With less than 20% of SMEs in South Africa being female-owned and many women-led businesses struggling to scale due to lack of access to funding, networks, and mentorship, the Woman of Stature Foundation is stepping up with purpose and impact.
On 3 July 2025, the Foundation hosted its flagship Professional Collective Summit at Hotel Sky in Sandton, under the transformative theme “Wholeness – The Optimum You.” This one-day immersive gathering brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, change-makers, and creatives to empower the modern professional woman across five pillars: self-discovery, wellness, financial health, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
“Women are exhausted from juggling multiple roles. Yet they show up, build, lead and inspire,” said Charlotte du Plessis, Founder & CEO of the Woman of Stature Foundation. “This summit is about nourishing the whole woman – her mind, emotions, health, goals, and legacy.”
The event was headlined by Nonkululeko Gobodo, South Africa’s first Black female Chartered Accountant, who was honoured with the Woman of Stature Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award 2025. Gobodo delivered a powerful keynote, encouraging women to visualise their path, embrace challenges, and take bold steps toward sustainable entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is not just about business – it’s a gift that requires vision, resilience, and the right partnerships,” said Gobodo.
The speakers line-up which included influential businesswomen offered powerful insights to guide female entrepreneurs through the realities of building sustainable, purpose-driven businesses.
Delegates were encouraged to embrace entrepreneurship not just as a career path, but as a calling that demands bold vision, emotional resilience, and unwavering belief in oneself. Speakers highlighted the importance of inner clarity, visualisation, and connecting deeply with one’s purpose to weather the storms of uncertainty and unlock lasting impact.
The Woman of Stature Foundation acknowledges the outstanding contribution of all the speakers whose inspiration, wisdom, and lived experience empowered every woman in the room. Their voices sparked reflection, renewed confidence, and the courage to act.
Women left the summit energized, affirmed, and equipped to rise with intention – ready to apply the insights shared and to take the next steps in their business and personal growth journeys.
The summit is hosted as a fundraiser for the Woman of Stature Foundation, which develops women entrepreneurs across South Africa through training, mentorship, and support.
“Thousands of women-led businesses are failing – not from lack of vision, but lack of support,” said du Plessis. “This is why our Foundation exists – and why we invite more women to join our network.”
Join the Woman of Stature Professional Collective -to connect with a network of empowered businesswomen, visit: www.womanofstaturefoundation.org
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