Latest news with #femaleentrepreneurs
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
The role of bold women in business, according to a powerhouse panel: Insights from the esteemed jury for the 2025 Veuve Cliquot Bold Woman Award
As the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award adjudication process begins, the esteemed jury prepares to evaluate an inspiring cohort of candidates, each embodying the boldness and innovation that define this prestigious accolade. True to the pioneering spirit of Madame Clicquot, the award has, for over 50 years, honoured remarkable female entrepreneurs who drive change and shape the future of business. This year's finalists stand to join an influential community of visionary women, continuing a legacy of tenacity, creativity, and exceptional leadership. Ahead of the final decision, the judges share their business wisdom and what they hope to see from this year's contenders. Amanda Dambuza, Founder and CEO of Uyandiswa Group Amanda is the Founder and CEO of Uyandiswa, a project management consulting firm. With a distinguished IT career in financial services, she held senior roles at all four major South African banks, including CIO at Barclays Africa. She also serves on JSE-listed and private company boards and, in 2020, founded Vastly Sage to mentor and connect businesswomen. As a long-serving jury member, Amanda is encouraged by the steady improvement in the business landscape for women, with more women entering and succeeding in business each year. 'The benefits women and their families gain from entrepreneurship far outweigh the risks,' she says, inspiring more women to take the leap. She emphasises the importance of the Bold Woman Award in fostering a global community where knowledge and experiences are shared. 'Challenges often aren't unique, and through this, tools and resources are shared for the benefit of all entrepreneurs.' What do you think will set this year's candidates apart from previous years? What is something different you're keeping an eye out for? 'The winners of last year's awards were incredibly inspiring, and I look forward to more of the same. This year, I hope to see more women from traditionally male-dominated industries enter the awards so that we can acknowledge their efforts in changing the business landscape. It's crucial that women know there is a community rooting for them, especially when they feel alone.' Aimee Kellen, Regional Marketing Director, Moët Hennessy Middle East and Africa Aimee is a results-driven marketer with 17 years of experience in brand strategy and luxury consumer marketing. She has managed globally iconic brands, including Hennessy, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon across the Middle East & Africa. After roles as Regional Marketing Manager and Head of Consumer Engagement, she became Marketing Director for Belgium & Luxembourg in 2024, leading major brand initiatives like Tomorrowland and the 2024 Olympics. Now, as Regional Marketing Director for Moët Hennessy Middle East & Africa, she drives brand growth and consumer engagement while championing the Bold by Veuve Clicquot programme to support women in business. Aimee believes the impact of female leaders is undeniable, inspiring both peers and aspiring professionals. 'Many in my organisation draw courage from women in leadership,' she says. For this year's awards, she's looking for candidates who not only excel in business but also drive positive change—whether by supporting others, promoting sustainability, or innovating for impact. What's your bold mantra? 'Connect and collaborate to create. Everything is richer when built with collective intelligence, shared insights, and passion.' Happy Ralinala, Director of Palesa Mbali Group Happy Ralinala is the Director of Palesa Mbali Group, focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and leadership excellence. Formerly Managing Executive of Business Banking at Barclays Africa Group, she also led Private and Wealth Banking Segments. With a distinguished career in banking, business strategy, and financial services, Happy is a seasoned board member, trusted advisor, leadership coach, and mentor. As a long-standing member of the Bold Woman judging panel, Happy has witnessed a remarkable shift in the business world, with women-led enterprises growing in quality, scale, and impact. 'Women are not just building businesses; they're leading with purpose and sustainability,' she says. 'What was once a fight for a seat at the table is now a movement of women creating their own tables and inviting others in.' While challenges like limited funding, representation, and mentorship remain, Happy highlights the resilience, vision, and determination of women who turn obstacles into opportunities. She believes platforms like the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award are key in amplifying their achievements. How do you explain the impact of women in business, specifically to other women? Why is it important to you? 