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FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CHAPTERS
About WPO SA
We are the WPO
Welcome to the organization where dynamic and diverse women business leaders around the world tap into collective insight to experience game-changing breakthroughs. Where your perspective can be understood, challenged, and refined.
Where you can validate everything that’s gotten you this far and cultivate new strategies that’ll take you even farther. Welcome to the WPO.
NINA VAN DEVENTER
South African Chapters
Est. in Cape Town in 2009
- NVD Property & Project Management
Cape Town I Chapter member
Why join WPO in South Africa?
To gain and share experience and knowledge from other women business owners and leaders who have similar and different challenges. To problem solve business challenges. To address holistically the needs of women business owners. To share the room with other business leaders in the community.
10 primary objectives of why current members have joined and why they participate:
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To grow their business and build their financial success.
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To develop innovative solutions to their business challenges through discussions held in a confidential environment.
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To continue their education in business and leadership.
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To increase their awareness of women’s issues and opportunities.
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To be part of a forum where women owned business can identify strategic contacts.
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To increase their visibility on the local, national, and international levels.
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For access to business resources including monthly newsletters, webcasts, a website and blog, media referrals, a membership directory and an Annual Conference.
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To advance the influence of women in the business and financial community.
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To reenergize and revitalise, leading them to a more productive balance in work and life.
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To celebrate the success of women business owners.
Johannesburg I Chapter member's
BOITUMELO NTSOANE
- First Care Courier
VANESSA BEYERS
- The Source PR & Event Management
The WPO at a Glance
The WPO is an environment where women business leaders access the very thing we find missing no matter how much we’ve achieved: the understanding, support, and counsel of entrepreneurial equals. We have made it our mission to assemble that peer group because we’ve witnessed—for a quarter of a century—how big an impact it can make in the lives of our members.
Chapters in South Africa
In monthly chapter meetings around the world, WPO members forge meaningful relationships with peers who spark insights, drive solutions, and celebrate one another’s successes. Every chapter is facilitated by a professionally-trained chapter chair.
Cape Town I is a Monthly Chapter which meets 12 times per year. Chaired by Anni Wilhemi.
Cape Town II is a Monthly Chapter which meets 12 times per year. Chaired by Anni Wilhelmi.
Johannesburg I is a Monthly Chapter which meets 12 times per year. Chaired by Anni Wilhelmi.
Johannesburg II is a Monthly Chapter which meets 12 times per year. Chaired by Judy Sunasky.
Johannesburg III is a Monthly Chapter which meets 12 times per year. Chaired by Judy Sunasky.
Platinum VII meets three times annually for a two day workshop. Chaired by Anni Wilhelmi.
Chapter Chair: Anne Hartslief - Cape Town
Business Founder | WPO Chapter Chair
Anne is a masterful business builder. She is highly skilled in shifting businesses to realise their unique greatness. Her career trajectory is the result of multifaceted leadership prowess, having worked across multiple sectors both locally and globally.
Anne is co-founder at Lockstep and has furthered her business commerce qualification through strategic planning at the UCT Graduate School of Business and is an advanced Theory U practitioner.
Anne has a performance mindset and believes that performance and humanity can and should co-exist.
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Chapter Chair: Judy Sunasky - Johannesburg
Business Coach | WPO Chapter Chair | Adventurer
From business success to summit views, Judy Sunasky understands that true business transformation starts from within. After building and successfully exiting her own company, she now devotes her work to a bigger mission—helping business owners evolve so their businesses can, too.
As Chapter Chair for the Johannesburg Women Presidents Organization and an established Business Coach, Judy helps entrepreneurs and their teams grow by shifting how they think, lead, and show up with a solid business framework. Real business change doesn’t come from strategy alone—it comes from who you become as a leader.
With over 20 years of business experience, and privileged access to the inner workings of dozens of businesses each year through her coaching and WPO facilitation, Judy brings a rare lens into what truly drives growth, what holds leaders back, and what makes businesses thrive. She sees patterns others miss, helping business owners unlock fresh thinking and bold results.
