There’s something so beautifully magical and admirable about women who are bold and intentional.

 I’ve read about it in books. I’ve also seen it firsthand through the women who have contributed to my upbringing. 

The power of living boldly…

I recently attended the Agenda Women Summit 2024. 

It is an annual flagship event that attracts women of all backgrounds and explores all aspects of working smart and living well. 

It also serves as a platform for women to network and equip themselves with the necessary tools to thrive. This year’s theme was centered around living boldly. 

So, there I was…seated in a room amongst what was probably over 1000 other intentional individuals. Through powerful conversations and panel discussions, each of us looked to ascertain what living boldly means in this season of our lives. 

A number of speakers took to the stage. It was one phenomenal story after the next. Stories of courage, challenges, triumph, dedication and all the other beautiful and messy parts which mould the journey of turning dreams into reality. 

Various sub-themes were explored. These included building generational wealth, the importance of spiritual alignment, the power of resilience, as well as finances and psychological safety. 

Last on the program was the impactful ‘mentor power hour’. During this time, everyone in the room had the opportunity to receive personalised advice and guidance from experienced mentors in intimate group settings.

After an entire day of soaking up wisdom and profound lessons, I left the event feeling very fulfilled. There’s a special place in my heart for rooms which ensure that I leave positively transformed, even in the slightest of ways. 

I couldn’t help but give way to an overwhelming state of reflection. For starters, I appreciated the fact that some of the speakers and mentors were male. 

We exist in an unfortunate reality where any impactful work around women can be easily misinterpreted. 

It can very quickly be reduced to just another bunch of bitter and angry women whose main focus is to disregard every man walking this earth and to take their place in society. 

As such, I viewed the inclusion of males as an important and intentional decision. In fact, one of my favourite speakers on the day was Laduma Ngxokolo. Alongside his sister, Lihle Ngxokolo Nqini, they shared the work behind building luxurious knitwear brand, MaXhosa Africa, as well as creating generational wealth as siblings. 

I also couldn’t help but ponder on the idea of success and being bold enough to do what seems impossible. 

I’ve always believed in the importance of tangible representations. Being in a room with people who have made their mark in history through excellence in their various fields moved me. 

Upon reflection, I realised that dreaming big is actually not hard for many of us. In fact, dreaming big is often why we’re stuck. Our dreams are so big, they scare us into a state of stagnation. 

Deep down, we know without a doubt that our idea of success is possible. We just don’t fully believe that it is possible for us. 

As a result, we dream a little smaller and even end up in an endless cohabitation with the concept of complacency.

But, perhaps it’s time we gave boldness another try. Here’s the thing, those big dreams will most likely continue to haunt you because they are aware that they can come alive through you. 

It’s time for a change in perspective. Let us be bold in our approach to life!