Friends in High Places

Issued by Open Chair

Open Chair is a community for the women of advertising and marketing in South Africa. One of the challenges we face as an industry, is empty chairs. The issue is not that there aren’t enough women in our industry. It’s that there are too few women occupying chairs in leadership, and far too many leaving them. This community is about connection and consciousness.

Open Chair in Partnership with Nedbank ‘Friends in High Places’

Film shot by Frans Marais from Dreamcatcher Productions

“We want women to have access to each other, at any level in their careers, to be able to share experiences, and knowledge, and ultimately to learn from, and be inspired by each other. Even one conversation can have an impact for years to come,” says Suhana Gordhan, Founder of Open Chair.

Just recently, during Loeries Creative Week, Open Chair, in partnership with Nedbank, hosted a speed dating afternoon with a difference.
Aptly called, “Friends in High Places,” it was held at The Cape Wheel at the V&A Waterfront. 65 mentees had face time with 31 mentors from across the industry. The pods on the wheel served as an ideal safe space for these women to share their stories and receive guidance, while taking in a breathtaking view!

Photos taken by Frans Marais from Dreamcatcher Productions

“This event was so important to the women of Open Chair. We received so much interest in this experience, and every single mentor was absolutely willing and eager to volunteer their time. The enthusiasm and excitement prove that we need this – as women, and as an industry. The energy was infectious, the conversations were unedited, and the connections were real,” says Lorraine Smit, a partner at Open Chair.

Maria John, a senior designer from Yoco, said this, “When I went through the profiles of all the mentors, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, where have all these women been all my life?’”

Nkgabiseng Motau, also a partner at Open Chair says, “I think what we’re trying to achieve at Open Chair is to highlight the power and beauty of women in our industry. We want women from different age groups, backgrounds, disciplines and cultures to feel like they are part of something joyful and meaningful – that there’s someone they can learn from, someone to look up to, someone who holds space for them, and someone who’s got their back.”