South African speaker Nomndeni Sethole has challenged women to take ownership of their identities.
Sethole, who was speaking during the Mom’s Day Out gathering at Emafini Country Lodge on Saturday, also revealed her Swati roots, disclosing that Maseko was her father’s surname.
She said it was her first time visiting the country and expressed excitement about being among women who made her feel beautiful from the moment she arrived, even getting emotional.
“When I walked in here, I saw beautiful ladies and it made me feel beautiful too,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey, the 42-year-old speaker shared how she experienced several difficult seasons, including losing loved ones, going through a divorce and losing her car, house, friends and business.
She said she had made money during her 20s but had not always managed it wisely. She added that following her divorce at the age of 31, she found herself staying with her aunt. Sethole described 2017 as a reset year after she experienced depression without initially recognising it.
“One thing about me, I will fight until I’m dead. That’s my reset year. God called me to Him and wanted me to answer, ‘Who am I?'” she shared.
She said the experience helped her recognise her power and understand that her past struggles were part of the journey towards discovering her purpose. She encouraged women to accept that personal transformation could come with difficult emotions.
“When you have to become something you have never seen yourself, you will grieve, so get comfortable and cry,” she said.
Sethole also spoke about personal branding, urging women to understand their identities before attempting to create an image for themselves. She described a personal brand as an expectation one created and encouraged attendees to identify three words they wanted people to associate with them.
“Your work will not speak for yourself. The truth is that you should, in fact, speak for your work,” she said.
She further encouraged women to communicate their brands, seek feedback and use social media as a free platform to showcase their abilities.
Sethole, who founded Agenda Women, said she was passionate about seeing women become financially empowered and understand money as a tool to build the lives they wanted.
She encouraged attendees to identify people who could influence their growth, including mentors and individuals they could regularly learn from. In closing, she urged women to pursue their ambitions despite the challenges they might encounter.
“I thank God that all the pain was not in vain. Think about the vision you want. Go after your wildest dream. God set you apart for what you want to be,” she said.
The programme also featured Princess Tyandza, who shared insights on motherhood and self-care, alongside panellists Lynn Pocock, Sasha Thorne and Mbali Dlamini. The discussions were moderated by Nontobeko Tshabalala-Heming, who guided conversations around motherhood, personal growth and wellness. The event was curated by Faith Mngometulu Simelane.
