FNB closed off Women’s Month with an exclusive, insightful Women’s Dinner in honour of leading women who have blazed the trail in different industries and proven that the proverbial ‘glass ceiling’ can be broken.

The women, who are FNB Commercial and Private Banking customers, gathered at the gala event, sharing experiences on holistic wellness and money management.

Speaking at the event, Samke Mhlongo, a top South African Wealth Coach and Author of Ringfence presented on the subject of Growing your Wealth and Leaving a Legacy. In this, she said it was important for women to prepare for all eventualities in life and ensure that they leave a legacy that they can be proud of.

She mentioned that, often, women are so busy with work, business and life that they do not properly plan or even prepare themselves for when life throws curveballs whereas holistic wellness is important.

“It is important to break the prejudice against wealth, and the best way to do that is to be holistically well in all areas of your life. If you have a deficit in one area, you will not enjoy any of the other areas, ”said Mhlongo. She further encouraged the women present to rally around each other, forming stronger networks that will ensure that they continue to connect and draw from each others’ experiences.

Speaking at the event, FNB’s Head of Commercial Banking Sales, Chantelle Littler thanked the customers present and noted how the Dinner was meant as a means of showing appreciation to them, not just for the work they do as FNB customers, but for the input they have in uplifting their communities and the greater economy. This, she said, definitely shows that they have indeed broken many biases to get to where they are.

FNB customer Paula Marques, Director of Emlembe Beverages and other companies, who attended the event said it was outstanding and it enabled them to think further outside the box. “This was an amazing, very nicely organized event. It was so good to see so many women leaders from different sectors gathered together in this way. The choice of the guest speaker was excellent and she made everyone think and interact outside the box. I was very pleased with everything,” she said.

The day’s two biggest takeaways for Marques were the investment of FNB in women in its workplace and the principles for ring-fencing and planning for the future. “The statistics of women in leadership positions at FNB are quite inspiring. To see the bank have faith in women in that way caught my eyes and ears. Also, I loved the theme of the book Mhlongo’s book Ringfence and its lessons on how to protect your space and project for the future.

In closing the event Thandeka Dlamini, FNB’s Executive Head of Credit, echoed Marques’ sentiment, adding that the event has given a lot of food for thought for all present. “This has not been a monotonous event but it has been so impactful and thought-provoking. We have been challenged in so many ways and we are not leaving this place the same way we came,” she said.

The event ended with a classic celebration of sisterhood and a commitment to all present to continue empowering each other to break the bias in all sectors of Eswatini’s economy.