The need to launch the Agenda Women Summit in 2017 arose from founder Nomndeni Mdakhi's journey of entrepreneurship of not having enough spaces for women to access information or mentorship to grow.
This phenomenon, that unfortunately still holds true for many other women to date, inspired Mdakhi to create a conducive space of information-sharing, specifically designed for the working woman.
This year, in its sixth edition, the Agenda Women Summit will zone into the theme "Working Smart and Living Well" which streamlines with this year's UN Women’s theme of "Generation Equality".
“I've often thought if there was a space where women were intentionally meeting to share information, to share their experiences and be open about how to deal with things – whether it's personal life or even in business – it will help us advance a little bit quicker.
“So Agenda Women became a platform that I created out of a personal need for information and community. It's just a passion point. I really think there's so much that women are capable of but sometimes our challenges are because there aren't spaces where there is intentionality around our growth,” she said.
According to a 2019 World Economic Forum study, the pace of women empowerment that the world is going, the world is likely to see equality in 235 years – citing the need of more of these movements and conversations.
Mdakhi hopes her platform plays its part in accelerating the empowerment to help decrease the years projected.
“I truly believe that with access to information, women are placed in a better chance to make certain decisions quicker. I remember when I got my first big account with Unilever, doing communication strategy, I didn't even know how to create a rate card when they asked me for a rate card. Luckily, I had a friend who then referred me to a CEO of a PR agency that did not see me as competition and she sat me down and helped me.
“This year, we will be looking at what’s next for the modern working woman in this new normal environment. We want to explore that now that we're post Covid-19, what does the modern working woman look at as a holistic life. We tackle that whole concept of holistic empowerment, which is particularly very important for us and will be speaking to topics such as living well or wellness which is our morning sessions with Mpoomy Ledwaba.
“I've often felt that empowerment is not only about progression in the financial sense and in success in the workplace, particularly with women because we are moms and wear so many different hats.
"So it was important for Agenda Women to look at holistic empowerment for women and particularly when you think about generation equality in the United Nations and sustainable development goals, it's important for us to really start to address ‘what does this idea of equality look like for us?'
"I think for a lot of men, it's intimidating, they think we're trying to be equal from a gender point of view, but this is equality from an access point of view. And that is why it is important to have men in the room for us to gain access to the same spaces that they have accessed,” Mdakhi said.
The one day event is preceded by continuous network where empowering content is shared throughout the year under their five pillars that include financial autonomy, body autonomy, freedom of speech, access and social connection where they host dinners, power brunches, masterclasses and summits.
“This is creating a virtual circle of empowerment, figuring out how to introduce women to others who can empower one another in a safe space and has intentionality,” Mdakhi said.
malibaa@sowetan.co.za
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