We speak with Lutendo Mashabela, a member of the Women's Network Forum, about the importance of the forum and what inspires her on d aily basis.

Could you share a bit about your background and journey that led you to become a part of the Women's Network Forum?

One of the core principles of the Women's Network Forum is advocating for equal opportunities for both men and women. Personally, I felt, and still do, that the values of the forum were aligned with mine, and I wanted to be part of a forum or movement that advocates for change and a better tomorrow for the now and for the generations to come.

The WNF is all about fostering connections and collaboration. Can you tell us about a specific interaction or collaboration within the forum that has left a positive impact on you, either personally or professionally?

In the women's network forum, one has the opportunity to meet and interact with incredibly inspiring individuals, from colleagues to our own SLT female staff. I have been inspired and continue to be inspired by not only our internal staff but also externally through initiatives like Business Engage that allow us to connect with amazing women from across a wide spectrum of industries and share the most inspiring stories.

Our lift-as-you-rise sessions offer us the opportunity to sit at the feet of women we see every day in our corridors but don't know outside of their work capacity, and it's inspiring to hear their stories and borrow some nuggets from their shared experiences.

Mentorship and support are crucial for personal and professional growth. How do you believe mentorship plays a role in empowering women in your field?

It is extremely important because what you are doing has been done before by someone, and they can share their successes and or failures. While I agree that we learn through experience, if we are proactive enough we can also avoid some painful and unnecessary experiences through mentorship and perhaps navigate what may be similar challenges better.

The WNF aims to empower and uplift women in various ways. In your opinion, what unique contributions or strengths do you believe women bring to your industry or area of interest, and how does the forum facilitate the amplification of these contributions?

Our goal as the WNF is to empower women to be the best versions of themselves. It is not really a “new version”, it is ingrained in them, and we need to encourage them to rise to the occasion. Therefore, I do not believe we have any distinct strengths or contributions. I believe we bring the same qualities as our male counterparts. We are capable of doing the work in our own right. I don’t think we should be asking ourselves what women bring as a collective, but rather what each individual brings, regardless of gender.

Find out more about the important work Vodacom is doing for women in the workplace.