To mark the end of Women’s Month, the College of Law and Management Studies (CLMS) at UKZN hosted a celebration for all female staff within the College on 24 August on the Westville campus.
Themed: I am Every Woman! – A Powerful Daily Mantra for the Mind, Body, and Soul, the event featured presentations from trailblazing women to empower and offer guidance to other women in areas of achieving balance and success in their work, mental well-being, finances, and their social lives.
The event was facilitated by the Acting Director of the College of Professional Services, Ms Aliya Vaid, and featured guest speakers including the Director of the Higher Education Resource Service-South Africa (HERSSA), Ms Brightness Mangolothi; Co-founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, MsZohra Sooliman; Chief Executive Officer of Pro Talent and Founder of the Robin Hood Foundation, Ms Cindy Norcott, and the Chief Executive Director of Morar Incorporated, Ms Jennifer Reddy.
Empowering women in building and sustaining strong networks to support one another in their professional and academic spaces, Mongolothi recommended that women engage in social interactions, foster collaborations with others, act from the heart, and discover effective ways to communicate their expectations within their environments.
‘As much as we can empower ourselves and have psychological capital, which is about how we perceive the world, it is important also to appreciate that our success is not only dependent on us. It’s also influenced by the environment that we find ourselves in,’ she said.
Defining the concept of emotional intelligence for supportive environments, Sooliman said this was the power women should use to navigate connections and environments they occupy. ‘It represents the remarkable ability to recognise, comprehend, manage, and harness our emotions and those of others around us.
‘Emotional intelligence is not just a skill. It’s a force for positive change in the world that craves authenticity and connection. Let us harness this power, let us celebrate and create a world where relationships flourish and environments are truly supported,’ she said.
Delving into the topic of success and fulfilment, Norcott encouraged women to engage in activities that provide them with a sense of purpose, such as pursuing their passions and talents, seeking opportunities for financial gain, and contributing to something the world truly needs.
‘In my opinion, you cannot spend more than 20% of your day doing work you don’t like. I don’t believe we can just be making money but not enjoying each day – only do what only you can do.’
Reddy recounted her leadership journey, aiming to inspire other women to discover their own paths within leadership roles. She listed key areas that need to be tackled in order to address barriers of diversity in leadership including mentorship, social networks and access to the same education and training opportunities.
‘Another step is to encourage female leaders to seek mentorship programmes that will help them navigate the challenges they face in life.’
She urged women to support and uplift each other, emphasising that originally Women’s Day was driven by women protesting unjust laws, with the aim to uplift all the people of South Africa who were oppressed at the time.
Words: Samukelisiwe Cele
Photographs: Andile Ndlovu