There’s something refreshingly real about Julie Oates. The woman behind has built one of South Africa’s most recognisable local fashion brands Julz Shoes, but there’s no big ego attached to the success. In fact, throughout the conversation, Julie constantly redirects praise back to the people around her.

There’s something quietly powerful about women who build things from scratch. Not loudly. Not with endless resources or backup plans waiting in the wings. Just vision, consistency and the refusal to give up when life leaves very little room for failure.

ELEANOR Douglas-Meyers For decades, Roslyn Klaasen has never allowed disability to define who she is, but in Coming of Age: Growing up More than Once, she candidly reflects on how it reshaped her life, identity and understanding of resilience.

ELEANOR Douglas-Meyers People often say don’t mix family and business. The team behind Serenity Hair sees it differently. For Marlene Adams and her daughter Kelly Milborrow, working together has meant figuring things out in real time, learning where their strengths are, and understanding how to move between being family and being business partners. It is…

ELEANOR Douglas-Meyers For many people, when you think of a successful businesswoman, you picture someone tough, no-nonsense and entirely focused on results. That’s not quite the energy you get from Darushka Chetty Williams, the woman behind the DCW Fitness brand.

For many locals scrolling through TikTok looking for their next place to eat, Gqeberha Food Reviews has become a familiar name. Behind the camera is Henry Hancox, a Gqeberha local who has combined his passion for storytelling, film and good food to create a platform that highlights restaurants and hidden gems across the city.

Strong leadership is not about titles. It is about responsibility. For Janet Pillai, Chief Operating Officer of Inuversal Group, leadership has always been about stewardship. After working across academia, government, heritage, tourism and private enterprise, she believes leaders are entrusted with something bigger than themselves.

Eleanor Douglas-Meyers In a world that often rewards loud ambition and polished pitches, Mbukwashe Zwide has quietly built one of Gqeberha’s most recognisable fashion brands by doing the exact opposite. She started small, stayed intentional, and learned to step outside of her comfort zone when it mattered most.

If you have ever spent time in the beauty section at Woolworths Walmer Park, chances are you already know Waheeda Williams.

Weather forecasts do more than predict rain or sunshine. They help communities plan, prepare and stay safe. For Thabile Makapela, delivering that information in isiXhosa is what truly makes the difference.