Head Turner 2017

Our outlook for 2017 is centered on truly empowering the phenomenal women with the inspiration to be more on a daily basis. We hope the past year has empowered all our I-WIL-B women, with great insights and growth opportunities through our network of powerful women. 

The opportunities are endless for us women and yet we are still lurking behind, somewhat beckoned to our back foot with many societal burdens and our inherent ability to create life places us in a unique but challenging place. We are not incapable of being the bearers of life and still command leading positions in our societies, be it in corporate, cooperative, governance or non-profit capacity. When it comes to leadership we are born with it, so it’s time to act like we know.

The time to become true leaders has arrived as we have technology and social media to break the barriers that ever existed to oppress women in silence. Let’s horn in our voice and represent a bigger voice that will create enough noise for the head turner reaction, we are all yearning for in our lives.

I-WIL-B started the year 2016 with a workshop sponsored by NHBRC and EWSETA that focused on women with interests in construction, Energy and Water sectors. I-WIL-B women were very keen on the energy projects and for that reason the I-WIL-B Talk Event was dedicated to exploring new opportunities in renewable energy. We invited ESKOM to present on the independent power supply programs that have been running as a Department of Energy and Eskom joint initiative. After establishing interest post the presentation an interim task team has been delegated accordingly and we will have an update of the progress in our next Executive Board meeting.  The nature of such projects in economic scale and due process take 10 to 20 years before producing real dividends, and therefore they should be viewed as legacy projects that will bear fruit for our future generation.

An administrative office for the business of I-WIL-B and its holding public company Investing in Women in Business (IWB) holdings, to be in full operation as of June 2016, at which point membership to assist with admin costs will take effect.  IWB Holdings is a Public Company that will represent our interests in business and in community projects.

 An Investment portfolio will be developed by an experience Actuary which will be presented to the Executive Board. The Chairperson of the Board will be appointed by the Executive Board by the next EXCO Meeting; this is an internal matter that is not open to scrutiny by public members however members’ interests are well represented by the Executive Board.

Members will have an opportunity to become shareholders and trade with IWB Holdings which is a new Investment arm that will be able to generate income that can fund our businesses and create incentives for women in business.

The membership is linked with an incentive program with partners who will give us discount reward for carrying an I-WIL-B Loyalty Card with our wish list extending to airlines, accommodation, car rentals, insurance, telecommunication, retailers, merchants and women brands that we connect with in our daily lives as business women.

This coupled with our solidified partnership with the Women in Business Association (WIBA) Botswana, we have a direct link to doing business in the thriving economy of Botswana. Access to new markets has been one of our priorities from the launch of I-WIL-B in 2014, we will continue to support each other in our mutually beneficial endeavors.

I-WIL-B plans to expand its reach to the Gauteng, Vaal and Witbank areas where organized Women in Business Chambers are effecting change and making a mark in their communities. This is why the early part of 2017 will be dedicated to network sessions themed “#Boss-babes” in the Gauteng region.

I-WIL-B 2017 prospectus will be distributed accordingly in due course and includes our strategic focus for investment in Women’s Health; Biodiversity & Renewable energy; Property and Resources.   There will be a focus on branding, imaging and fine tuning your leadership identity. All workshops will be conducted at a later stage of the year and which will be open to members for free.

This is a head turner 2017 and we hope you choose to share your 2017 with I-WIL-B peer network group by signing up to be a member, your input as a powerful woman is much needed. Here’s to 2017.

To join the I-WIL-B Peer Network Group please email us i-wil-b@groupmail.com