On Friday 31 July, we hosted a room full of women who lead at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga. A handpicked group of female business leaders came together for a tapas-style lunch and a few hours to talk honestly about what leadership actually asks of you. No panels, no agenda to rush through. Just conversation between women who understand each other’s world.
In 2025, Jem’s Client Growth Manager, Bianca McKay, and Ashnee Naidoo, Pepkor’s Learning and Development Specialist, met over coffee and floated the idea of creating a networking event where like-minded leaders in KZN could meet each other properly. A year later, that coffee turned into “She Leads: A KZN Ladies Executive Network Event”.
“You know those days when you look around you and have to pinch yourself because you can’t believe you are here,” Bianca says. “I never ever thought I would be sitting at a table like this, with these inspiring leaders.”
Two women we admire deeply gave the talks.
Dr Liziwe Masoga, Chief People Officer at Mr Price Group, spoke about building a career while being a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and staying rooted in her community. How you hold all of those roles at once without losing yourself in the middle of them. She was honest about what that really takes, and the room felt it.
Karen Hammond, Group Head of People at Meridian, shared how she built Meridian’s culture over the years, and how Jem became part of that story along the way.
Karen put the afternoon better than we could:
“I had the privilege of meeting the Unstoppables, women of incredible strength, resilience, courage, warmth, love, kindness and grace. Every conversation reminded me of the power of women supporting women and I left with a full heart, inspired by each and every one of you.”
That was the feeling in the room. As Bianca put it, “Rooms like this remind me why I do this work.”
“We host events because our product lives in the day-to-day reality of frontline teams, and the people who lead those teams carry a lot,” says Bianca. “Making time for each other, away from the pressure of the job, matters. Afternoons like this are a reminder of what happens when women make the space to show up for one another,” she says.
We wish all the incredible women at Jem as well as our clients and customers, friends and investors a happy Women’s Day and Month this August. If you’re keen to connect, build a network in your region, meet us for coffee or all of the above, reach out to us! Let’s talk!
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