'Women-led businesses drive innovation, create jobs, and shape society through inclusive practices. Supporting female entrepreneurs isn't just about equity—it's about unlocking potential that benefits entire economies. My mantra, 'Even eagles need a push,' speaks to how success often emerges from adversity. By supporting women, we help them recognise their strength and soar to new heights.' Morongwe Mokone, Co-Founder of Mo's Crib Morongwe 'Mo' Mokone is the co-founder of Mo's Crib and the recipient of the 2024 Bold Woman Award. Mo's Crib is a home decor and design company specialising in practical, handmade items crafted from recycled materials. With African craft and sustainability at its core, Mo's Crib manufactures and exports hand-crafted homeware for the global market, with its products now stocked in top department stores worldwide. Employing over 300 people, most of whom are women, Mo has seen first-hand the impact women have on business. 'As a women-led business, we've experienced how diverse perspectives drive innovation, resilience, and growth,' she says. 'Women bring unique problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence that enhance decision-making and foster inclusivity.' Mo believes women in business lead to balanced growth and more inclusive products. 'Women also reinvest in their communities, creating a ripple effect… Challenges will come—funding struggles, industry biases, or work-life balance—but your ability to pivot, persist, and innovate will set you apart.' What's your bold mantra? 'My mantra is something I learned from my late mom: 'Here am I.' No matter the challenge at hand, even when I sometimes feel I am not qualified enough, tall enough, or well-spoken enough, I should always show up for myself and remind myself that I am here!' Erik Kruger, International Keynote Speaker, Author, & Leadership Development Specialist Erik Kruger is an international keynote speaker, author, and podcast host focused on adaptability and change. At a time when modern leadership is being redefined, Erik shares ideas and insights to help leaders adapt and reinvent themselves, turning change into opportunity. Reflecting on the growing presence of women in business, Erik acknowledges its undeniable impact. 'More women in leadership leads to better decisions, stronger cultures, and more resilient businesses,' he says. 'The real shift happens when female leadership is seen as essential, not different.' While recognising progress, Erik emphasizes the need for systemic change. 'It's not about women needing more confidence—it's about creating space. Confidence isn't the issue—access is,' he explains. 'Women need seats at the table, real investment, and leadership structures that break outdated norms.' What do you think will set this year's candidates apart from previous years? What is something different you're keeping an eye out for? 'Reinvention. It's one thing to succeed when things are stable, but in the last few years, stability has been a myth. The leaders who stand out won't just be the ones who worked hard—they'll be the ones who rewrote the rules, adapted on the fly, and turned challenges into momentum. I'm looking for people who didn't just weather the storm but figured out how to use it to their advantage.' Timothy Maurice Webster, International Keynote Speaker, Author and NeuroLeadership Specialist Timothy Maurice Webster is a bestselling author, podcast host, and leadership columnist with expertise in behavioural psychology and neuroscience. He advises senior executives, political leaders, and entrepreneurs in 40 countries on leadership influence and personal branding, using strategic media and neuro-creativity. Contemplating on the progress of entrepreneurial women over the last year, Timothy is pleased to see their growing presence in sectors like cybersecurity, mining, energy, and agriculture. He hopes this growth will continue into other industries because he believes women play a remarkable role in business, especially in the C-Suite. 'I see women balancing what I term the Q-Suite: IQ, which everyone knows; EQ, Emotional Intelligence; SQ, Spiritual Intelligence; CQ, Cultural Intelligence; and PBQ, which comes from my work—Personal Brand Intelligence,' says Timothy. 'Women manage all these, not just focusing on one, and this contributes to a business's bottom line and long-term sustainability.' Timothy encourages women to engage their nurturing side, especially in networking. 'Nurturing relationships is a skill that can be honed and mastered, and it shouldn't be taken lightly,' he explains. 'People take risks with people they deem risk-worthy.' What's your bold mantra? 'Bold beauty is born in the heart of purpose.' About the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award In 1805, Madame Clicquot took the reins of the House after the death of her husband, at a time when women did not have the right to work or even hold a bank account. Over the years, she revolutionised the sector. To mark its 200th anniversary, Veuve Clicquot decided to pay tribute to this great, daring woman, and in 1972 created the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award (Bold Woman Award), followed by the Clémentine Award (Bold Future Award) in 2014. For more than 50 years, the House has honoured and featured women who have built, taken on or developed a business – to date, more than 450 women across 27 countries. In response to society's evolution since 1972, starting in 2019 the award has been part of an international program: Bold by Veuve Clicquot, a series of initiatives to generate conversations around the world, designed for more impact and inclusiveness.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Meghan Markle reveals 'guilt mentality' about being rich and fear about 'never having enough' money
