Opportunity for women entrepreneurs to exhibit at UN event

23 Jul 2012

The United Nations Women and the UN Global Compact have collaborated to create the 'Women's Empowerment Principles', a set of seven steps for companies to take to empower women in the workplace and marketplace.

To support this initiative in South Africa, UN Women and Business Engage will hold a Hot Tables dinner for approximately 300 attendees and 20 senior women in industry as table hosts, on 21 August 2012 from 5.30-10pm at the Longmeadow Restaurant, Monte Casino Boulevard in Fourways, Sandton. Tickets are R350, with a discount on a table of 10 of R295 per person.

As part of the event, it will include the 'International Labour Organisation Month of the Women Entrepreneur in Africa' and will offer women entrepreneurs an opportunity to highlight and sell their products, either via inclusion in the gift bags or through exhibiting at the event. To qualify, entrants must book and pay for a minimum of five seats for the event before 8 August 2012.

Cherie Blair Foundation

Business Engage is the sole partner in South Africa of the Cherie Blair Foundation Mentorship Programme. The foundation will be on its first visit to South Africa during the week of the event, after appointing Business Engage as a partner in the region and the partnership will be officially announced at this event.

Speaker, hosts

Hot Tables allows participants to move to different tables, as each dinner course changes, and join one of the hosts, who will facilitate networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs. Coupled with the pre-dinner drinks, this enables attendees to meet at least 50 likeminded contacts.

The guest speaker is Nomcebo Manzini - regional director, UN Women, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. Confirmed table hosts are:

Barbara Muzata - communications manager: South Africa, Emerging Africa & Middle East: Dimension Data
Carmen le Grange - partner: PwC
Christelle Louw - partner: Wealth Advisory Services: Citadel
Ezanne Swanepoel - lecturer: Entrepreneurship
Giulia Corinaldi - director: Cherie Blair Foundation, UK
Kate Moodley - author and owner: Discovery Franchise
Kerryne Neufeldt - inventor: Eye Slices
Leora Rajak - owner: Enterprise Room
Liz Bath - MD: Educos
Mandlakazi Mpahlwa - owner: MM Communications
Nkhensani Nkosi - owner and founder: Stoned Cherrie
Sonja Sebotsa - Founder: Identity Partners
Tina Eboka - T.I.N.A (There is no Alternative)