“Here’s to strong Women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”

Women’s Day in South Africa is a powerful reminder of the strides made in the Women’s rights movement. Our rich history showcases the incredible trails blazed by Women who have paved the way for future generations.

As we honour this day, we want to highlight the remarkable achievements of Women in the business world, particularly within our industry and Office National.

Diversity, inclusion, and equality are not mere buzzwords reserved for large corporations. They start with individuals committed to making meaningful change. Our Office National Africa support Team took a moment to connect with some of our female Members to understand their driving forces and the influences shaping their business practices and leadership styles.

Their stories reveal that success is fueled by more than ambition and they so generously shared some of the nuggets of wisdom.

Navigating the business world isn't easy but can be incredibly rewarding. These are some of the takeaways from Women Members of Office National, they emphasise the importance of believing in your community, embracing networking, and building strong connections. Women in business bring so much to the table with their diversity, culture, strengths, and fresh perspectives. They’re often the glue that keeps everything together.

Balancing home and work life is a real challenge. Success in various aspects of your life comes down to the ability to prioritise and always show up as your best. The responsibilities don’t stop when the workday ends; many Women go home to be moms, wives, daughters, sisters, and key support pillars in their personal lives.

Another vital nugget is the importance of being honest, authentic, and true to yourself. It is also important to remember that you are not an island; you’re not alone on this journey, there people are cheering you on and ready to support you.

We're inspired by the legacy of Women who’ve fought for equal rights, juggled family responsibilities, and overcome obstacles through education and fair employment practices. They’ve paved the way for future generations, showing what resilience and dedication can achieve.

This raises an important question: How can we all work together to continue supporting uplifting, and empowering Women in the workplace? What policies and practices can we implement to foster a fair and ethical work environment?

At Office National, Women's voices, perspectives, and experiences are crucial in every business setting. We want to cultivate a safe and inclusive environment for those voices to be heard.

Significant progress has been made since 1956, with advancements across various sectors like sports, technology, education, and the arts, but there’s still more work to be done.

Living in the era of inclusion, Women’s Day is not about the exclusion of men but about the involvement of everyone as allies.

As a community-focused business, we encourage our customers and fellow Members to support and empower the Women in their lives—whether they are one of our 20 female business owners, colleagues, friends, or family Members. We hope to see more Women-owned Office National branches and encourage more Women to enter the stationery and office furnishings industry. Your voice is needed and valued.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful Women Members at Office National and we are proud to be able to showcase diversity in age, race, background and life experience.

To the Members of Wadeville, Access, Pinetown and ICA Office National, thank you for your contribution.

Let this Women’s Day mark the beginning of positive change, inspiring us all to contribute to a more equitable community.

Catch our Women’s Day Series on YouTube to see what our Members had to say: https://bit.ly/4dg8JHI