ZAThe article highlights the progress made in empowering women in South Africa through mentorship programs, using the example of Thandi Orleyn, a successful businesswoman and advocate. Orleyn reflects on her own experience as a student in 1976, when women like herself faced legal barriers to education and opportunity. She now leads the IWFSA (International Women’s Forum South Africa), an organization established in 2002 by Zanele Mbeki to support women in leadership roles. The IWFSA provides mentorship initiatives aimed at helping young women advance in their careers, particularly in sectors such as finance. Orleyn discusses a recent three-year program with Fasset, which paired experienced mentors with emerging professionals, including a departmental head and an entrepreneur. The piece emphasizes the importance of mentorship in overcoming historical disadvantages and fostering future leadership.
Bias read (Center): While the article focuses on gender equality and empowerment, it presents a balanced narrative by highlighting both historical challenges and current efforts to address them. There is no overt ideological slant toward either progressive or conservative viewpoints. The emphasis is on institutional (I
