WEDO brings women together
Maureen Odubeng | Monday November 29, 2021 06:00
The theme of this year’s commemoration was: “Partnering to learn, empower, and grow.” Gaobakwe spoke of the need to embrace the changes that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought to the way business interacts with human beings. She spoke of the need to think globally and embrace technology as an enabler to humanity while acknowledging that it is important to build relationships locally.
WEDO is an international non-government volunteer organisation that accelerates and educates the world on the importance of the need to empower women in business globally. WEDO convenes business leaders, change makers, government officials and civil society to collaborate and find solutions in critical areas of entrepreneurship eco-systems, education and policy creation to empower women in business.
WEDO is celebrated at the United Nations and in 144 countries and 65 universities/colleges internationally. When women are elevated financially, communities, states, and countries prosper. This builds a global blueprint to alleviate and eradicate poverty. The 2021 Botswana commemoration aimed to bring together women from different walks of life, industries, and experiences to share, network, and meaningfully create a conducive environment in which entrepreneurial women in Botswana (and beyond) can thrive.
In attendance were women from finance, arts, civil society, events management and many other fields.
The event began with an opportunity for all attendees to share their most notable lessons and messages that have sustained and encouraged them to persevere on their intra and entrepreneurship journeys. Many women shared quotes that inspired them or that they live by. The overwhelming themes for these quotes included matters of faith, empowering others, self-motivation and staying in the present.
Women in finance were represented by Michelle France-Mabiletsa of First National Bank Botswana and Loago Tshomane of Season’s Grace Garden Centre. The women in finance imparted critical, yet often overlooked aspects of successful financial assistance and sustainability.
They reminded the audience that debt can be a useful tool for business growth, that there is a difference between bank financing and venture capital funding and separating your personal finances from business finances. France-Mabiletsa further reiterated the need for women in business to plan, develop, and approach their personal and professional lives with the frame of “Legacy Planning.” Malebogo Marumoagae of Belle Larissa spoke about personal branding, authenticity, and the importance of each of us knowing and feeling that we are enough.
Anita Molosiwa affirmed these words and shared her life-long experience of learning and growing to be her authentic self in her personal and professional space, including a recent shift in her business from the fashion to interior design space.
Closing remarks by Zindzi Letsididi, emphasised the need for women to celebrate and network but more importantly move beyond the “vibes” of the day to impactful action that will help grow and sustain women entrepreneurship.
The event was sponsored by a range of organisations that seek to support the growth and empowerment of women entrepreneurship such as Garona Group, Lengau Wines, Strawberry Lips, Health Generation, ESTeRES, Belle Larissa and The Neo Hub.