With thousands of female-owned businesses in South Africa struggling to scale due to lack of access to funding, networks, and mentorship, the Woman of Stature Foundation is stepping in with impact.
On July 3, 2025 the Foundation will host the Professional Collective Summit 2025, an event designed to inspire and equip professional women with the tools they need to thrive and scale their businesses.
CEO and Founder of the Woman of Stature Foundation, Charlotte du Plessis said: “With less than 20% of SMEs in SA being female-owned and the failure rate still alarmingly high, initiatives like this are critical to shifting the national economic narrative.”
Under the theme “Wholeness – The Optimum You”, the one-day summit will unite female entrepreneurs, thought leaders, executives, and change-makers around one shared goal: empowering women to lead holistically – in health, finance, purpose, and enterprise.
“If we want to see real economic transformation in South Africa, we must support women-owned businesses. This summit will offer practical insights, powerful networks, and bold inspiration to make that happen,” Charlotte said.
Attendees can expect insight-packed panels, impactful keynotes, and a vibrant exhibitor showcase focused on wellness, finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Guiding the day will be Fortunate Twala, certified life coach and National Leader of the Woman of Stature Professional Collective.
The summit’s keynote will be delivered by Nonkululeko Gobodo, South Africa’s first Black female Chartered Accountant and a national icon in business and leadership. Honoured with the 2025 Woman of Stature Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, Nonkululeko’s story – captured in her recent autobiography Awakened to My True Self – will set the tone for a day of breakthrough and bold self-leadership.
Event Details:
· Date: Thursday, 3 July 2025
· Time: 09:00 (one-day event)
· Venue: Hotel Sky, Sandton, Johannesburg
Featured Speakers:
· Prof. Lethiwe Nzama-Sithole – UJ Associate Professor & 2025 Woman in Education Award Winner
· Natalee Holmes – CEO, Conscious Connection & Woman in Coaching & Mentoring Award Winner 2025
· Ronel Jooste – Founder, Maroneli Group & Woman of Stature Board Member
· Dr. Ronel Toerien – College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg
· Seanice Lojede – CEO, Blu Flamingo Africa & Entrepreneur of the Year 2024
Also see: Meet the riches women in South Africa
