Women must stand together to obtain success – message at Alumni Relations Women’s Day event

In order for women to break through the glass ceiling a lot sooner, they need to cultivate a deeper sense of self-confidence and start looking out for themselves.

This was one of the messages that came to light at the Women’s Day event, hosted by Stellenbosch University’s Alumni Relations office, held in Stellenbosch recently.

Seen here with the moderator, Elsabe Daneel (second from the right), are the panellists (from the left) Prof Rachel Jafta, Dr Nomfundo Ngwenya, Ms Lizette Frank and Dr Sherylle Calder. (Photo: Justin Alberts)

The evening, with the theme Maties women shatter the glass ceiling, consisted of a panel discussion, moderated by well-known presenter and actress, Elsabe Daneel, and a networking session. The panellists, Ms Lizette Frank (Founder of BEE Empowered & Labour Consultancy cc, Prof Rachel Jafta (Founder of Rachel’s Angels, co-founder and director: Econex), Dr Nomfundo Ngwenya (Head of SA Foreign Policy & African Drivers Programme) and Dr Sherylle Calder (Visual Skills and Performance Specialist) shared their stories and told how they reached their various levels of success in their different fields.

Dr Calder, who worked with the Pakistani cricket team, explained how she as a hockey player realised she saw things differently and how a player can train his/her eye to improve his/her skills.

Ms Frank brought smiles to the faces of the audience when she revealed how her stubborn streak was responsible for her chosen field. “When I was working for a law firm one of the bosses told me as a woman I will never become a director at that firm – so I started my own firm!” She went on to tell how she was told that as a white woman she will never be able to own a BEE company. “Once you prove yourself, people take you seriously.”

A childhood where she had to motivate why money must be spent on further education for a female child was the backdrop Prof Jafta sketched when she spoke about the obstacles she faced. She said that in the end perseverance won out and was one of the main reasons for her success.

Dr Ngwenya echoed Ms Frank’s admission of a stubborn streak and said she is thankful for her parents who, even though they didn’t have a university education, took her and her siblings to places outside of the township where they lived. “In doing so, they demystified the idea of university to us.”

Some of the issues the audience raised with their questions to the panel included tokenism, professional rivalry/jealousy from other women and the need to debate to change the organisational culture of many South African companies where a patriarchal system is in place keeping women from rising through the ranks.

To view photos of the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stellenboschuniversity/sets/72157627383905674/

For a short YouTube video of the event:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW2KhvtI4fQ