Black Ruby will be hosting the yearly women dialogues on the 10th of August 2024 at Montecasino’s Col’Cachio where young women will be addressing issues faced by young black women in South Africa today. The theme this year is what is troubling you black woman? Is a platform for young women to discuss issues pertaining life, career, dating, break ups grief and women wellness including sexuality and about 100 or more women will be attending on the night.
Lihle Malinga Founder of Black Ruby and Young black women Dialogues rwas born and bred in Diepkloof Soweto and grew up in Randburg with her single mother Priscilla Malinga who is her role model.
As the first child Lihle experienced all hardships that were faced by her mother. From her getting married and to a divorce that led to many mishaps in Life. So when she finished school she did not have any opportunity to study further as she decided to get a job so she can help her mother financially. She was also blessed with a sibling who is her baby sister. Sales has always been her passion as she used to sell sweets at a tender age of 6 at school and was able to separate the profits from the stock money and put it aside while pushing her mother and grandparents to buy more stock.
She worked for multiple companies and earned a lot of awards as a Sales person and these included Sales person of the year awards.
Her first role at Okeeffe where she works as a Sales person saw her winning Sales Person of the year title in 2014. She then moved to Different Life/ Stangen in 2015 where she won Salesperson of the year in 3 consecutive years. “People were so jealous of me as they did not understand how I managed to top the conversion set for all Sales people by almost or over 20%, every single month” says Lihle.
She speaks about her struggles with making it in a male dominated environment where she constantly had to prove her worth more than others and she did it with ease. There are many challenges people face at the workplace and life in general and she feels that women need to talk. With all the challenges women face and the fear in which we leave in the dialogues are a vital element to help and assist those who need to be talk and relieve their pain in whatever they are going through.
Joining in on the conversations is Mpho Tshabalala the Widow of the late Super Star Mandoza whose music took the world by storm back in the days. She will be speaking about ‘how to get over your grief’. Mpho Tshabalala is the Founder of Mandoza Foundation and an entrepreneur. She will be talking about challenges faced by widows, and her journey to surviving and healing. Also as part of the panel is Thapelo Molewa the Morning live Producer show airing on SABC will be addressing ‘trusting the process’. Nompumello Nkosi a digital creator will touch issues on ‘discovering your passion’. Christina Nhlapho who is the CEO of Siyakhanya Events and Catering will be touching on ‘things she wishes she knew in her 20’s’.
The dialogues are more of conversations than listen to other women speak about themselves. Each woman attending will be given a chance to speak on topics that touches them or respond to the Main Speakers and seek advice.
The day will be a day filled with stories, laughter and encouragement and guests will each leave with a goodie bag. On the menu is a 3 course meals and drinks. “Women need to know if the community hears their cries which is why we are calling on all sponsors who would like to be on board,” says Malinga. Come join these amazing women while enjoying a 3 course meal and networking with other women and those who are in business to exchange, contacts, knowledge and business opportunities.