Meghan Duchess of Sussex while on RoyalVisitAfrica 2019 attended a #Ladieswholaunch event. The mission of #Ladieswholaunch is to celebrate and empower women entrepreneurs with an Innovative Program That Helps women “Get Your Dreams Off the Ground. Networking helps women find new business opportunities. This group is an example of women working and supporting each other. Women succeed in the business and workplace as a result of their networks. It is a hand held where aspiring women can achieve together. This networking group is very much like The TIG.
Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there and in some cases, where this isn’t available, well then you know what, then they need to create their own table.”
Duchess Meghan when she was Meghan Markle at UN 2015
#RoyalVisitSouthAfrica the Duchess of Sussex is advocating for entrepreneurs #GirlBoss focusing less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings. Much admiration for #LadiesWhoLaunch and for a Princess who knows equity brings equality.
“I don’t want to have tea with the royals for the sake of having tea with the royals, As a female founder and entrepreneur, I want to know, How does a woman like her open doors? She’s somebody who means what she wants to do. The role that she holds in society in the U.K. and globally is a beacon of hope. She is not born into nobility or born royal, so she can relate to the struggles of the normal person in the street who’s trying to make something of herself
Matsi Modise, Founder and VP Chairperson of SiMODiSA, a South African entrepreneurship industry association
Meghan; Duchess of Sussex the former Meghan Markle was a self-made millionaire. When she was simply Meghan Markle the Duchess was Founder of ‘The TIG’. She knows the value of mentoring and networking. Meghan mentored countless young women through her lifestyle blog. Using technology to make connections and inspire young people.
Whether in South Africa or in United Kingdom women still have a long way to go when it comes to achieving gender parity in business and entrepreneurship. Statistics of Women in British business: Source Town and Country Magazine
- 6 of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange have female CEOs
- 32 % of directors of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange are female.
- 19 % of the U.K.’s small and medium-sized enterprises were led by women in 2017
Tech Entrepreneurs who met HRH Duchess of Sussex at Woodstock South Africa had this to say of the Visit:
We have followed a bit of her past career, and we do have an interest in the royals. She represents an image of the world moving toward a more inclusive space. I would like to get a sense of what she’s been experiencing – good or bad. Not that she is going to change our world, but how she is carrying it and if there is any backlash. She is ever so poised in dealing with that. I’d like to understand what she feels she can bring to the table in changing perceptions of young black females and their accomplishments.”
Tania Mukwamu Founder of Maxicash a Cash App
“As women, it is 100% our responsibility to support and uplift each other; to champion each other as we aim to succeed, to not set each other up for failure but instead to really be there rallying around each other and say, ‘I want to help you
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Usually when you’re the first one to climb a mountain, the fall is normally harder, the push back is normally harder. Well, you just need to keep on going, keep on pushing because this vision is beyond ourselves.”
It didn’t feel hierarchical with a princess in the room, but it was women gathered together and a talk about the struggles we have, as well as the things we need to do to move forward and grow and change our societies.”
Moosajee, co-founder of Womhub and WomEng delivers pipeline programs to get women and girls into STEM careers
“She radiates grace and she is taking this task that she has with such grace. A lot of us have done amazing things as founders, but meeting a royal is quite daunting. She made it easy. She is an easy-going royal!”
Africa needs a skills revolution,” “My company, Furaha, which means ‘happy’ in Swahili, is how we are going to empower Africans with the necessary tools and skills to build its own economies.
Matsi Modise is also founder of a company called Furaha Afrika Holdings focused on building human capital speaking about meeting Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
“It’s our time,”
“I still can’t believe it, I’m not going to wash this hand for a very long time.
“Phenomenal human being, flawless,”
“She has an African heart, and she has the power of influence. Her roots come from Africa. I believe this is a time in our lives where we’re going to see real impact.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex continues to launch even as a Princess of the United Kingdom. Her #SmartSet collection and Together Cookbook are just a few of her entrepreneurial ventures. Duchess Meghan is the Princess of Innovation and Entrepreneurship making positive impact and influencing others to build better communities. She is breaking the mold of the princess from being a lady who lunches to the lady who launches.
