WIF holds regular networking opportunities for individuals to meet people from other organisations that they would not ordinarily meet, make contacts, and use these to develop either mentoring opportunities or business contacts.

Hot Tables is a unique networking event held on the last Tuesday of most months that features a guest speaker who sets the scene for the evening. Each table features a host who will facilitate introductions and discussion between the guests. After each course, the guests select a new table and join a new host table. The potential of reaching 27 new people over a convivial meal makes the Hot Tables so well attended. The evening gives both members and non-members a chance to speak to and learn from 10 top professionals in a multitude of fields and, since its inception in 2006, has become the highlight of many calendars, with all who attend making many lasting contacts both socially and professionally.

The rapidly evolving business community is seeing greater numbers of small businesses emerging but the reality is that most of these do not make it past the first two years in business because their owners do not have the practical skills or support needed to sustain and grow their businesses.

Not everyone is a natural entrepreneur and even corporate environment experience is no guarantee that one has the right skills to run a successful business. Identifying the need for entrepreneurs to learn these skills and taking cognisance of the lack of time for extensive training, WIF developed Showcase Your Business.

The conference offers an opportunity for SMMEs to exhibit, and to participate in three full days of games, talks, seminars, hot table events, workshops - an active and fun approach to building an SMME community. The tools and training provided allow visitors to the expo to leave having tangible results for their business.

What makes it exciting in that a collective of entrepreneurs, who really understand the challenges of running a small business, run it. All of the partner organisations are united in an understanding that a core goal is to build a network of SMMEs that can support and advance one another.

Showcase Your Business brings together practical skills transfer with the opportunity to generate new business in a single event. The concept was successfully launched in 2007 and has been run annually since then.

Annual Conferences aligned to International Women’s Day or Women’s Month on a range of topics to provide leadership development for women.

WIF launched the mentorship programme in 2007, sponsored by Standard Bank. It has two functions – to develop mentors and to assist protégés.

PwC, 7 Kikuyu Street, Sunninghill : 18h30 for 19h00-21h00

Mercedes Centurion, Introductory Session 14th June 2011, 18h30 for 19h00-21h00.

Because Public Speaking Skills are not debatable.

Meeting times: To be confirmed by general consensus of Members

Joining Fee: R450.00

Includes first 6 months Membership, Course Manuals for Communication & Leadership Tracks

The ambition of the Succeed programme is to increase the percentage of women-owned young companies that remain in business. For entrepreneurs taking part, we will facilitate the assembly of a 12-month advisory team consisting of Deloitte managers, WIF advisors and a mentor from Business Partners that offers 20 entrepreneurs:

Entrepreneurs successful in their application will be required to pay a commitment fee of R3 000 before the commencement of the health check. The deposit will be refunded should the entrepreneur follow through on all the commitments required in regard to this programme.

WIF launched these events to educate entrepreneurs on what cost effective technology is available to grow their businesses.

WIF Youth Committee - WIF has a Youth Committee which looks for opportunities to give support to youth (under 25’s) initiatives through connection and collaboration.