02 Sep Digital Divas Summit 2025: The Women, The Wisdom, The Moments
On Friday, 29 August, over 160 women founders, leaders, and creators gathered at Innovation City Cape Town for Digital Divas Summit 2025, a day themed around Becoming; a journey through identity, power, and reinvention for women in business.
The day opened with Elizabeth Lee Ming leading the room into connection from the very start. Her advice was direct and memorable: “Read the room. Step into a room and own it. Bring your authentic self; it’s the key to connection. Be a valuable ally.” It set the tone for a summit built on real, intentional relationships.
From there, Talita Jacobs grounded the audience with a call to bravery and clarity. She reminded us to “connect to your North Star, connect to a bigger purpose.” Her message was clear: be brave, even when it’s boring, and trust your gut. Let go of the need for certainty; after all, the average adult makes 35,000 choices a day. Her notes were practical and sharp: “Have a bias towards action. Say no. Surround yourself with the right people.”
Chipo Mushwana took the stage with fire! Her session on confidence was a masterclass in owning the room: “Confidence is not given. You have to take it. Myth: Confidence is about being liked, but liked is safe. Undeniable is power.” She pushed us to reframe courage as moving even when you’re not ready, and to remember that “playing small is betrayal.” Her dare: “For the next 7 days, walk into every room like it’s already yours.”
Neesa Moodley broke down financial freedom with hard truths and simple tools. Her mantra was unmistakable: “A man ain’t a financial plan.” She unpacked the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, explained how inflation erodes savings, and reminded us that women live longer, so we need to plan for retirement and healthcare. Her advice was practical: personalise your budget, focus on one goal at a time, and avoid lifestyle creep. Above all: play the long game!
The conversation shifted to the role of community. Michelle Geere (Founder & CEO, Adbot), and Leigh Stefanski(Partner & MD, Now Boarding Digital) agreed that for women in tech, joining communities is more than just networkin; it’s survival! When challenges arise, whether scaling a business, navigating funding, or simply needing advice, communities become the safety net and the launchpad.
The discussion highlighted how collective support builds resilience, sparks innovation, and creates visibility in an ecosystem where women’s voices are still underrepresented.
After a delicious lunch provided by Simply Asia, The Diva Pitch brought five bold founders to the stage: Serisha Barrat (Lawyered Up), Emma Heap (Sudor), Este Marié Burger (Biocode), Noligwa Jansson (diza), and Katie Borland (noodees), followed by a panel with Catherine Youngmoderating.
The conversation was raw and real. Serisha stressed the power of self-belief: “People back people.” Catherine reminded founders to tailor pitch decks for different audiences and to “check socials” to assess potential investors. Noli highlighted the importance of aligning with the right investor who understands your space. Emma encouraged founders to use tools like ChatGPT to find clients. Esté shared the challenge of breaking into global markets as a South African biotech. Katie reflected on how beauty and skincare aren’t frivolous; they’re about meaningful daily choices. Catherine closed with a sharp line: “If you want a mentor, ask for money. If you want money, ask for a mentor!”
In the end it was Serisha Barrat who clinched the R100,000 investment prize from Thinkroom Consulting, recognised for her traction, clarity of vision, and “founder magic.” Her platform, Lawyered Up, is transforming access to legal services for SMEs and startups, and the judges believed it was ready to accelerate to the next stage of growth.
In her session, Egla Ntumba reframed the hype around AI. “59% of people will need to be retrained in the next 4 years because of AI,” she noted. She reminded us that while hype cycles fade, core skills endure: tech literacy, resilience, curiosity, and visibility. Her message: “The future of work is not happening to you, it is happening with you.”
Finally, Suzaan Sauerman spotlighted the overlooked gaps in femtech and healthtech. Her startling fact: GPs spend only three months of their medical curriculum on women’s bodies. With women now proactively learning, sharing, and demanding better solutions, the opportunity in femtech is vast. She urged the room to keep asking, keep researching, and keep building, because the future of health innovation will be female-led!
The day ended with a great cocktail reception at La Parada! A heartfelt thank you to every speaker who brought clarity, courage, and conviction to the stage. To our main sponsors: Momentum, Paymentology and NSPYRE, and also all the other amazing prize sponsors – your support made this event possible.
And to the women who filled the room with energy, ambition, and connection: thank you for showing up fully!
Check out all the photos from the day here.