The Stage is Set: 120 Voices. Ten Leading Top Speakers. One Movement. The 9th Annual EmpowaWomen Leadership Summit is here
Thursday, 28 August: As the nation culminates its celebration of Women’s Month, the EmpowaWomen Leadership Summit is set to deliver a powerful finale.
This highly anticipated gathering of Johannesburg’s most influential women leaders takes place in just days on Saturday, 30 August 2025 at The Forum | Bryanston, marking its impactful 9th consecutive year.
This year’s summit is set to be the most impactful yet, underscored by the major announcement of S3 as the official media partner and ABSA as the sponsor.
This powerful partnership, alongside cornerstone supporters, Primemedia Outdoor, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) amongst many other supporters, signifies an unprecedented collective investment in advancing women’s leadership across the continent.
The summit will be headlined by a keynote address from The Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
Her participation elevates the national dialogue on gender equality and underscores the government’s commitment to partnering with private sector initiatives that empower and uplift women.
The EmpowaWomen Leadership Summit continues its legacy of being more than an event; it’s a dynamic ecosystem where power is not performed, it’s transferred.
Women across industries converge to shape the future of Africa, answering the call to Rise, Connect, and Lead.
A defining feature of this year’s summit is the introduction of 10 Industry-Specific Stages, designed to ignite sector-shifting conversations and foster real-time collaborations.
These dedicated stages will provide deep-dive insights into:
Mining & Energy
Green Economy & Climate Innovation
Entrepreneurship & Funding
Retail & Manufacturing
Beauty, Fashion, Health & Wellness
Media
Property & Urban Development
Transport & Infrastructure
Leadership, Governance & Boards
Communications, Advertising, and Marketing
“The EmpowaWomen Summit has always been about creating a space where women have access not just to networks, but to capital, influence, and tangible opportunities,” says Azande Ralephenya, Managing Executive: Special Projects at EmpowaWorx.
“Our new partnership with S3 and the incredible support from our ecosystem partners allows us to magnify this impact exponentially. Coupled with Minister Chikunga’s voice and our 10 industry stages, we are creating an unparalleled platform for actionable change.”
Each of the stages for the Summit have been proudly curated by leading organisations such asSouth African National Editors Forum, A Seat At The Table, Beauty With A Purpose Academy, Marketing Association of South Africa, KS ESG Consulting, Women on Boards demonstrating a broad, collective commitment to fostering women’s leadership across Africa’s most vital industries.
With over 100 powerhouse speakers across the ten stages, the EmpowaWomen Leadership Summit is where ideas become action.
