For a decade, EmpowaWomen™ has been creating spaces for women to connect, grow, lead and challenge the status quo. Now, as the platform celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is stepping into a bold new chapter with the launch of City of Her™ — a movement designed to connect women with the insights, networks and economic opportunities needed to accelerate their growth and impact.
The official launch will take place at the 10th Annual EmpowaWomen™ Leadership Summit on Saturday, 29 August 2026, at EmpowaWorx House in Randburg. Under the theme “Leading Fearlessly,” the summit will bring together leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives and emerging changemakers for conversations centred around one important question: What happens when women are given the tools, access and opportunities to lead without limits?
City of Her™ is not simply another event or campaign. It represents the next evolution of the EmpowaWomen™ ecosystem — a connected space where women can exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, access markets and funding, strengthen their leadership capabilities and turn ambition into measurable impact. The programme will cover everything from leadership, governance and entrepreneurship to innovation funding, sustainability, the green economy, energy, communication, advertising, marketing and media.
The goal is to move beyond inspiration and create real connections to the people, knowledge and opportunities that can help women grow. And that is where Bonnie Maponya, Acting Managing Executive of EmpowaWomen™, comes into the picture.
With experience spanning strategy, partnerships, stakeholder engagement and operational leadership, Maponya leads the platform’s strategic direction, commercial growth and execution. Her career has included work on initiatives involving globally recognised brands such as Nike, Cartier, BMW, Campari and Rupert & Rothschild, bringing a wealth of experience in building partnerships that turn ideas into action.
“City of Her™ is our commitment to building an enduring ecosystem in which women are not only inspired but connected to the relationships, knowledge and opportunities that accelerate their advancement,” says Maponya.
“As EmpowaWomen™ celebrates ten years of impact, we are creating a powerful platform for women to lead fearlessly, grow enterprises, influence industries and transform economies.”
The 2026 summit arrives at an important moment. Conversations around women’s leadership can no longer stop at motivation and empowerment — access matters. Access to capital. Access to markets. Access to networks. Access to decision-making spaces.
Through City of Her™, EmpowaWomen™ is looking to bring those conversations and opportunities into one connected ecosystem.
As the platform marks ten years of impact, the focus is firmly on the future and the next generation of women ready to build businesses, influence industries, occupy leadership positions and reshape economies. EmpowaWomen™ is not just celebrating where it has been. It is creating space for where women are going next.