The hats we women wear… oh, the hats we wear!
We are everything…. We are mothers, wives, career women, entrepreneurs, mompreneurs, homemakers, teachers, cooks, chauffeurs and the list goes on and on. We are fabulous! We are all of that and a bag of chips. We are amazing. The queens of juggling and multitasking. It’s not easy wearing all of these hats; but we manage to do it. We are everything!
In celebration of Women’s Day
In celebration of Women’s Day and all the many hats women wear, Gauteng Women in Insurance (GWII), in collaboration with the Insurance Institute of Gauteng (IIG), hosted a Women’s Day webinar, on 5 August, themed Uykho Konke ‘You Are Everything’, with main sponsor Camargue, and co-sponsors Constantia, Discovery, Emerald Africa, F&I Insurance, F&I Reinsurance, Genasys, Marsh, Old Mutual Insure, Santam, Sasria and Swiss Re.
With starry line up of speakers, the night was nothing short of fabulous. GWII Deputy President, Wilmine Prinsloo and Thabo Twalo, Deputy President of the IIG, opened the session with a welcome and reminder of what we were celebrating, thanking all sponsors. A moment of silence was also observed for all our industry colleagues who have lost the fight to the pandemic.
The first on screen to entertain the guests was Tumi Morake, a formidable force in the comedy industry, with a career spanning over 15 years. From weight loss, skinny and fat girls, to weaves, Brazilian hair and tights, Morake had the audience in stitches in just the right proportions.
All in all, her message was for women of all shapes and sizes to love themselves… “the fact that we are all here shows that we, as women, are winning. So, take care of yourselves, lift each other up, and most importantly, love yourself.”
Self-awareness is key to success
Next on screen was entrepreneur, thought leader and speaker Rapelang Rabana – who has been featured on the cover of Forbes Africa magazine before the age of 30, chosen as a Fast Company Maverick, named Entrepreneur of the World by the World Entrepreneurship Forum and selected as Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
“As an African woman I have carved my way to what I want, and I have done it in a deliberate and integrated. I have been on an amazing journey and have found myself in places I have never imagined. Over the years, in my career, the personal growth element was key in my journey to going after everything,” she said.
“The journey to success starts with the ability to be self-aware… self-awareness is critical to success. Our cognisance of value and success is about being able to drive self-growth and leadership, our ambitions and values, and tuning into those things that pique your interest. Reflect and be aware. Self-awareness means whoever you are... you have a total of life experiences that have prepared you to notice opportunities around you,” she added.
“Questioning the world around you is what drives curiosity and growth. It is okay if you do not have the answers to everything. If you are self-aware, you are more likely to do things that you are drawn to… that’s the authentic connection,” she continued.
“The power of self-awareness leads to risk taking and the value equation (your unique contribution + hard work = value). So, create your own value. You have a choice to go back to the old way of doing things, or like me, you can decide to work towards the questions you want answers to. There is no quick fix to life but the commitment to growth and self-awareness is the beginning of it all…” she concluded
The final act was the former lead singer of the critically acclaimed pan-African supergroup Freshylyground, a South African Storyteller, award winning actress, singer and inspirational international icon Zolani Mahola.
She went on to perform a powerful singing and story act which encapsulated the power of a woman who blossoms when she remembers who she is. In closing, Zolani told the ladies to “remember who you are… choose who you want to be”.
A charitable cause
Our nominated charities for this webinar are Fons Luminus Secondary School and Maphutha Secondary School.
Lucky draws
Drum roll please… and now onto the grand prize giveaways!
The night saw BIG prize giveaways that made many hearts happy. Thank you to all the prize sponsors for the awesome prizes. The prizes included:
- A fully inclusive bush getaway for 2 nights with spa treatments and game drives Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge 5* by Discovery, to the value of over R20,000;
- A BIG WIN… one lucky lady walked away with a R10 000 cash prize, sponsored by F&I Insurance and F&I Reinsurance;
- A two-night luxury bush gateway, including a hot air ballon ride, spa treatments and a game drive at the Cradle Boutique Hotel sponsored by Old Mutual Insure, valued at over R20 000.
- For the one who seeks to take the time out to unwind and rejuvenate with the healing hands of therapists, Santam sponsored a R5 000 Mangwanani Spa voucher.
- A spa voucher, to the value of R2 500, sponsored by Oak Tree Intermediaries.
Thank you
GWII would like to thank the main sponsor Camargue, and co-sponsors Constantia, Discovery, Emerald Africa, F&I Insurance, F&I Reinsurance, Genasys, Marsh, Old Mutual Insure, Santam, Sasria and Swiss Re for their sponsorship and support for this event. Without them this would not have been possible.
And lastly, to all GWII members… love yourself, first and foremost. The journey to success starts with the ability to be self-aware… it is the beginning of it all. Then remember who you are… choose who you want to be!
See the photo album here
See the inspiring messages our sponsors shared for Women’s Day here