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Resilience and Persistence – Women Founders’ Advice - Part 54
In the Resilience and Persistence Series, we feature the insights of 10 women founders who share lessons on staying consistent, moving forward through challenges, and starting before everything feels perfect. Their advice also highlights self-motivation, learning through action, building genuine value, staying focused, developing strong foundations, and remaining true to your values while growing sustainably.
Featured Women Founders
Vandana Sanjay Bhanushali Don't stop keep moving and growing each day.
Devi. N Consistent and self motivation key to success
Devi. N Consistent and self motivation key to success
Alpha S The struggle is going to make you feel it's only you and thoughts of quitting might disturb but keep going , it's all going to show up for you
Neha Jaipuria I would tell aspiring women entrepreneurs to believe in their journey and not wait for everything to be perfect before starting.
Sarah Barnes-Humphrey It is one of the hardest things I have ever done and still do.
Dr Nidhi Khurana My advice to aspiring women founders is simple: focus less on appearing successful and more on building something that genuinely works.
Moleboheng Matli To all aspiring business women and new business owners, I started Southgerian Lifestyle Magazine during COVID—one of the most uncertain and difficult periods to build anything.
Chanelle Retief My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is simple: start before you feel ready.
Jaen-Marie Breytenbach Never give up.
Vandana Sanjay Bhanushali – Don't stop keep moving and growing each day.
Company– Mini Creations
Advice
Don't stop keep moving and growing each day. Challenge yourself and compete with yourself.
Devi. N – Consistent and self motivation key to success
Company– Business Mark
Website: Www.businessmarkindia.com
LinkedIn: Devi.N
Advice
Consistent and self motivation key to success
Devi. N – Consistent and self motivation key to success
Company– Business Mark
Website: Www.businessmarkindia.com
LinkedIn: Devi.N
Advice
Consistent and self motivation key to success
Alpha S – The struggle is going to make you feel it's only you and thoughts of quitting might disturb but keep going , it's all going to show up for you
Company– OMEGA shine industries pvt ltd
Advice
The struggle is going to make you feel it's only you and thoughts of quitting might disturb but keep going , it's all going to show up for you
Neha Jaipuria – I would tell aspiring women entrepreneurs to believe in their journey and not wait for everything to be perfect before starting.
Company– Olive
Website: oliveinteriordesigners.com
Advice
I would tell aspiring women entrepreneurs to believe in their journey and not wait for everything to be perfect before starting. Growth takes time, and challenges are a part of the process.
It is important to stay consistent, keep learning, and build strong relationships based on trust and professionalism. At the same time, don’t hesitate to ask for help, delegate responsibilities, and create systems that support long-term growth.
Most importantly, stay true to your work and your values. Genuine effort, patience, and resilience always reflect in the journey eventually.
Sarah Barnes-Humphrey – It is one of the hardest things I have ever done and still do.
Company– Lets Talk Supply Chain
Website: https://letstalksupplychain.com/
Advice
It is one of the hardest things I have ever done and still do. Consistency is key and so is being yourself.
Dr Nidhi Khurana – My advice to aspiring women founders is simple: focus less on appearing successful and more on building something that genuinely works.
Company– Goglobalways.com
Website: goglobalways.com
Advice
My advice to aspiring women founders is simple: focus less on appearing successful and more on building something that genuinely works. In today’s startup ecosystem, it is easy to get distracted by social media visibility, funding headlines, networking events, and external validation. But none of that matters if your solution does not create real value on the ground.
Start with a real problem, not a trend.
Many ventures fail because founders chase what is fashionable instead of what is needed. Spend time understanding the actual pain points of your users and be prepared to stay committed long after the excitement fades. Execution, consistency, and resilience matter far more than ideas alone.
As a woman founder, you will often be underestimated, questioned more aggressively, or expected to prove yourself repeatedly. Instead of wasting energy trying to fit into traditional leadership expectations, focus on building competence, credibility, and results. Confidence built on actual work is far more powerful than performative leadership.
Another important lesson is to avoid trying to scale too fast without building strong foundations. Sustainable growth comes from systems, trust, and long-term impact — not shortcuts. In sectors like education especially, meaningful change requires patience, operational discipline, and the willingness to stay deeply involved in implementation.
I would also encourage women founders to build support networks, continue learning, and not hesitate to enter technology-driven sectors. Women bring strong problem-solving, empathy, adaptability, and leadership capabilities that are extremely valuable in building impactful organizations.
Most importantly, do not build just to create a company. Build to solve something meaningful. Businesses survive competition when they create genuine impact, not just visibility.
Moleboheng Matli – To all aspiring business women and new business owners, I started Southgerian Lifestyle Magazine during COVID—one of the most uncertain and difficult periods to build anything.
Company– Southgerian Lifestyle
Website: www.southgerian.com
Advice
To all aspiring business women and new business owners,
I started Southgerian Lifestyle Magazine during COVID—one of the most uncertain and difficult periods to build anything. It wasn’t easy, and growth wasn’t always fast or visible.
This year marks 5 years since I began. The journey has been organic, sometimes slower than expected, but what matters most is this: I am still standing, and the platform is still growing.
Entrepreneurship will test your patience, discipline, and belief in your vision. Progress is not always immediate, but consistency is what keeps you in the game.
Start where you are. Stay focused. Keep building even when it’s quiet.
Keep going.
Chanelle Retief – My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is simple: start before you feel ready.
Company– NutriFundi
Website: www.nutrifundi.co.za
Advice
My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is simple: start before you feel ready. Confidence often comes after action, not before it. There will never be a perfect time, perfect plan, or perfect set of circumstances. Focus on taking consistent steps forward and trust that you will learn along the way.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is: Don't be busy, be productive. Being busy does not always move your business forward. Prioritise the activities that create value, build relationships, improve your service, and contribute to long-term growth. Learn to distinguish between urgent tasks and important tasks.
Surround yourself with people who challenge, support, and encourage you. Invest in continuous learning, seek mentorship, and don't be afraid to ask for help. There will be setbacks, but resilience, adaptability, and perseverance are often more important than talent alone.
Most importantly, remember that success does not require sacrificing who you are. Build a business that aligns with your values, supports your wellbeing, and allows you to make a meaningful impact. Growth may not always be fast, but consistency, integrity, and genuine passion will take you further than perfection ever will.
Jaen-Marie Breytenbach – Never give up.
Company– Addicted Leak
Website: https://addictedleak.co.za/
Advice
Never give up.
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