Meghan Markle has claimed she was taught to feel guilty about being rich as she discussed fears about 'never having enough' money. The Duchess of Sussex made the admission speaking to the billionaire founder of the Spanx fashion brand, Sara Blakely. Speaking on the final episode of Meghan's Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, Ms Blakely spoke of the joy of female entrepreneurs 'obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves'. Meghan admitted she would 'love to adopt' her mindset but claimed that women often felt discouraged from building their own fortunes. 'So many women, especially, we're taught to not even talk about money and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot', Meghan said. 'And at the same time there's a scarcity mindset that it's easy to attach to, of like "I'll never have enough".' Talking about her own businesses, which include her As Ever brand, she said: 'When you only have yourself to answer to I think it's twofold. It can be incredibly liberating or it can be incredibly lonely.' She added: 'There's a misconception that you need to go to Harvard Business School and have a lot of money and get all the best people behind you [to be successful in business]... So you talk yourself out of it'. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, was speaking about her business and balancing work with motherhood as the first series of her podcast, published by Lemonada Media, comes to a close The Duchess of Sussex, 43, was speaking about her business and balancing work with motherhood as the first series of her podcast, published by Lemonada Media, ended. After her As Ever jam, flower sprinkles, tea and other products sold out, Meghan said she wants to 'step back, gather data from the launch, and figure out exactly what As Ever could be.' Meghan said for now she is planning to launch a new range of merchandise in early 2026 - and may widen her brand into clothing. 'The category of fashion is something I will explore at a later date, because I do think that's an interesting space for me,' she said. Her online store sold out in 45 minutes and contained homely items as well as her long-awaited pots of jam. In the interview, the Duchess also revealed she wouldn't know 'what to call herself' if she had to write a CV. She said: 'If I had to write a résumé, I don't know what I would call myself. 'I think it speaks to this chapter many of us find ourselves in, where none of us are one note. But I believe all the notes I am playing are part of the same song.' Meghan added that the 'mom moments' push her to success in the business world, with plans in the future ranging from home goods to fashion. Revealing her son Archie has begun to lose his teeth, she described becoming the tooth fairy and leaving coins and a little dinosaur underneath his pillow. She said: 'I had a lot of business meetings the next morning, but I still chose to cuddle with him the rest of the night. Those mom moments energize me to be a better founder, a better employer, a better boss.' She revealed she may not restock the previous As Ever goods she sold and instead come up with new products such as fashion Speaking to the Duchess of Sussex on the podcast, the pair shared stories of wearing shoes that pinch and 'cripple' wearers, with Meghan describing how she particularly struggled during her pregnancies. 'I gained 65 pounds with both pregnancies,' the Duchess revealed, continuing: 'And you're in these five-inch pointy-toed stilettos. 'You have the most enormous bump, and your tiny little ankles are bracing themselves in these high heels, but all of my weight was in the front, so you're just going how on earth am I not just tipping, you know faceplanting. 'I was clinging very closely to my husband, I was like please don't let me fall.' During the conversation with Ms Blakely, Meghan also revealed that Archie, six, and Lilibet, three, who have been mainly kept out of the public eye at their home in Montecito, California, are doing well. She promised to send Sara family pictures, adding: 'They are so grown.' The pair also discussed starting businesses in a male dominated world, with Ms Blakely stating: 'There were very few women that I could go to, I really didn't have any. 'I didn't really even have other female founders that were in my network that I could bounce my approach to business.' Describing her time in boardrooms surrounded by men, she jokingly added: 'I'm like Jane Goodall but instead of observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat I get to observe men in their natural habitat. They totally forget I'm there.'
