Latest news with #femaleentrepreneurship
Mail & Guardian
3 hours ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Rooted and rising: Retang Phaahla on winning the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman award
To a tea: Retang Phaahla, winner of the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award On a crisp Johannesburg evening lit by candlelight, champagne bubbles and ancestral whispers, Retang Phaahla stepped onto the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award stage with the quiet poise of someone who has carried a vision through soil and storm. Her acceptance was tender, unforced. She did not shout her victory. Instead, she let it rise like the steam from a freshly brewed cup of her signature Tepane tea. The award, established in 1972, is not just a global celebration of female entrepreneurship, it's a mirror to Madame Clicquot herself, a pioneering widow who, in the early 1800s, took over her late husband's wine business and turned it into a champagne empire. It recognises contemporary women who, like Madame Clicquot, lead with audacity, innovation and purpose. In South Africa, where history and heritage run deep, Phaahla's win was more than a nod to her business acumen. It was a triumph of legacy, community and reclamation. Phaahla is the co-founder and CEO of Setsong Tea Crafters, a purpose-led company rooted in the indigenous knowledge systems of the Bapedi people of Sekhukhune in Limpopo. Together with her mother, and now her brother, she has transformed ancestral know-how into a global-facing wellness brand and done so with radical reverence for the land and the people who have always known its value. 'I'm still soaking it all in,' she says, her voice soft yet unwavering. 'To take that brave step as an entrepreneur, to build something out of Indigenous knowledge … this award is validating. It reminds me that the work we're doing is not just important, it's necessary.' For Phaahla, boldness is not loudness. It is not ego. It is choosing to lead with purpose, especially when the path is uncharted. She did not set out to build a tea empire. In fact, she thought she was simply helping her mother formalise a small idea, a humble act of service from daughter to mother. But soon, she realised that she was standing on sacred ground. The teas they were experimenting with — Tepane (black bush tea) and Diya (red root tea), held more than flavour. They held memory, wisdom, healing. 'These plants have been used for over a hundred years in our community,' she says. 'Long before laboratories. Long before packaging. Our elders knew their value and how they supported immunity, digestion, hormonal balance. When we finally did lab testing, the results affirmed everything our people had always known.' The affirmation didn't end in the lab. It echoed into boardrooms and buyers' meetings, into supermarket shelves and online carts. Today, Setsong is stocked at Food Lover's Market nationwide, several Spar stores in Pretoria and Johannesburg and is completing its listing with Dis-Chem. You can also find it on Takealot, Makro online and Setsong's own e-commerce platform. Setsong's main production site is not in an industrial estate or office park. It's on inherited land in Sekhukhune, where seven rondavels once stood — built by Phaahla's grandfather and used by generations of family members. When she and her mother began building their tea business, they didn't have the capital to construct a modern facility, so they did what many entrepreneurs are afraid to do — they used what they had. 'We renovated the rondavels into food-safe tea-processing units,' she explains. 'Each one now serves a purpose in our value chain, from drying and blending to packaging and dispatch. 'Outside, they look like traditional rondavels but, inside, they meet all industry standards.' It is a perfect metaphor for Setsong's approach which is modern sophistication wrapped in ancestral dignity. The rondavels are referred to as the 'tea village', where young villagers walk barefoot between pieces of modern stainless-steel equipment, working with the leaves their grandmothers once brewed at dawn. The transformation hasn't only been infrastructural. It's been social. Setsong is a registered social enterprise — 49% of it is owned by two local cooperatives — ensuring that the benefits of the business flow directly back to the community. Her mother continues to be the heart of that social arm. 'She's a community builder at heart,' Retang says proudly. 'She ensures that we remain rooted in our values and in sustainability, upliftment and legacy. That has allowed me to focus on innovation, market growth and scaling the business.' It's a mother-daughter partnership that's less about hierarchy than harmony. And, with her brother on board handling legal and governance, the family's vision is evolving into a multi-generational force. What sets Setsong apart isn't only its origin story or its social architecture. It's Phaahla's ability to listen — really listen to her customers. 'As a Millennial, I knew we needed to meet modern consumers where they are,' she says. 'People want wellness solutions that feel good and taste good.' So, she went into her kitchen and began infusing tradition with innovation. Today, Setsong offers a wide range of flavoured brews — lemon, ginger and berry Detox Tea; orange, ginger and turmeric Calming Tea, strawberry and fennel Sleepy Tea and orange spiced Immunity Tea, to name a few. And all of it starts with the base of Tepane or Diya, deeply rooted in African soil and wisdom. In a market saturated with luxury wellness brands, Setsong offers something different — a product that is aspirational without being extractive, luxurious without losing its soul. 'Consumers are increasingly seeking out brands that have a conscience,' Phaahla says. 'They want to know that their money is supporting something meaningful. 'That's where our social model aligns perfectly with our brand.' It's a careful balancing act, to scale while staying grounded. But Retang believes the two are not opposites. They are partners. 'We divide the roles intentionally. My mom safeguards the soul. I drive the scale.' Now that the champagne toasts have settled and the bold woman trophy sits on her shelf, Phaahla is focused on growth. Setsong is expanding into more local and international markets, including the hospitality and corporate sectors. But she's also thinking beyond products. On their farm, they've launched tea tours, immersive experiences for tourists to witness the story behind the brew. And personally? 'I'm working on myself as a businesswoman,' she says. 'I'm excited for the mentorship opportunities that come with this award. There's always more to learn and powerful women to learn from.' When I ask her which tea to recommend for my diabetic mother, she doesn't hesitate. 'Go for the Red Root Calming Tea, the one with orange, ginger and turmeric. It helps with blood sugar and turmeric helps bind glucose.' She says it with the conviction of a healer and the finesse of a CEO. In a world that often asks women to choose between being soulful and being strategic, Phaahla has chosen both — and that is truly bold.
Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Female founders get more support to foster a ‘dynamic' economy
The government has stepped up its support for female business founders and those from diverse backgrounds, releasing £450 million in funding, half of which it said would be invested by female fund managers. The British Business Bank (BBB), the economic development agency, will make the cash available from the start of next year. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said the move was about 'breaking down barriers to opportunity' to make the 'economy stronger and more dynamic'. Research shows just 2p of every £1 invested in venture capital funding in the UK goes to female-founded businesses, with the rest going to mixed gender or all-male teams, and only 13 per cent of senior individuals on UK venture capital investment teams are women. The funding decision comes as a separate government initiative, the Investing in Women Code, found that for the first time all-female business founder teams landed more funding deals from progressive business angel investing groups than all-male teams. The data was drawn from the signatories of the code, which commits them to support female entrepreneurship. In total 290 organisations have signed up, including 215 venture capital firms and half of all UK business angel investment groups. However, the total value of investments going into female-led teams from the code's signatories remains lower than that of all-male teams, at 15 per cent of the total, compared with 37 per cent for all men. The BBB said that £400 million of new investment funding would back fund managers from 'underrepresented backgrounds', under the premise that investors from diverse backgrounds are more likely to back founders with similar characteristics. The funding will also provide training for female angel investors who want to launch their own funds. At present only a few have been approved to run funds under the government's Enterprise Capital Funds initiative, with one industry insider saying that some have been stuck in a queue for approval for two years. 'It is critical that our most promising entrepreneurs can access the finance they need to grow their businesses, no matter who they are or what their background is,' said Louis Taylor, the British Business Bank's chief executive. 'The UK equity market currently experiences a significant funding gap for diverse founders, negatively impacting their ability to start a business.' The BBB has also made an additional £50 million available to support female-led fund managers through the Invest in Women Taskforce, taking the total it has committed to this initiative to £100 million. Baroness Gustafsson, the investment minister and former chief executive of the cybersecurity firm Darktrace, told MPs last week that a £250 million fund associated with the taskforce would start investing by the end of the year. 'Women entrepreneurs have so much to contribute to economic growth, so it is encouraging to see progress,' Gustafsson added.
Globe and Mail
10-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
These women are leading in male-dominated industries – and they're hiring all-women teams
Annastacia Plaskos grew up surrounded by the trades. Her father ran a flooring business, and when her parents split up, her mother continued to run the company. As a teenager, she encouraged her mom to add painting to the list of services and helped to grow the business. After high school, Ms. Plaskos attended university and took business courses. But her heart wasn't in it. 'It wasn't something I wanted to do, and so I [thought], what can I get into that allows me to have some financial freedom while still challenging me mentally and physically? I decided to get into the trades.' Ms. Plaskos shadowed a contractor for several years before she felt she had the skills to set out on her own. Then, she launched Fix It Females, a home renovation business that does everything from house painting to drywalling to building. The business rapidly grew from three to nearly 40 employees within a few years – all of them women. Hiring only female workers was intentional for Ms. Plaskos, who grew tired of having to prove herself to the male tradespeople she was working with, along with experiencing sexism and pay disparities in the industry. 'For me, showing other women you can do this, that it is possible [is important],' she says. 'You can make the same amount of money that a male can in this industry. It is doable.' Ms. Plaskos is one of a growing number of women entrepreneurs in male-dominated sectors who are helping to fuel small business growth in Canada. According to a recent study by GoDaddy, 43 per cent of businesses with 0–9 employees are run by women, while 48 per cent of the country's female-led businesses were started in the last five years. Many women leaders also make a concerted effort to hire an all-female, or mostly female, staff. Heather Cannings, program lead for women's entrepreneurship strategy for Nventure, a non-profit aimed at financing and supporting entrepreneurship in Canada, has seen a small increase in women launching and leading businesses in traditionally male-dominated industries. A 2023 survey found that self-employed women in manufacturing, scientific and technical sectors rose between 2021 and 2022. Ms. Cannings says that women can contribute unique qualities to these kinds of industries. 'I think women are bringing not only technical expertise but they're also bringing collaborative leadership, which is super important.' Women also tend to be very adaptable, she adds, 'which is incredibly valuable in these non-traditional spaces, where innovation and problem-solving are key.' Case in point: Aja Horsely, founder of Calgary-based honey company Drizzle Honey. The environmental studies graduate created the company while researching rooftop beekeeping, finding herself fascinated with the process of producing honey. 