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International Day for Universal Access to Information: Can Women Shape Their Futures Without Reliable Information?

International Day for Universal Access to Information: Can Women Shape Their Futures Without Reliable Information?

By Blossom Ukoha A young woman sees an announcement about a government-funded business programme on her phone. The opportunity could help her expand her small enterprise, but she does not know where to apply, whether she qualifies or when applications close. A few days later, the opportunity disappears from her feed. For her, the problem was not a lack of ambition. It was a lack of accessible, reliable information. This is why access to information matters. Information can determine whether a woman knows about an opportunity, understands her rights, accesses a public service, makes an informed decision or participates in decisions that affect her family and community. On 28 September 2026, the world marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information under the theme “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The role of access to information in addressing information disorder.” The United Nations says that in a digital environment filled…

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Love Bites

When Her Ambition Becomes a Relationship Issue: Can Love and Female Ambition Coexist?

When Her Ambition Becomes a Relationship Issue: Can Love and Female Ambition Coexist?

“You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you will threaten the man.”— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The idea that a woman’s ambition should have a limit may sound outdated, yet it continues to surface in conversations about marriage, relationships and female success. As more women become CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, professionals and primary earners, a new question is emerging: Can a woman grow professionally without that growth becoming a source of tension in her relationship? The answer is not simply yes or no. Research suggests that the relationship between female economic success and relationship stability is complex. A woman’s ambition does not automatically create relationship problems. Rather, difficulties can emerge when professional advancement changes the economic, domestic or social expectations within a relationship without those expectations being renegotiated. A 2026 study of 544,911 couples across 29 high-income countries, using data from 2004 to…

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Mums & Kids Zone

Raising Emotionally Resilient Children: What Parents Can Do Every Day

Raising Emotionally Resilient Children: What Parents Can Do Every Day

It is bedtime, but your child is still awake. Tomorrow is the school presentation, and the anxiety that has been building all week has finally surfaced. “I don’t think I can do it,” the child says, fighting back tears. A parent could quickly respond, “Of course you can. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.” But another response may be more powerful: “I can see that you are worried. Tell me what is making you nervous.” That small difference matters. Instead of immediately trying to remove the child’s discomfort, the parent creates space for the child to recognise, express and work through it. In moments like this, resilience is being built not through a major intervention, but through an ordinary conversation. Emotional resilience does not mean that children never feel afraid, disappointed, angry or overwhelmed. It means developing the ability to recognise difficult emotions, seek support, regulate responses and recover from challenges. The…

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The Celebrity Amazon

Jennifer Lopez: What Her Vogue World Milano Moment Says About the Power of Reinvention

Jennifer Lopez: What Her Vogue World Milano Moment Says About the Power of Reinvention

“I’ve always responded to Dolce & Gabbana because it feels like they really love women through their clothes.”— Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez has spent more than three decades building a career that refuses to fit neatly into one category. The American singer, actress, dancer, producer and businesswoman rose from the Bronx to become one of the most recognisable figures in global entertainment. From her early career as a dancer to her breakthrough role in Selena, her success as a recording artist and her ventures across beauty, fashion and business, Lopez has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to reinvent herself without losing the identity that made her a cultural force. That ability to transform was on full display at Vogue World: Milano 2026, where Lopez arrived for the fifth edition of the global fashion event on September 22, during Milan Fashion Week. Staged inside the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the event…

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Amazons on Boards

From Alexandra to FirstRand: The Remarkable Rise of Mary Vilakazi

From Alexandra to FirstRand: The Remarkable Rise of Mary Vilakazi

By Blossom Ukoha “Growing up I would not have said I would be CEO of the largest bank in South Africa, but it is [the outcome of] a series of opportunities I was fortunate to have. I always say I was not the brightest or the most gifted, but I managed to get opportunities… without access to them I would not be here.” For Mary Vilakazi, becoming Group Chief Executive Officer of FirstRand is not a story she attributes to a single defining moment. It is the result of opportunities accumulated over time, combined with preparation, performance and the willingness to take on increasingly complex responsibilities. Her journey from Alexandra township in Johannesburg to the leadership of one of Africa’s largest financial groups illustrates how access to opportunity can transform ambition into executive leadership. Vilakazi became FirstRand Group CEO on 1 April 2024, succeeding Alan Pullinger. Her appointment made her the…

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Amazons on Boards

What Does Lytania Johnson’s Rise to FNB CEO Mean for Women in Banking?

What Does Lytania Johnson’s Rise to FNB CEO Mean for Women in Banking?

By Blossom Ukoha “My trajectory [was] an accumulation of different chapters across finance, risk, human capital, and corporate management.” For Lytania Johnson, becoming Chief Executive Officer of First National Bank (FNB) was not the result of a single career-defining move. It was the culmination of more than 25 years of experience, built across different functions and responsibilities within FNB and FirstRand. Her journey illustrates how breadth of experience, continuous learning and the willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities can prepare women for the highest levels of leadership. Johnson became CEO of FNB and of the newly configured Retail and Business Banking (RBB) segment on 1 April 2026, succeeding Harry Kellan. The new structure brings retail and business banking closer together, with a focus on households, entrepreneurs and small businesses. The scale of the appointment is significant. FNB traces its roots to 1838 and is FirstRand’s largest franchise. In the year ended June 2026, FNB…

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Amazons on Boards

Emrie Brown: How a “Jungle Gym” Career Led Her to the Top of RMB

Emrie Brown: How a “Jungle Gym” Career Led Her to the Top of RMB

By Blossom Ukoha A career does not always move in a straight line. For Emrie Brown, it has looked more like what she calls a “jungle gym” than a traditional ladder, a journey shaped by different roles, unexpected turns, difficult decisions and opportunities to begin again. “Your career can be much more like a jungle gym than the traditional career ladder in your journey to achieve success,” Brown has said. “How you define success and the sacrifices that you are prepared to make, are decisions that will be required along the way and will be different for each person.” Her own career is a powerful illustration of that philosophy. From qualifying as a chartered accountant to becoming an investment banker, taking a temporary step away from the industry to navigate motherhood, returning to RMB and eventually becoming its first woman CEO, Brown’s path demonstrates that professional success does not always follow…

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