Lockdown: 10 months, 1 week and 3 days ...

Soon after lockdown started last year, we posted this beautiful African quote on our social media pages. I don’t think we realised at that point just how important those words would be.

In 2020 we learnt lessons aplenty including the value of compassion and the importance of “Togetherness”. Social media hashtags #StrongerTogether and #Fratellitutti went viral.
It is a well-known fact that women entrepreneurs benefit immensely from being part of a
sisterhood. This is because they often do not have access to the networks which are
traditionally male-dominated, have very little access to market opportunities and finance and generally need a support system that accepts that they are not only entrepreneurs, but also mothers, wives, partners, sisters … the list is pretty long and includes all the responsibilities that go with it! The Graça Machel Trust Women Creating Wealth programme is just that. A support system which specifically provides women entrepreneurs with the network, access to knowledge and business opportunities that they need. As one of the women entrepreneurs selected to be a member of the programme, I was fortunate to be one of the graduates and award winners in our December 2020 virtual graduation ceremony held in the presence of the founder Mma Machel. She encouraged all women entrepreneurs to not be satisfied with just generating an income, but instead to generate wealth!

The key to success for women entrepreneurs is sisterhood and in light of this, I was
instrumental in setting up an alliance between the GMT and the FSACCI (French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry) in December last year. It is my wish that this mutually beneficial alliance will grow and demonstrate the notion of togetherness and that we are, indeed, stronger together!

Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe 2021!

Best regards,

Karen