'I was driven by ethics and wanting to help the beekeepers make this amazing, beautiful product,' she says. Ms. Horsley started the business on her own, doing all the heavy lifting (hives can weigh up to 36 kilograms) – until she became allergic to bees. She had to quickly rethink her approach and switched gears, hiring local beekeepers to source the honey while taking charge of branding and packaging herself. She also applied and was selected to participate in a business accelerator where she learned strategies to build her brand. Dragon's Den's Arlene Dickenson was an early investor. Ms. Horsley says from the beginning, Drizzle's staff has been proudly all-female, and that has been an advantage. '[Women workers] are very creative and flexible, and I find they can be very driven. When they get an opportunity in a non-traditional work environment, they are willing to work very hard to get where they need to get.' Monisha Sharma, chief revenue officer at Fig Financial, a Canadian digital personal loan provider, was motivated to join Fig because as a champion of financial knowledge for women, she found a lack of growth opportunities for women in finance. She was almost always the sole woman at the table, she says, and there were few accessible tools to help women achieve financial independence. Ms. Sharma leads an all-female team and is part of a leadership crew that is 50 per cent women and persons of colour. She says that for women in non-traditional spaces such as finance or tech, working at smaller companies can sometimes be beneficial because decisions are based on data rather than who is at the leadership table. 'There is a focus on data driven-decision making which does provide a lot of space for women, people who are racialized, anyone who looks and sounds different – they all get room to grow.' At bigger, more established companies, this kind of equity continues to be a challenge, she says. 'There's a large glass ceiling.' One of Fig's initiatives is Women in Fig, an internal mentorship program that provides opportunities for women to receive support and to grow in their careers. Programs like these are key to women's success in non-traditional fields, says Nventure's Ms. Cannings. But she cautions that women don't just need a support group. They also need active champions – male and female – who can open doors for them and 'who are going to provide access, hands-on training, technical roles.' Even more importantly, they need investors and backers who will be with them for the long haul. Ms. Horsley agrees, saying that when she started Drizzle, buyers wouldn't answer her emails or would give her absurdly high quotes. It was difficult to be competitive, she says, because she doesn't feel she was given the same pricing that a male counterpart would to get the business off the ground. Over the last decade, however, Ms. Horsley has found that things are changing for the better. 'Investors know that women are underfunded,' she says. 'The buyers at large corporations know they need to include product purchasing from female-owned companies.' As more entrepreneurs like Ms. Plaskos, Ms. Horsley and Ms. Sharma intentionally create companies that are safe spaces for women and people of diverse backgrounds, the positive impacts will have a ripple effect, Ms. Cannings says. Companies like theirs can provide forums for workers to support one another and to be inspired by female leadership. 'It gives us a sense of shared experience,' she says. 'We can show up as ourselves.' Interested in more perspectives about women in the workplace? Find all stories on The Globe Women's Collective hub here, and subscribe to the new Women and Work newsletter here. Have feedback? Email us at GWC@
Entrepreneur
26-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Why Some Female Entrepreneurs Flourish While Others Burn Out
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Being a female founder and having worked with them for the last decade, I can safely say that we all frequently feel like we're failing, in business, life or both. As a founder coach, I frequently share the practice of self-compassion, whilst explaining that we're not alone and we're not the problem. Now I've also got the research to prove it. In our new report, "The True Cost of Female Entrepreneurship," Yvonne Biggins and I interviewed and surveyed nearly 250 female founders, from solo entrepreneurs to and scale-ups. The findings go far beyond the typical funding disparity headlines to reveal the true physical and mental toll of working in today's inequitable system. Although sobering, our first big discovery was so relatable and paradoxical, it made us smile. While 83% of female founders experience high stress, 78% suffer persistent anxiety, and 54% face burnout, we still wouldn't want to do anything else: 97% still enjoy their entrepreneurial journey, and 66% report high life satisfaction. The entrepreneurial journey is full of massive highs and lows. The female founder loves the autonomy, flexibility and purpose they get from being their own boss, and also finds the entrepreneurial journey incredibly challenging. The question isn't whether female entrepreneurship is hard – it's why some founders ride these waves better and flourish, while others barely survive. The Real Culprits Behind Female Founder Burnout As we explored the data, it quickly became evident why so many female founders are burning out. It's not just the "usual" entrepreneurial stress – it's a perfect storm of systemic disadvantages, compounded by biology and society. The