The Independent
7 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Meghan reveals difficulties of being an entrepreneur and a mother
The Duchess of Sussex has revealed the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs like herself, who choose to grow a business while raising children. In the final episode of her podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, Meghan described the difficulties of trying to start a successful company while caring for young children. Meghan made the comments while expressing her admiration for podcast guest Sara Blakely, founder of shapewear clothing company Spanx and mother-of-four. 'The amount of what you have created, evolved through – the level of what you have done while having this many children, all at that age. It's something that I think people often forget,' she said. Discussing her own experiences, Meghan added: ' People forget that Lili is three, and Archie is five. 'So you look at the past five, six years of my life, it's yes, with being pregnant or with a newborn or with a toddler, and then another one.' Meghan stepped back from being a senior working royal and started a new life in the US when Archie was 10 months old and has since focused on launching her own As Ever brand and lifestyle Netflix series. Meghan expanded on other challenges facing female chief executives, including what she called a 'guilt mentality' over having a lot of money. 'I think so many women, especially, were taught to not even talk about money. And there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot', she said. 'It wasn't until the 70s that women could even have a credit card, a line of credit on a credit card without her husband.' The duchess also spoke of the importance of selfcare, saying: 'I remember my acupuncturist in the UK said to me, and it has always stayed with me, he said, if the baby's crying, treat the mother. 'It all starts with us. Good Lord, we have to take care of ourselves first.' The duchess's first batch of As Ever products, which included flower sprinkles and herbal tea, sold out, but her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan faced a set of disappointing reviews.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Female Founders Face Unique Stresses But There Are Solutions
Female entrepreneurs face challenges that extend far beyond the well–documented problems associated with raising capital in a male-dominated funding ecosystem. And yet, despite high levels of stress and burnout, the vast majority of female founders enjoy their entrepreneurial journey and while finding ways to work 'differently' in pursuit of their goals. Those are just two of the findings In a new report documenting the experience of 250 entrepreneurs. Authors Yvonne Biggins and Nonie White have highlighted the specific issues reported by female founders while also identifying at least some of the strategies that can help them overcome a set of challenges that include financial anxiety, balancing professional and personal responsibilities and hormonal changes. Both White and Biggins have track records as entrepreneurs and also work as coaches and psychologists. As they acknowledge, the study started life as market research for their coaching activities but quickly developed into something more. 'We realised that we were onto something that not many people were talking about and that people needed to hear about,' says White. 'And as we got into further, we realised we were uncovering best practice that wasn't commonly being talked about.' While the report acknowledges the systemic hurdles faced by women in business, the main focus is on psychological stresses. Inevitably, money - or the lack of it - is a perennial problem. The researchers point to high levels of financial anxiety, with 45% of respondents naming cash flow as a particular worry. This, in turn, leads to mental health issues, such as low mood and negative thinking patterns. It has to be said that many male founders would report similar concerns, so is there really a difference between the experience of men and women Nonie White says there is. 'Every entrepreneur experiences financial anxiety,' says White. 'But what makes it particularly powerful for women is the funding disparity that they experience. Whatever the scale of the business, women are operating in an ecosystem where money is tight. ' In addition, women often have to deal with what Biggins describes as operational overload. 'Women often carry the childcare and domestic burden. There is too much to do and too little time. This is the top source of stress,' she says. And the data suggests that the majority of women fall into a demographic group that is particularly prone to overload. Most female entrepreneurs in the U.K. are aged between 35 and 54, putting them squarely in the 'sandwich generation,' with caring responsibilities for their children and parents. At the same time, women in this age group also experience the hormonal changes hormonal challenges associated with the perimenopause and menopause. 'Hormonal challenges can affect cognition, energy and wellbeing,' says Biggins.'Twenty-one percent said hormonal changes affected their performance and life satisfaction.' Loneliness also emerged as a problem. Again, this is something experienced by both men and women, often for the simple and very good reason that being the person who makes all the decisions can be incredibly isolating. White says this can be more acute for women. 'Women often lack the networks and role models that men have. Also, if you are a mother running a business, you are probably inspired by the flexibility it gives you, and you are probably working from home, which means you are alone. So there's the loneliness of being the CEO and the practical loneliness of working alone.' But what can be done to help women overcome the stresses that have been identified? Well, it's partly about systemic change, something that can really only happen by educating the ecosystem about the challenges faced by women and redressing the present funding imbalance that sees the bulk of VC capital going to men. But Biggins and White have also identified practices that can help women thrive. One thing they believe all entrepreneurs should do is make time for the things that make life fun and fulfilling. 'The data shows that thriving entrepreneurs invest in their wellbeing,' says Biggins. 'They make time for joy and for fun.' Health and fitness is important. The research suggests that while a high percentage of entrepreneurs do less exercise due to time constraints, those that do make a point of exercising benefit from higher performance scores. Spending time in nature and practising mindfulness are also beneficial. Often, entrepreneurs can feel guilty about taking time for themselves, but Biggins and White say the data shows that the investment in time and energy pays off in terms of better performance. Entrepreneurs should seek out support in the shape of coaches, mentors or advisers. Talking with friends and family may be useful but it can also be counter-productive if there is little understanding of what it takes to run a business. So here's the good news: the research finds that 97% of women enjoy entrepreneurship, with 66% reporting higher life satisfaction,
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why are female entrepreneurs finding it harder to secure loans?
