The League of Extraordinary Women

In honour of women's month I have decided to dedicate this blog to four great women that you should look out for.

They are not world leaders, they are not mothers, they are not freedom fighters, they were not there on the ninth of August 1956 when crowds of women marched to the union buildings in protest of the Urban Areas Act (Pass Laws) chanting, "Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo!" (you strike a woman, you strike a rock).

They are just four young women (all under 25) I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending in life...

When they make it big....don't say I didn't warn you...

1. Sibongile Faith Kuta

I first met Faith in my first year at Wits when we were room mates at Girton Hall, a res off main campus. We both thought we wanted to be doctors then both dropped medicine after a year of ‘finding ourselves’. She went on to pursue a BA degree in Social Work taking it all the way up to honours level.

What I admire about this lady is her faith (excuse the pun); she lost both her parents at a very young age and as a result was raised by her grandmother along with her siblings and cousins in Tembisa, a township east of Johannesburg, yet this did not shake her or make her doubt her belief, or have her throw a pity party. She soldiered on. Everyone who knows Faith knows she is synonymous with "ray of sunshine"; always happy, caring, courageous and full of love! A very ambitious young woman who just wants to help others…oh, and she’s a poet too (promise to post one of her pieces sometime in the near future)

2. Theola Akermanidis

Theola and I, May 2011

Theola is my little Greek goddess. One, cause she's really little (half my height...ok, maybe not half) and two, cause she's Greek. We majored in the same courses but only became friends in our honours year when we realized we had more than education in common: fashion! (before that we just smiled at each other to acknowledge the other’s existence) Theola graduated with an undergrad degree in B.Comm Finance and Marketing then an Honours degree (with distinction) in Marketing. She's really THAT smart. As if being the smartest girl in class, and tutoring undergrads wasn't enough, she started her own accessories range called Theoalagy (smart name isn't it?) in 2010. Miss Akermandis is currently working at TNS, a marketing research company. More on Theola and her range in my next blog.

3. S'onqoba Nonkululeko Maseko

If I had to describe S'onqoba in one word it would be HUMBLE! Born on the same day as Oprah Winfrey, it is no surprise that she is, simply put; an OVER achiever. I met S'onqoba in 2006 when she shared rooms with a very close friend of mine. Being in first year, everyone was on a mission to prove themselves; "I passed my matric with 6 distinctions", "I was captain of my netball team", I had national colours in hockey"...and so the boasting went on...Not once did she mention her being Dux, prefect and RCL president at Germinston High School. While most people peak in high school only to become none achievers post that, Sonqoba just kept rising. Graduated with a BSC degree and then a hounours degree in Actuarial Sciences (Wits University). Was FNB campus ambassador two years running, president of the Golden Key International Honours Society (if you do not know Golden Key, ask my good friend, Google...if I had to go on about her achievements I would be forced to write a book so I will try state as many as I can in one breath..*takes deep breath in*

Helped find a N.P.O. (Advocates For Change) in 2006 and still serve as its Deputy Director (organization focuses on Youth Development in the Soweto and Alexandra).

As part of Golden Key she spoke at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls on two occasions

In late 2009 appointed Chief Operations Officer of an Investment Holdings company called Lante Investment Holdings

Currently working at FNB as an Actuarial Analyst (was promoted to Senior Actuarial Analyst in just 6 months)

Recently elected as a member of the Wits University Convocation EXCO as well as the Secretary of the South African Actuaries Development Programme’s Alumni.

Biggest Achievement?

Presenting BSc Honours Research Paper in 2009 at the South African Actuarial Development Programme's (SAADP) Launch. The audience included Actuarial Science lecturers, Actuarial commercial entities and businesses, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Blade Nzimande and Actuarial Science students and graduates.

Next move?

Registering a Consultancy that will deal with Personal Development

*some text missing* (no, really, a lot of editing was done here)

Remember I said Theola's half my height? Sonqoba is half Theola's height.

4. Pokuaa Busumru-Banson

Pokuaa (center, on Graca Machel's left)

Former Wits University SRC president (2009) but not your typical politician; smart, stylish, an amazing personality and a great sense of humour…not Julius Malema type of funny though (no offense if Malema is your uncle). While we’re on that topic, I think it is fit to mention that Pokuaa was recently part of the panel on MTV Base Meets with MTN, that got the opportunity to sit and chat with Malema, as a representative for African youth.

In 2010, this Ghanaian-born, Umtata raised, Wits University Law student was elected as part of a panel for the Fortune Global Forum where world leaders including the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Kofi Annan, Graca Machel, Mary Robinson, Jimmy Carter, Ela Bhatt were in attendance.

Pokuaa holds a BA degree in International Relations with Honours (Wits) and in 2008 was appointed chairperson of the Wits International Students Committee, and like S'onqoba, you can add member of the Wits University Executive Committee of Convocation to her list of credentials.

Once Pokuaa is done with her millionth degree, I’m sure she will be taking the world by storm and quite frankly, it’s about time the world got some morally grounded leaders!

And that’s a wrap folks! After putting all this down on “paper”, I’m feeling like quite the under achiever right now… so while you carry on with your life I’m going to go out there and save the world! I’m out! *does the Moonwalk*