The 5th annual EmpoweringHER Seminar & Business Awards lit up the Inanda Club on Saturday, as more than 300 women leaders gathered for what has been described as the most impactful edition of the event to date.
Hosted by the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation in partnership with the Hollywood Foundation, this year’s sold-out celebration centred on the vibrant theme, “Women: The Boldest Strokes of Colour.”
Marked as a milestone year, EmpoweringHER 2025 honoured “The Power of 50” — fifty dynamic women recognised for exceptional influence, innovation, and leadership across various sectors.
For founder Nomzamo Mbatha, the recognition symbolised more than accolades; it represented growth, resilience, and the foundation’s expanding legacy in shaping women’s empowerment in South Africa.
“Five years ago, we dreamt of creating a safe, sacred space where women could celebrate one another and today, we witnessed that dream in full colour, the Power of 50 represents legacy, sisterhood, and transformation, Mbatha said. “
From the outset, the atmosphere was charged with inspiration. Guests were welcomed by award-winning host and MC Zozibini Tunzi, whose charisma and warmth quickly set the tone for a day enriched with introspection, laughter, and thought-provoking dialogue.
“To be part of EmpoweringHER is to witness the strength, grace, and brilliance of women who are not waiting for permission to lead,” Tunzi said. “Today reminded us that the future truly is female, and it is now,” Tunzi said.
The programme delivered a series of powerful panel discussions curated to spark conversation and movement. Moderator Nozipho Tshabalala guided the day with insight and intention, eliciting standing ovations and trending social-media moments after each session.
In one of the most talked-about conversations, Dr. Vumi Msweli and branding icon Thebe Ikalafeng explored networks and career support in a session titled “Sponsor vs Mentor: Who’s Really Making Room for You?” Msweli underscored the role of advocacy in empowerment, noting, “Today’s conversations proved that when women support women, industries shift.”
Resilience and boundary-breaking leadership took centre stage in the “Boldest Boundary” panel with Ndia Magadagela and Ipeleng Mkhari, while authenticity in entrepreneurship was examined in the “Unmasking the Brand” session featuring Sheldon Tatchel and Mathebe Ngwenya.
Tshabalala later reflected, “Every woman in the room was both a student and a teacher — that is the true spirit of EmpoweringHER.”
The Hollywood Foundation, a longstanding partner of the initiative, celebrated the transformative impact of its investment. Spokesperson Vuyi Ngobese noted that fifty businesses have been strengthened through the programme, with jobs created and ripple effects felt across communities.
“These women are not just award recipients; they are proof that intentional investment in women entrepreneurs transforms economies,” Ngobese said adding that as Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off, the honourees will step onto the world stage as “proven leaders.”
The day concluded in celebration, with electrifying performances by Amanda Black, Lerato Kganyago, and Muneyi, whose music amplified the event’s message of purpose and unity. Many guests described the experience as “life-changing” and “a sisterhood that recharges your purpose.”
With EmpoweringHER 2025 now etched as a defining chapter, the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation has already begun shaping its 2026 vision. “EmpoweringHER 2025 was a statement,” Mbatha said in closing. “Next year, we’re not just returning — we’re reimagining what empowerment looks like for the next decade.”