Power of Words: a webinar on why mentorship matters for women in business
For women, led by women. This Women’s Month, a free webinar will explore how mentorship can help women overcome career barriers, build confidence and take the next step, both personally and professionally.
Taking place on Thursday, 6 August 2026, the webinar is open to women and men across all industries and at every stage of their careers. Themed Power of Words, the event will be hosted by six women who are themselves being mentored through She Is Forestry South Africa, bringing personal experience and practical insight to the conversations.
She Is Forestry SA was established by Forestry South Africa and the Forest Sector Charter Council (FSCC) in 2020 in partnership with the entire sector. In 2025, it launched Mentor Me, a five-year programme aimed at breaking down the barriers that prevent women from advancing into leadership roles and connecting them with female mentors, role models and professional development resources.
Its annual webinar programme extends beyond the forestry sector and is relevant to women across all industries. The talks and conversations will speak to challenges that women share, whatever their background or job title. This year’s programme looks at unlocking the barriers women meet as they build their careers.
“Women in the world of work consistently cite the lack of confidence or experience, limited opportunities and flexibility as the biggest barriers to advancing their careers,” says Makhosazana Mavimbela, FSCC Executive Director. “Handing over this year’s programme to women who were themselves being mentored by women leading the organisation is exactly what Mentor Me was built for.”
Among the webinar host is Nonkululeko Ntinga, Nurseries Manager at Mondi: “A year ago I was in the audience, taking notes. Being a host for this year’s webinar still feels surreal, but for me, it is the clearest proof that mentorship works. If it can move me from listening to leading in 12 months, it can do the same for any woman watching.”
“Although it is a full-day programme, attendees are welcome to join as and when their schedules allow,” says Mavimbela. “Alternatively, they can block out the day as an opportunity to pause, learn and invest in themselves.”
Dr Kaluke Mawila, Campus Principal at Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus, will deliver the keynote address, followed by a series of “Mentor Me Talks” covering effective communication, building a personal brand, leadership styles, how motherhood reshapes STEM leadership, protecting a career in a demanding field, and the honest lessons of a career still being built. Among the speakers are women with key roles in Sappi, Mondi, PG Bison, the University of Pretoria, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
The Going Beyond session will feature a roundtable focused on developing the next generation of She Is Forestry SA role models. These would be early-career women from across the sector will share the journeys that led them into forestry, helping female high school learners see the opportunities that the sector could offer them.
Ruth Hicks from the Shaya Izibalo Maths Institute will also share how its Maths Programme provides additional maths support to learners and teachers at the five schools that She Is Forestry supports across the forestry provinces of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
The day concludes with the Forestry Sector Awards and Student Awards, celebrating both established leaders and the women following in their footsteps.
The full 2026 programme is attached. The webinar is free to attend for every woman who registers, and places are open now. Register here