Only thing holding women back from being movers and shakers in business is women

This according to Korkor Cudjoe of the Graça Machel Trust‚ speaking in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“In this age‚ 2016‚ if you're still waiting for someone permission‚ I think it's a loss ... I'm struck by women's power.

"What's stopping us? Nobody should be standing in our way‚ they don't have to‚” she said.

Cudjoe was addressing some of the 230 South African women being mentored in the Cherie Blair Foundation's Mentoring Women in Business Programme.

Some of the women in the programme shared where their journeys started.

Nonkululeko Tsita‚ an accountant in Port Elizabeth‚ is launching a foundation to fund tertiary education for youths in August. She is being mentored by an American woman.

“I grew up in the rural community of Cedarville in the Eastern Cape‚ where I learnt first-hand the value of the philosophy of Ubuntu. Giving and sharing became an integral part of my being.

“I was raised by my grandmother‚ a domestic worker who ensured that my mother qualified as a teacher - at a time when the majority of people saw little value in educating a woman.

“My father was 16 when he started his career as a migrant labourer.

“It is in [light of] that background that I decided to support the education of the underserved and disadvantaged‚” Tsita said.

Tebogo Kgobokoe‚ a dance teacher and choreographer‚ runs a foundation training dance teachers and an arts academy for students. She is being mentored by a Tanzanian woman.

“I was born the second eldest in the home of a priest with the tightest and most demanding rules in our home - ruled by God‚ respect‚ hard work‚ perseverance‚ gratitude‚ respect‚ respect‚ respect‚ love‚ love‚ love‚ self-belief and confidence.

“Growing up in the homelands‚ I started dancing‚ Setswana traditional dance‚ at the age of 3. Years later I chose to be trained in dancing at a local cultural centre‚ unbeknownst to me that that was the beginning of my destiny.

“I later went on to specialise in ballroom and Latin‚ to be the youngest qualified adjudicator and dance teacher at the age of 16.

“[I] became a seven-time ballroom and Latin champion‚ undefeated.”

Tsita and Kgobokoe both said being mentored had helped their passions take shape and grow their businesses.