Thank You to Our Summit Attendees, Speakers, Sponsors and Coordinating Team

Thank You to Our Summit Attendees, Speakers, Sponsors and Coordinating Team

On behalf of the MadamèCEO Global Network, and the Imbokodo Women in Business Summit Board, we want to thank all those that attended, supported, and sponsored the Imbokodo Women in Business Summit - IWiBS 2020.

In order to make next year’s summit even more successful, we request that you share with us your comments and suggestions, through our contact details. We thank you in advance for your comments and suggestions and we assure you that each will be given consideration so that future summits and events will be even more of a success. 

Many Thanks

We hope that you found the summit informative and worthwhile. The primary goal of this summit was to bring together businesswomen leaders, and aspiring and industry veterans and professionals as well as friends and partners in an open dialogue, under one roof to explore what it means to truly have women at the entrepreneurial table now and explain the current local, regional and global business trends.

We believe that our diverse and dynamic group of speakers and panelists provided in-depth insight, as well as, actionable and practical ways of engagement on how we can dominate the business world as women.

Imbokodo Women in Business Summit 

Your presence helped to make this event a great success and your enthusiasm and positive spirit helped make our time together both productive and fun. We wish you all the best and hope that you continue to be engaged with the MadamèCEO Global Network, and the Imbokodo Women in Business Summit Board for future works, summits, events, newsletters, and magazine publications.  

Imbokodo Women in Business Summit 

A sincere thank you to all of our sponsors; Think Mzansi, PumpnMech Engineering, GnX Holdings, Sheppy Technologies, YoStatistician Consultancy, Dr. S. Mdubeki and the Thembani Family without their contributions, our options, and overall ability to host this event would be limited. 

Their partnership in making the IWiBS-2020 Summit a success is much appreciated. We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the Speakers. 

From Mrs. KZN 2020 Finalist Xolile Kineri, Andisiwe Tapu, Zabatwa Mazamane, Dr. Nondumiso Gumede, Dr. Shamiso Thondhlana, Nozipho O.S. Zikhali, and Noxolo (Princesslortts) Makhatini, the panelists of the insightful Diversity and Inclusion discussions, presentations, and talks for taking their time to speak to us, to Melpha Chakacha and Faith Matiza Chaminuka who led the morning and afternoon sessions and to every delegate who shared their work during the Exhibition Session. 

And a huge thanks to Usher the photographer, a young artist who volunteered his time and effort above and beyond the demands of his work for all our benefit. Without their hard work and dedication, the summit simply would not be possible.

Information about Imbokodo Women in Business Summit - IWiBS 2021 will be available soon and please stay tuned for more upcoming events by visiting madame.thinkmzansi.co.za.

Thanks again for your participation at the Summit. Each of you are an integral part of our MadamèCEO Fam, and together, we will continue to make great progress in our own community and in our nation.

"Empower a Woman, Empower a Nation."

Warm regards,

Sindiswa Thwala
(MadamèCEO Director, and Imbokodo WiB Board Founding President)

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Advantages of Women in Business

Advantages of Women in Business

1. A diverse workforce is an innovative workforce

Diversity—from gender diversity to culture, age, and race—has been shown to foster creativity and innovation. Most organizations across industries are seeking to prioritize and benefit from a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Men and women will inevitably have different experiences and backgrounds, which shape their approach to business. Challenging each other and collaborating with people who think differently can breed creativity and promote the innovative ideas that push organizations forward.

“Even with the very best of intentions, we have a tendency to gravitate towards people who are like us. It takes a real leader to say ‘I need someone to challenge me.’ That challenge can spawn new creativity, innovation, and growth.”


2. Women excel at the soft skills needed for business leadership

While technical skill and knowledge are fundamental to career success, CEOs consistently cite soft skills as the most desirable professional attributes. Although characteristics like effective communication, empathy, and self-awareness are difficult to measure, they are highly valued and can make a real difference to the bottom line. Recent research has drawn a connection between the strength of character and business performance—with CEOs who rank highly for attributes like compassion and integrity also enjoying a 9.35% return on assets over a two-year period.

Soft skills and emotional intelligence may prove a key competitive advantage for women in business. A 2016 study published by the global consulting firm Hay Group found that women outperform men in 11 of 12 key emotional intelligence competencies. These competencies included emotional self-awareness, empathy, conflict management, adaptability, and teamwork—all essential skills for effective leadership in the workplace

3. Women represent huge economic power and offer important consumer insight

It’s been estimated that women contribute in excess of $20 trillion in consumer spending every year, representing a bigger growth market than China and India combined. Women also account for 85% of consumer purchases.

Despite this, only 11% of creative directors in advertising are women—up from just 3% in 2008. When Boston Consulting Group did a comprehensive study of the “female economy” it’s unsurprising that they found women feel undervalued and underserved by the marketplace. With the power of the female consumer in mind, it’s evident that women are best placed to tap into that opportunity and bring valuable consumer insight to the table.

Tapping into the insight both men and women offer can make products and services more marketable and a business more profitable. In fact, recent research from McKinsey shows that gender-diverse businesses are 15% more likely to outperform financially above the industry median.

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Sindiswa Thwala Coffee Time Talk - Women Empowerment In The New Generation "Kwama2K"

Sindiswa Thwala Coffee Time Talk - Women Empowerment In The New Generation "Kwama2K"

Today, in contrast to the past centuries, we find women literate, educated, and liberated to lead.

 Sindiswa Thwala Coffee Time Talk

We find their surge forward not only in the political front but also in social life where they act as agents of change contributing to economic development as well.

But first of all, we need to understand what empowerment of women really means if we have to understand its impact.

Empowerment is about being given authority and power to do something.

Empowerment is about becoming stronger and confident.

Empowerment again means to become aware of one’s rights and privileges.

Empowerment also means the ability to control one’s life in a more meaningful and fulfilling way.


Gender Inequality

One of the major hindrances in the growth and advancement of women is gender inequality. This means that we treat males and females unequally even for the same task. This is generally in the case of defining some jobs and tasks to be either feminine or masculine. A male employee is always prefered in the engineering sector than a female, while women are mostly perceived as secretaries and admins.

Domestic Violence

Many women are suffering from abusive marriages. As they are not empowered, deprived of support and privileges, and denied of influential positions they fear to stand up for their right. If we want to empower women then domestic violence has to be stopped at any cost.


Economic Independence

If we wish to see a nation that develops economically on the global front, then it’s very important to have “Women empowerment”. The actual women empowerment will come by making the women economically independent

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