Two distinct yet thematically aligned initiatives—Ferrari’s Women With Drive – La Dolce Vita Day and MasterDrive’s Women With Drive – ARRIVE—brought style, influence, and empowerment into focus this Women’s Month. While one event unfolded against the backdrop of Ferrari’s luxury brand culture, the other anchored itself in the mobility sector’s leadership discourse. Together, they illustrated the spectrum of women’s influence, from the driver’s seat of high-performance vehicles to the helm of boardroom strategy.
Hosted by Scuderia South Africa, Ferrari’s Johannesburg dealership, La Dolce Vita Day was a curated celebration of elegance and ambition. Attendees, many part of Ferrari’s extended community, gathered for an immersive brand experience that merged Italian automotive heritage with the celebration of women’s aspirations. The event formed part of Ferrari’s broader strategy to align the marque with lifestyle narratives beyond the racetrack.
In parallel, MasterDrive staged its Women With Drive – ARRIVE summit, themed around the culmination of persistent effort and opportunity. This was not a lifestyle event but a sectoral milestone, drawing professionals, executives, and policymakers into conversations on the future of sustainable mobility. Sessions included “The Ecosystem of Sustainable Mobility: Connecting, Collaborating, and Conquering” and an intimate Fireside Chat exploring resilience as a professional currency. The programme also featured wellness segments such as breathwork with Niki Seberini, underscoring a holistic view of leadership.
Corporate partners played a decisive role in both spaces. Pernod Ricard South Africa extended its support as a key partner, reaffirming its position in championing diversity, inclusion, and women’s empowerment. In the MasterDrive context, Pernod Ricard’s sponsorship complemented that of WesBank, Avis, and Standard Bank, collectively signalling that investment in gender equity has strategic, not just symbolic, value.
While Ferrari’s La Dolce Vita Day positioned women within the aspirational lens of luxury motoring, MasterDrive’s ARRIVE summit grounded the conversation in industry realities and policy-shaping dialogue. The result was a multifaceted narrative of Women’s Month—one that celebrated not only the visible success but also the structural pathways enabling it.
Among the standout figures in attendance was Celeste Khumalo, business manager in the luxury sector and holder of two MBAs. Known for her sharp professional acumen and understated elegance, Khumalo arrived in a tailored black blazer, tan pinstripe trousers, and sleek black boots—an ensemble that mirrored the event’s balance of refinement and confidence. Her presence reinforced the intersection of business leadership and style that both Women With Drive platforms sought to celebrate, bringing the narrative full circle: women who lead, influence, and inspire, whether in the boardroom, on the road, or in the wider cultural sphere.
