The objective of the event was to bring together women who are all leaders in their field, including U.S. business woman, Ms Anna Griffin, who is the Vice President Global Brand & Campaigns, Juniper Networks in Sunnyvale California. She is also a mentor with the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership.
Speaking at the event to an audience of sixty academics, students, and entrepreneurs, Anna Griffin did not mince her words, saying that South African women are full of potential. "It is time women across the world seize opportunities and re-imagine possibilities for themselves in their academic and professional pursuits", she said.
Delivering her speech, Guest of honor, as well as the U.S mission Charge d'Affaires Virginia Palmer, said the event was quite timely because in the United States, March was Women's History Month. "It is time when we look back at the progress made over the years in gaining equal rights for women, including the right to earn the same pay that men do when they work". Palmer added that there is a lot of potential in women with regards to Economic Empowerment, and in both the United States and South Africa, growth and economic security will be determined by how well the two countries embrace progress and empower women business owners as well as women leaders. "I am proud to say that around the world today, women entrepreneurs are increasingly visible. They are starting new businesses and growing their ventures into successful small businesses, and they are managing global enterprises", Palmer said.
In a discussion facilitated by U.S mission Charge d'Affaires Virginia Palmer, the panelists, Professor Puleng Lenka-Bula from UNISA, Dr Phyllis Ndlovu and Professor Naidoo, shared stories about the barriers they broke in pursuit of their aspirations, ways to more fully engage with both men and women in leadership, to name, but a few. The discussion was immediately followed by a resource fair where participants learned about academic, professional, and entrepreneurial opportunities
Anna Griffith, VP of Juniper Networks, Chargé d'Affaires Virginia Palmer, and other panelists kick-start the program with a song