EmpoweringHER 2025 arrived in Johannesburg like a burst of colour fitting for an event themed “Women: The Boldest Strokes of Colour.” Hosted by the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation in partnership with the Hollywood Foundation, the sold-out seminar and awards ceremony gathered over 300 women at the Inanda Club on 15 November. Now in its fifth year, EmpoweringHER has become more than a gathering; it’s a milestone of memory, ambition and transformation.
This year’s focus, “The Power of 50,” honoured fifty women leading change in business, leadership and community spaces. Their stories anchored the day, reminding everyone in the room that empowerment is not abstract, it’s lived experience, collective courage and the ripple effect of women who bet on themselves.
Zozibini Tunzi hosted the programme with characteristic warmth and command, guiding the audience through conversations that felt equal parts masterclass and sisterhood circle. Founder Nomzamo Mbatha reflected on how the platform has grown into a sanctuary for women to learn, celebrate and build together. “Five years ago, this was a dream,” she said. “Today, we saw it realised in full colour.”
The panel discussions were the heartbeat of the day. Nozipho Tshabalala moderated each one with intention, creating space for honesty and insight. Topics ranged from navigating influence and finding true advocates, to resilience, authenticity and honouring one’s boundaries in leadership. Speakers like Dr. Vumi Msweli, Thebe Ikalafeng, Ndia Magadagela and Ipeleng Mkhari brought the kind of lessons that linger long after the applause ends.
The Hollywood Foundation, represented by Vuyi Ngobese, highlighted the real-world impact of the EmpoweringHER initiative, strengthened businesses, expanded opportunities and women entering Global Entrepreneurship Week not as inspirations, but as proven leaders.
Of course, no celebration of women is complete without art, and performances by Amanda Black, Lerato Kganyago and Muneyi filled the venue with music that matched the emotion in the room: purposeful, soulful and affirming.
EmpoweringHER 2025 didn’t just celebrate women, it marked a turning point. As the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation prepares for 2026, the message is clear: this is not the end of a chapter, but the beginning of a movement redefining what empowerment can look like in the next decade.
