Phakama Women's Academy 2025

Over a decade of empowering female graduates for career success

Phakama Women’s Academy Turns 11 as the Class of 2025 Programme Launches

The Phakama Women’s Academy (PWA), a flagship Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiative of VWV Group, has officially launched its 2025 Mentorship Programme, marking the Academy’s 11th year of preparing young women for the working world.

Founded in 2014 by Koo Govender, the first female CEO of VWV Group, PWA has mentored over 150 female graduates, providing them with workplace readiness skills, access to industry leaders, and the confidence to thrive in competitive sectors.

“Our vision has always been to empower through knowledge,” says Govender. “By fast-tracking workplace skills, building confidence, and connecting mentees with accomplished mentors, we aim to create a ripple effect of empowered women who go on to empower others.”

Each year, the Academy selects a cohort of final-year female students in the marketing, communications, and related fields to participate in a series of practical workshops and one-on-one mentorship sessions. These cover essential topics such as:

• CV writing and interview techniques

• Career goal setting

• Money management

• Personal branding and workplace etiquette

• Work-life balance and building a strong work ethic

The 2025 programme will feature six interactive modules from August to October, including The Power of Sisterhood, Money Matters and Unleash Your Brand. Mentors for this year’s cohort include some of South Africa’s most respected businesswomen, offering tailored guidance to help mentees navigate their early careers.

For the first time, an alumna has been appointed as a mentor. Ziyanda Mgengo, a 2024 graduate of the Academy and now a New Markets Account Executive at Salesforce, returns in 2025 to guide the next generation of women. Her appointment marks a milestone for the Academy and demonstrates the lasting impact of the programme.

VWV Managing Director, Shale Gama, says: “PWA has evolved into a programme that not only changes career trajectories but also builds lifelong networks. We’re incredibly proud of the resilience, growth, and determination we see in each year’s class.”

Media, alumni, and supporters will join the PWA team later this year for the Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony, where mentees will be recognised for their commitment to personal and professional growth.

For more information on Phakama Women’s Academy and to follow the Class of 2025 journey, visit our social media pages.

About Phakama Women’s Academy

In 2014, VWV established the Phakama Women’s Academy, a non-profit ESG initiative designed to help young female job seekers in the communications and marketing fields enter the working wor with the knowledge and confidence to one day reach the boardroom.

Each year, through skills-development workshops and individual mentoring, we provide 30 to 40 bright, ambitious final-year students from Vega, AFDA, and UJ with the opportunity not only to ignite their careers but also to shape their futures.

At the end of the programme, every participant graduates with a Phakama Women’s Academy certificate. We are proud to partner with a group of trailblazing women from the corporate world who mentor these students—relationships that often extend well beyond the course itself.

About VWV Group

VWV Group is a full-service experiential marketing agency specialising in creating world-class brand experiences. With a 43-year legacy of pioneering events across multiple industries, VWV continues to set the benchmark for creativity, innovation, and excellence in experiential marketing.

About Shale Gama

Shale Gama, Managing Director: Since 2012, Shale has been developing, implementing and monitoring marketing activations through VWV Agency building positive, trust-based relationships with business partners and clients. It is this, her keen business acumen and incredibly high standard,s that she brings to the role of Managing Director, as well as her passion for mentoring female graduates in the marketing field.