

August 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Afifah Zualo, founder, M'Kono (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Afifah Zualo is an artisan (multi-artist) entrepreneur and the founder of M'Kono in Mozambique. She trained in Railway Engineering, but today sees the design of ethnic-contemporary jewellery as a way of codifying feelings and expressing Mozambican identity. Her Mozambican start-up seeks to honour cultural traditions while innovating in design and technique. A Leader and Social Innovator, Afifah employs a single employee, but her startup generates income for six other participants in her community who participate in the business passively. She believes in a world in which all women are respected and have justice for their efforts returned and aspires to conquer the world with her work.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Mozambique, Jewellery, Artisan Enterprise
Comment

Benedita Macuácua, a Mozambican circular economy business builder creating sustainable products using crochet

August 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Benedita Macuácua, founder, Exclusive Crochet (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Exclusive Crochet is a crafts-based start-up founded by Benedita Macuácua in Mozambique. An entrepreneur and graphic designer, her company specializes in creating sustainable products using recycled materials such as knitted yarn, fabric scraps, and recycled soles. The company was inspired by the need to combat the accumulation of rubbish in Maputo, transforming solid waste into durable, quality crochet pieces. Benedita’s focus with her business is on the circular economy and promoting conscious consumption, offering a variety of products such as flip-flops, bags, beach cover-ups, and other items, each carrying a unique story and an artistic design that impresses with its beauty and positive environmental impact.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Mozambique, Recycling, Green Business
Comment
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCAST

LIONESSES OF AFRICA · AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace

Lioness Radio Show: AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace - Tune in for an engaging conversation designed to equip you with the knowledge to embrace AI and unlock its possibilities for your business.


LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow
Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach
Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach
Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer
Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c
Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi
Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company
Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p
Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized
Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has
Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y
Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates
Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he
Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Gadifele Moeng, a South African entrepreneur empowering young people to find their voices through public speaking
Gadifele Moeng, a South African entrepreneur empowering young people to find their voices through public speaking
Elizabeth Karamangi, Linda Chawe, and Sophia Mrimi, three women founders building a specialist HR consulting business in Tanzania
Elizabeth Karamangi, Linda Chawe, and Sophia Mrimi, three women founders building a specialist HR consulting business in Tanzania
Kelly Jean Valigy, a dynamic marketing and communications professional building a creative powerhouse in Mozambique
Kelly Jean Valigy, a dynamic marketing and communications professional building a creative powerhouse in Mozambique
Mbali Ndandani and Portia Nondo, two passionate ecosystem builders driving support for Africa’s crafters and fashion brands
Mbali Ndandani and Portia Nondo, two passionate ecosystem builders driving support for Africa’s crafters and fashion brands
Jacqueléne Coetzer, a pan-African business consulting and specialist trade firm builder empowering other women entrepreneurs
Jacqueléne Coetzer, a pan-African business consulting and specialist trade firm builder empowering other women entrepreneurs

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LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

Featured
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Authentic Selling: Be Real to Seal the Deal by Kendrick Shope
Authentic Selling: Be Real to Seal the Deal by Kendrick Shope
Babette’s Bread by Babette Kourelos
Babette’s Bread by Babette Kourelos
SOS – A Navigation Guide for Women at Work by Lidewij Wiersma, Chantal Korteweg, Tessel van Willigen and Marijn Wiersma
SOS – A Navigation Guide for Women at Work by Lidewij Wiersma, Chantal Korteweg, Tessel van Willigen and Marijn Wiersma

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