Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawe Mazaleni, joined an assembly of distinguished women leaders at the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA) Cornerstone Conference, where delegates explored “The Power of Hope: The Pathway to Excellence in Leadership.” The gathering underscored a collective commitment to nurturing mentorship, purpose-driven leadership, and generational transformation across sectors.
The conference, hosted in Johannesburg, convened executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and changemakers who are shaping the architecture of women’s leadership in South Africa and beyond. Discussions centred on how hope and integrity function as strategic forces in governance, business, and social advocacy — redefining leadership beyond hierarchy to embody service and inspiration.
Addressing the forum, Qhawe Mazaleni reflected on the value of representation and the responsibility of influence. Her participation signified Miss South Africa’s evolving platform as more than a pageant — a national institution for empowering women through dialogue, education, and social innovation.
The IWF South Africa Cornerstone Conference has long been recognised as a premier platform for women leaders to engage on transformative policy, inclusion, and sustainability. This year’s theme — “The Power of Hope” — captured the urgency of rebuilding trust and optimism in an era marked by economic uncertainty and shifting societal norms.
Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to cultivating mentorship networks and intergenerational collaboration, emphasising that progress in women’s leadership depends on shared vision rather than individual titles.
For Mazaleni, the conference represented both a learning exchange and an opportunity to contribute to a national conversation on leadership with purpose. Her presence at IWFSA symbolised the bridge between youth leadership and institutional wisdom — a necessary continuum for shaping South Africa’s next generation of women trailblazers.
Event hosted by the International Women’s Forum South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.
