Women’s Circle 2026: Starting with intention at the coast.
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
The first edition of the Women’s Circle Workshop for 2026 opened the year on a high note, sold out, purposeful, and quietly powerful. Hosted yesterday at the Beach Hotel in Gqeberha, the gathering set a clear tone for the months ahead: start as you mean to finish.
Now four years into its journey, Women’s Circle has evolved beyond a networking event. It has become a trusted convening space for women who are serious about growth, personal, professional, and communal. The room reflected that maturity. From early morning, coffee and a light breakfast created an unforced atmosphere for reconnection, introductions, and honest conversations. There was no performative energy here, only intention.
What stood out most was the consistency of community. Year after year, the women of Gqeberha show up, not just to be inspired, but to build something tangible together. Sisterhood, in this context, is not a slogan, it is a practice. One that uplifts women, upskills women in business, and provides safe, credible spaces to be seen and heard.
A special nod must be given to Amobia Communications, proudly managed by an all-female leadership team, and to the sponsors who helped anchor the experience, Vovo Telo, Woodlands Dairy, and Woolworths. Their presence reinforced the importance of brands meaningfully supporting women-led initiatives.
The programme itself was anchored by two compelling voices. Waheeda Williams of Woolworths, with over 25 years in retail and beauty, delivered a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. From her early career at Red Square and Edgars to matriculating alongside her daughter, and ultimately transforming the beauty department at Woolworths, her story carried a simple but profound message: courage compounds over time. Her closing charge to the room was succinct, be bold.
Mbukwashe Zwide, founder of Hombakazi Vintage Cabin, followed with a grounded, purpose-driven narrative. Transitioning from IT and corporate life to building a vintage clothing brand from her mother’s garage in Njoli, she demonstrated what intentional beginnings look like. Her journey underscored a critical lesson for entrepreneurs: creativity, when paired with business discipline and mentorship, becomes sustainable.
The workshop closed with heartfelt reflections from committee member Ayanda, thanking the Women’s Circle community for its continued commitment and trust.
This is the era where professional spaces are increasingly transactional, and gatherings like these matter. They remind us that progress is accelerated when women come together, not just to listen, but to align, learn, and lead with intention.
