Guest speakers Naledi Gallant, Advocate Gillian Benson, Zin Mabaso, Connie Mashaba and Thokozile Mashiane spent Women’s Day with 50 women in leadership at Goddess Café Southdowns. 

“Our aim was to provide a space for women in leadership to connect, reconnect and be mutually inspired,” said Councillor Kholofelo Morodi, ActionSA Tshwane Chairperson. 

Galllant, CEO Dalitso Holdings, challenged us to evoke our internal lotus of control and combine it with active citizenship, so as to be the change we want to be.  

Benson, Advocate and ActionSA Senator, shared a personal story about adversity that led to empathy and reminded us that although we don’t get to choose what life throws our way, we do get to choose what kind of women we become.

Mabaso, Director and Partner of AVCO, spoke about why significance is better than success and challenged us to a life of excellence and servant leadership.

“There is no such thing as work-life balance,” said Mabaso. “What we need to learn is how to prioritise, and to then align our priorities with our values. It is a daily planning priority.”

Mashaba, Managing Director of Black Like Me (Pty) Ltd,  encouraged us to celebrate each other, and not to shy away from authenticity, vulnerability, and transparency in our leadership style. “Courage is key to living a life of servant leadership,” she said. 

Mashiane, ActionSA Mpumalanga Provincial Chairperson, reflected on her name, and what it means to be the first–in contrast to the only– amongst many women leaders to come. She encouraged us to identify women in our sphere of influence and mentor them into future leaders.

Each guest received a bag of products generously donated by Black Like Me (Pty) Ltd, and well-known books by author Dr Nape were on sale.

 

Issued by ActionSA