Female entrepreneurs may face a number of challenges when setting up a business, such as societal and gender stereotypes and biases, a lack of support and role models, and a limited network. However, many also have to jump through more hoops to access financial help, compared to their male counterparts. That's according to a recent report by finance broker Swoop Funding, which analysed more than 50,000 UK businesses. It revealed that male-led companies have 12 times more business debt than female-led ones, at £9.5bn (€11.2bn), versus £769m (€904.7m). This debt can be taken for a number of reasons, including growth or expansion, to cover costs, or if the business is struggling somewhat, although that is rarer. The average business debt for companies led by men stood at £315,000 (€370,603.8), while female-led companies had £91,000 (€107,034.7) of debt on average. According to the British Business Bank, for every £1 (€1.2) of UK venture capital investment, all-female entrepreneur teams get less than 1p, whereas all-male founder teams are given 89p. Mixed-gender teams get 10p. At the rates being seen at the moment, all-female founder teams could take over 25 years to make up even 10% of all deals in the UK. "The simple answer is that men ask for funding earlier in the process than women do. That's a simple answer, but there is no simple solution. Funding is the best way to get a business up and running quickly and professionally," Andrea Reynolds, chief executive officer of Swoop Funding, claimed in an email note. 'Many women who start their own businesses are doing so from a 'kitchen table' baseline," she said. "This can often mean they bootstrap their business rather than seek to borrow.' A lack of awareness around things such as start-up loans, as well as a lack of targeted marketing from lenders towards female founders has contributed to this trend too. 'Lenders could certainly be doing more to appeal directly to female business owners, particularly around start-up loans, as there is a time limit on when these can be applied for (three years from starting trading),' Reynolds said. Cultural factors, such as debt often being looked at from an inherently negative lens, have also made it more difficult for female entrepreneurs to see responsible, planned debt as a means to grow faster. "We are always told that personal debt is something you should enter into with caution, perhaps because we have it ingrained that we should save up to buy the things we want,' Reynolds pointed out. Related How do you grow a unicorn? What Europe can do to support its start-ups Where in Europe are women most willing to start their own business? She added: 'But business borrowing is different: you're not borrowing to cover a holiday or a nicer car, you are borrowing to invest in your idea and you should have planned for that investment to bring you a return that makes it worthwhile.' Stacey-Rebekka Karlsson, founder of PR and marketing company Goho Agency, highlighted how taking out a £25,000 (€29,405) government Bounce Back loan helped to make her company stronger and boosted growth in the long run. 'We came out of the pandemic with a team who could deliver events, amazing PR and banging digital marketing so we could then offer our clients a 360 solution and we've managed to grow the business every single year since,' Karlsson said in the Swoop Funding press release. One of the main ways to boost access to business debt is to look for targeted support such as female-focused investment firms and angel investors. In Britain, organisations that have signed up to the UK Investing in Women Code can be a good source of help as well. Similarly, networking and mentorship groups such as the Female Founders Rise group could unlock funding opportunities and be a source of financial wisdom. Government grants and business accelerators can be another option. The UK has grants for female-led businesses such as the Prince's Trust Women Entrepreneurs Programme and the Women in Innovation Awards, among other regional and local grants. Business accelerators available for UK women founders include the National Women's Enterprise Week, the Women in Tech Network and the Invest in Women Hub, to name a few. Once you manage to secure funding, knowing how to best leverage it for the long-term success and growth of your business is vital. One of the most important ways to do this is to establish a strong financial plan and cash flow management strategy through clear budgeting. This means that every expense is accounted for, and a detailed revenue forecasting and cost/benefit is carried out before making any large purchases or investments. Knowing which business areas to invest in to drive maximum value and growth in the long run is also key, instead of relying indefinitely on external funding and loans. This can help founders to invest in those areas from the beginning and achieve better returns earlier. These returns can then be re-invested into the business or used to pay back loans. Keeping track of your credit score, which affects how much you can borrow and who will lend to you, is also essential to the long-term health of your business. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