odds are stacked so far against us, it's a wonder we do as well as we do. Financial anxiety emerged as the most extreme stressor in our research. Founders citing cash flow and fundraising challenges reported the highest stress intensity scores. This isn't surprising when you consider that male founders receive over 98% of every pound invested in UK startups. If you're strapped for cash, you're also going to be strapped for support, time, energy and headspace. It therefore makes perfect sense that a staggering 61% of female founders cite the overwhelm of "having too much to do and too little time" as their primary barrier to success. Why is this worse for women? Because all the odds are stacked against us. 75% of our respondents were aged between 35 - 54 years old. This both challenges the standard narrative that women drop out of entrepreneurship when they hit 35, and puts them squarely in the 'sandwich generation', charged with caring for both younger and elder generations. With research arguing that women typically shoulder 75% of unpaid domestic and caring responsibilities, it's clear we've got two high-stress full-time jobs, while being funded at 2% the rate. Add to this that 21% of our respondents said they're navigating the challenges of perimenopause or menopause, with its brain fog and sleep disruption, and 18% were managing ADHD (with 81.6% experiencing persistent anxiety), and you start to see why just working harder isn't the answer. The Positive Deviants: What flourishing founders Do Differently In our analysis, we discovered that despite facing identical challenges, some female entrepreneurs aren't just surviving, they're flourishing. We call them "positive deviants," because they've cracked the code on sustainable success. Here's the Best Practice Blueprint we discovered: 1. They Build Strategic Support Networks 66% of respondents reported being highly or extremely lonely. Thriving founders intentionally create a "resilience board" – investing in professional coaching, peer support, and mentorship. Our data shows that founders who are open about their challenges do better. 88% of founders with coaches report positive wellbeing impacts. High-openness entrepreneurs experienced better performance, lower stress, and significantly less loneliness. Top tip: Where can you find regular coaching, mentoring or peer support? 2. They prioritise health and fitness While struggling founders sacrifice exercise and sleep for "productivity," thrivers understand that wellbeing fuels optimum productivity. Founders prioritising health and fitness goals over financial ones showed lower stress and higher performance. Top tip: How can you increase your focus on health and fitness goals? What small steps can you take to eat better and moving more in the coming weeks? Just a 10-minute walk gives you more energy up to 2 hours later. 3. Nature as medicine Founders who regularly get into nature reported higher wellbeing and significantly lower loneliness levels, which correlates with higher business performance. Top tip: Can you have a quick walk in nature today? Harvard's John Ratey calls exercising in nature "exercise squared" - combining physical benefits with environmental restoration. 4. Joy as a business strategy Counterintuitively, founders who prioritise fun in their life goals report higher performance levels. Positive emotions make us feel, think and perform better, by increasing cognitive capacity, creativity and broadening our perspective. Regularly fully detaching from work also helps us stay resilient. Top tip: Plan some fun activities into your diary, thereby scheduling time for joy, as well as having something to positively anticipate. 5. They practice mindfulness and spirituality Founders who integrate mindfulness or spiritual practices into their lives (28% of our sample) experience lower stress levels. Top tip: Listen to Jeff Warren on the Calm App - he does a brilliant 'Mindfulness for beginners' 30-day programme, just 10 minutes a day. 6. They actively manage negative thought patterns The most resilient founders don't react by default; they respond with self-awareness. They've learned that how we interpret events – not the events themselves – determines our stress response and recovery speed. Top tip: Can you schedule in breathing space in your day, to give you time to reflect on how you are, and what you're thinking and feeling? The first step to managing your thought patterns is recognising what you're thinking and how it's making you feel. Key takeaways The "True Cost of Female Entrepreneurship" reveals that flourishing female entrepreneurs aren't superhuman, they're strategic. They've learned that sustainable success isn't about hustling harder; it's about understanding the connection between wellbeing, performance and resilience. The way they live and work reflects this. The best practice blueprint isn't rocket science, but it's not common practice either. In the face of challenge and fear, we're all conditioned to work harder, rather than smarter. My advice to founders? Look at the recommendations and determine which area in your life needs most attention. Take one small and intentional step to increase that area of your wellbeing first, then build from there. Adopt a growth mindset, using trial and error to work out your unique wellbeing and resilience levers. That said, it's important to remember that as women we can only 'optimise' our way out of systemic inequality so far. This report should be a call to action for the venture capital community, accelerators, and government bodies to address the structural and societal barriers that force women to constantly do more with less. If women can do so much with so little, imagine what we could achieve with equal support and funding.
