Marlen Bohn
Entrepreneur Characteristics
Curated by community leader Marlen Bohn, this recipe highlights the entrepreneurial traits that matter most. Drawing on her work with township entrepreneurs and youth, Marlen brings a grounded, people-first perspective to what it really takes to grow a business that makes a difference.
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About This Recipe
As Programme Manager of the Heavy Chef Community Business Programme, Marlen Bohn works closely with entrepreneurs in townships across South Africa, supporting them as they grow not just businesses, but themselves. In this curated recipe, Marlen brings her people-first approach to the question: what really defines a great entrepreneur?
Through a handpicked selection of Heavy Chef Recipe Bites —Marlen explores the inner traits that help founders thrive: from resilience and leadership to purpose, presence, and self-belief. This is entrepreneurship grounded in community, growth, and authenticity.
Cover These 10 Perspectives
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What skills drive entrepreneurial success
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Building a winning mindset in business
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The traits of effective leadership
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Common leadership mistakes to avoid
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Lessons from early entrepreneurial journeys
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Why entrepreneurs need to think big
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Innovation and fostering a culture of change
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Advice for starting when the path is uncertain
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What it means to be an entrepreneur
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How leadership can be positive and impactful
Who Is Our Heavy Chef?
Marlen Bohn is the Programme Manager of the Heavy Chef Community Business Programme, supporting entrepreneurs across 10 townships in South Africa. Since joining Heavy Chef in 2022, she has championed grassroots entrepreneurship, especially through women-focused e-commerce initiatives. Marlen also runs empowerment workshops in Diepsloot, facilitates social-emotional learning in schools, and co-directs The Sprout Co, a wellness brand offering mindfulness tools and retreats for women and teen girls.
Learn
Learn from someone who speaks from a position of real authority, perspective and experience.
Do
Implement practical tips and techniques learned in the trenches - doing, rather than talking.
Share
Join a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs in our growing community and share your learnings as you go.
Why Are Heavy Chef Recipes So Highly Regarded?
One Tasty Recipe.
Ten Tiny Bites.
Each Heavy Chef recipe is made up of ten focused 'learning bites' of five minutes or less.
For Entrepreneurs.
By Entrepreneurs.
Continually focusing on the needs of our ever-growing community of entrepreneurs.
Access Anytime. Anywhere. Anyhow.
As long as you have an internet-enabled device, you can digest a tasty learning bite.
Want Even More?
Heavy Chef has thousands of learning bites, just like these. Search from technology, leadership and creativity topics, served up by the heaviest chefs in the world.
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