Every South African that I know, watches Carte Blanche.  It’s a local news show which airs on a Sunday night.  The presenters dig into some controversial and provocative investigations into dodgy characters, businesses, and politicians.  Devi Sankaree Govender has been one of the key investigative journalists to host the show for many years.  Devi was one of the speakers at the Women’s Day event that I attended recently. Devi’s talk was entertaining and enlightening.  We don’t often think about what is going on, in the lives of television personalities, but we seem to think that their lives are somehow different … Continue reading Local wisdom cnt’d…post #27

I ended my last post sharing some insights which were shared with us at a Woman’s Day event, by Kerry Miller.  The second memorable and inspirational speaker was Saray Khumalo.  Saray had us so captivated that you could hear a pin drop.  Saray’s story is one of resilience, persistence and massive self belief. After all, what possesses an African ‘girl’ to take up mountaineering, let alone summit Everest? Saray’s story was filled with failures.  Only after several failed attempts, did Saray finally summit Everest in May 2019.  Saray has proudly raised more than a R1million towards various causes, with every … Continue reading Local wisdom, cnt’d…post #26

I’d normally have declined, but this time I thought – what the heck. I need this.  And so my colleague and I RSVP’d to attend an invitation to a Women’s Day event.  Trying to take some of my own advice and aligning to my priorities, vs. focusing only on the ‘to do’ list.  The speaker line-up for this event also grabbed my attention, making the decision to attend that much easier.  Kerry Miller (a local radio DJ), Saray Khumalo (the first African women to summit Everest), and Devi Sankaree Govender (a local journalist and television personality).  All of these women, … Continue reading Local wisdom…post #25

August is Woman’s Month in South Africa, so what better way to kick off the month than celebrating a satirically, yet sadly accurate, book about gender gaps in the workplace.  Now there are probably a few Brad Pitt fans out there, and you’ll be very familiar with his epic movie ‘Fight Club’.  Who can forget the Rules of Flight Club? Rule number 1: You must not talk about Fight Club.  Well this is completely the opposite.  In Feminist Flight Club, rule number 1 is: “You must talk about Feminist Fight Club”. This book, written by Jessica Bennet, is entertaining and … Continue reading ‘Feminist Fight Club’…post #24

I read this quote at just the right time. You know, when you’re racing from one thing to the next. Every hour of the day filled with a meeting, a connect, travel time, do the groceries etc. And then you catch yourself answering the ‘How are you?’ question with ‘Busy, and you?’  Everybody is so busy.  It’s a tragedy!  A Greek tragedy. You know the one’s where the audience can see what’s about to happen, but through dumb-denial, the lead character will walk into the trap again and again and again.  We’re going to get to the ends of our … Continue reading Busy is not your Purpose…post #23

Emily Williams and James Williams are a formidable duo.  Yes, they are partners in life and in work.  Emily recently published her first book, and all I can say is wow, wow, wow!  I could only have dreamed of having as much focus, imagination, determination and courage to have done as much as she has already done in her life.  If you’re looking for a bit of a ‘kick up the butt’ to get you back on track – then this is the book for you. Granted, it’s likely to resonate more with women; but I’d recommend it to any … Continue reading ‘I Heart My Life’…post #22

“Surround yourself with people who feel like sunshine.”  I don’t know who wrote it, but it’s good.  It elicits warm and pleasurable emotions, right?  It’s winter in South Africa, and some parts of our gorgeous country get really cold at this time of the year.  (Really cold.)  Not where we live though. We complain that it’s cold, but really it’s not. It’s warm enough to put your feet in the ocean, and to wear flip-flops.  That’s not cold.  Compared to our very warm, very humid, long summers – it is chilly. When I read this quote, it resonated with me … Continue reading Warm like the sun…post #21