The African Odyssey summit: an affirmation of woman empowerment and everyday activism

Among the deluge of daily bad news and the scourge of gender-based violence and xenophobia, South Africans are in much need of positivity and affirmation. The most recent African Odyssey women empowerment summit in early September, organised by Carol Bouwer Productions with Wanted magazine as media partner, served this up in spades.

The summit, presented in association with Boschendal, aims to provide a platform for women in South African business to share their stories, access a network of similar-minded individuals, and hear from female leaders in their respective fields as a way of creating open access to indispensable tools for success in industry and life.

This instalment of the summit featured an inspiring array of empowered women, among them host and founder of CB Productions Carol Bouwer, and Shirley van Wyk, the marketing manager of Boschendal.

Also in attendance were L’Oréal HR director Virginie Dias Tagnon, entrepreneur and author Amanda Dambuza, luxury-brand marketing guru Vika Shipalana, Suzanne Ackerman Berman, and Wanted editor Sarah Buitendach.

Taking place in the midst of marches against gender-based violence, the personal stories shared at the summit fostered a sense of camaraderie and affirmed the difference that South African women make every day. The panellists reminded attendees to be true to their authenticity as women, to be aware of their potential for positive impact on their environments, and to celebrate the crucial role women play in our society.

The African Odyssey summit is a critical part of building SA's future female leaders through embracing all that makes women powerful and unique. 

* This article was paid for by the African Odyssey and Boschendal.