WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP7 AUG 2026Women first but there is hope for everybodyThandi Orleyn, president of the IWFSA, highlights how young South African women in 2026 are better positioned for career success than their predecessors, thanks to robust support…Don Makatile8 min read

With the kind of support available to her, the young woman of 2026 is in a much better position to succeed in her chosen career than her counterpart was half a decade ago. Thandi Orleyn, for example, was a University of Fort Hare student in 1976 when opportunities were closed to her – by law. “Using young Thandi is a good analogy because in 1976 the young Thandi was a student at Fort Hare,” Orleyn, who is now an advocate, responds to the question, before adding: “The Constitution didn’t protect her.

We didn’t have any rights.” Fast-forward to this day, the businesswoman trained in law, who also chairs Impala Platinum, is at the coalface of opening doors to those who came after her. She is president of the IWFSA, the South African Chapter of the International Women’s Forum. The IWFSA was founded by Zanele Mbeki in 2002 at the time her husband, Thabo, was president of South Africa.

Orleyn has no doubt that through the work they do at the IWFSA “that is what Mrs Mbeki wanted and it has come to fruition”. Its global network comprises more than 8 400 members across 77 forums in 35 countries, with representation throughout North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Through international programmes, conferences, galas, symposia, publications and other engagements, members connect, share experiences and exchange ideas that can influence industries, economies and public policy across the world, those asked about it say. The IWFSA offers mentorship programmes to aid young women to reach for the stars in their careers.