It’s Time to Celebrate the 21st Century Woman

How do you define a 21st Century Woman?

“A 21st Century Woman is a balanced woman who comes into her own. She is a self-developing woman who chooses herself and doesn’t wait to be chosen. She is a woman with a voice and puts herself first.”

These were just some of the responses from the guests at this year's 21st Century Woman event, held on 3 September 2023 at the Accolades Boutique Venue. Hosted by Mustard Seed Marketing, this is their annual flagship event. It caters to both aspiring and seasoned female leaders who are ambitious and aim to elevate their careers. The day was filled with opportunities for learning, networking, and connecting. All facets of leadership and entrepreneurship were explored, with insights shared by both speakers and panellists.

The day began with breakfast and networking outside in the beautiful gardens as we awaited the arrival of the guests. Afterward, we made our way into the hall. There, our MC and Panel Moderator, Thokozile Mcopele, who looked radiant in blue and was full of energy, welcomed us. She then introduced our guest speaker, Maande Tshifularo.

Maanda is the founding director and CEO of Superlead Advisory. He is a skilled strategist, leadership coach, author, and adjunct faculty at GIBS. Leading the discussion on leadership, Maanda shared his journey and introduced the Super Clarity Framework. Maanda remarked, "In all your seeking, find clarity." He added, "When you lead with a purpose mindset... you achieve so much more." This underscores his mission to fuel leadership. Having him at the 21st Century Woman event was the ideal opportunity to inspire both current and future female leaders.

"I do hard things."

This was the mantra of our keynote speaker, Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng. She approaches every challenge in life with vigor, never hesitating even when faced with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. She has been listed as one of Forbes' 50 Most Powerful Women in Africa.

Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng requires no introduction. The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town has walked the academic tightrope by earning a PhD in mathematics education. Today, she stands as one of the leading scholars in mathematics education on a global scale.

When asked ‘what is a 21st century woman?” Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng replied: “Know who you are. A 21st woman is intentional and comfortable even when people walk away from you.”

After sharing her leadership journey, this remarkable woman shared her motivations for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of 57:

"I climbed Kilimanjaro for three reasons," began Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng.

1) To support a noble cause: the "Caring for Girls" initiative. Through her efforts, she raised more than R100,000 to alleviate period poverty.

2) "The patriarchal script has always dictated what women should or shouldn't do, especially women of my age," stated Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng. Her ascent of Kilimanjaro aimed to redefine the narrative for 21st century women and inspire females everywhere to dream bigger.

3) Despite having leg problems and just as her motto says, she does hard things and in an act of defiance she conquered this mountain.

After a delicious lunch, we moved to the second part of the day, focusing on entrepreneurship.

Our next phenomenal keynote speaker was Mbali Sebapu, who transformed from an employee into a leader and entrepreneur. Mbali is the CEO and Founder of Hermosa Flor Cosmetics. She spent an earlier part of her career in the South African Military before transitioning to become a full-time entrepreneur. She has received several accolades and is an official Brand South Africa Ambassador.

Takeaways from her keynote included:

1) Know yourself and your capabilities. Remind fear of who you are and your track record.

2) Outwork your self-doubt.

3) Remember the strong 'WHY' behind starting your business.

Mbali was later joined by Yolisa Tshabalala and Hetty, also known as "Hetty the Entrepreneur." Yolisa is the co-founder and director of Imizizi, a people management and consulting company established in 2017. By 2020, the team had grown their business to revenues exceeding R50 million.

Known as South Africa’s number one monetization expert, Hetty's agency maintains a presence in Southern Africa, Asia, and the United Kingdom. She works with SMEs, corporates, and personal brands to enhance their revenue generation capabilities.

Before the day concluded, we heard from Daniella Wagner, a Higher Education expert from Insead, who joined us all the way from Dubai. She provided detailed information on their degree programs. Additionally, we had the opportunity to hear from Insead alumni who shared their academic experiences and answered a few questions.

The day was a resounding success with these 21st century women learning, networking, and connecting. We extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Mustard Seed Marketing and KW Kreative Agency for orchestrating such a splendid event. The atmosphere was charged with a spirit of learning and skill-sharing, ensuring everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Thank you for celebrating the essence of the 21st-century woman. Let’s do it again next year.

What is your definition of a 21st Century Woman? Let us know; we’d love to hear from you.