She believes that courageous leadership, clear thinking, and confident action are the engines behind every thriving business.
🧘♀️ Certified yoga instructor. 🌍 Avid traveler. ⛰ Outdoor adventurer.
Judy brings insight, vitality, and perspective to every growth journey—because when business owners grow, their businesses scale with soul and strength.
Members meet in a safe, energizing, professionally-facilitated environment with their non-competitive entrepreneurial peers. Here, they are free to address financial concerns, organizational development, hiring and firing, and other commonly shared issues. Members are quick to offer perspective or extend a confident hand to help each other grow their business, achieve their goals, and experience game–changing breakthroughs.
Strength in Vulnerability
MATSOTSO VUSO
- Nyamezela Group
Johannesburg I Chapter member
Top 10 Reasons to join a WPO Chapter in South Africa:
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Confidential forums moderated by professionals, trained by WPO, enhance membership leadership skills.
CONNECTIONS
Global interface of 2000 successful, high-growth women business owners.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Wide spectrum of member businesses offer diverse and confidential input to address myriad business challenges.
CONNECT WITH SUCCESSFUL SECOND-STAGE BUSINESS
Chapter member enterprises exceed $2 million in annual revenue, specialty tiers include Platinum - at least $10 million in annual revenue - and Zenith - at least $50 million in annual revenue.
COLLABORATION
Precious ability to tap into wisdom of peers in noncompetitive industries offers support, empowerment and inspiration.
CORPORATE SPONSORS
Dynamic group of diverse industry experts whose contributions defer cost of membership.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Members generate $24 billion in total revenue worldwide and employ 153,000 people.
AFFLUENCE
Reach top 3% of all women business owners, 75% of whom pay themselves six-figures+ incomes.
VISIBILITY
Build awareness on local, national and international levels about powerful influence of women-owned/lead business.
COMMITMENT
77% of WPO members do business with each other
BIRGIT ANDRAG
- By den Weg Foods SA
Johannesburg I Chapter member
Take the Next Step
As part of our diverse and experienced global membership, you can explore options, weigh alternatives, and gather perspectives. Through connection and shared wisdom, your needs as a business leader are addressed and your whole person is recognized.
RONEL VAN DIJK
- Musgrave Consulting | Cape Town II Chapter member
ITUMELENG POOË
- Afri - Centric Luxury Experiences | Cape Town I Chapter member
KAREN MORRIS
- Kevjar Business / Cape Wellness Spas | Cape Town I Chapter member
Our Founder
Dr. Marsha Firestone founded the WPO in 1997 after previously serving as Vice President of Women Inc. and as Vice President of Training and Counseling at the American Woman’s Economic Development Corporation (AWED). In 2003, she was appointed to the National Women's Business Council.
She is the author of The Busy Woman’s Guide to Successful Self-Employment, has published research in business and educational journals, and is a frequent guest speaker.
Dr. Firestone earned her PhD in communication from Columbia University and is an expert in adult learning theory, nonverbal communication, and managerial competency.
Conference: The WPO Annual Conference is held for 2 ½ days each Spring. It is our capstone event and opportunity for all Members and Chapter Chairs to come together to share strategies and learnings for business growth. The conference features world class keynote speakers, in addition to engaging break- out sessions addressing timely topics. One morning is dedicated to Chapter Chair training which provides an opportunity to work on facilitation skills, education
Organization-Wide Activities
& Services
REBECCA HARVIE
- Citadel Investment Services
Cape Town II Chapter member
on a business-relevant topic of interest to their members, educational opportunities to use with their chapters, and time to engage in roundtable discussions.
Member Portal: An online tool to facilitate information sharing, peer to peer engagement, access to contacts and resources and up to date information for Members and Chapter Chairs. It is also a content hub including blog posts, articles, and reports. This is a single point of reference for all WPO information.
Webinars: Topics of interest to members are broadcast periodically from Headquarters.
Newsletters: Monthly newsletter updates with chapter, member, and sponsor updates.
Contact
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