It was very informal, no official invites, just a Facebook event but Tertia & I were surrounded by outstanding women - and some of the boys who volunteered to dress the part - who picked up the idea with a dash of speed (primarily women who work in technology, naturally).
Who came to share lunch and non.pink and fluffy company?
(In order of introduction around the table, and then order of appearance)
Tertia Albertyn my divine co.host of the Valentine’s non.pink & fluffy lunch. Celebrated author of bestseller So Close and massively popular mommy.blogger at Tertia.org in between the IBM day gig to put her MBA to some use.
Sam Wilson editor of Women24.com, among other channels where she stars, like Shape & Cape Town’s Child. Force of nature this lady!
Elaine Rumboll director of Executive Education at UCT’s Graduate School of Business (and published poet and blues singer to harmonise the force), blogger and gf of Dave Duarte (who almost everyone at the table was connected to in some way)
Nicky Friedman aka The Lush; gorgeous wordsmith who has forged a new story engineering consultancy: Big Words Scare Me which develops the narrative for companies to enrich their brand & culture. [adore this concept], she is also a fiercely popular blogumist at The Times with Tersh.
Sarah Blake: recently of Incubeta, and apparently more famously as gf of Rob Stokes (as Nikki F learned!) and soon to be co.constructor of geek girl dinners (such a fabulous idea Ms Blake) and fellow relapsed blogger here - go prod her!
Leoni Uys brought another little girl with her (who makes her world debut in 2weeks time - with her own personal blog of course); interior design has given way to this woman’s glorious artistic skill with canvasses and oils. Love Leoni!
Shana Kassiem who I met through the equally marvellous Ms Vasco, is jetting her way to the States next month, as co.owner of IT solutions company Maxxor, she’ll be representing SA women in technology and bringing skills and stories back to share with us
Catherine Luckhoff owner of the PR powerhouse Mango OMC, which is solidly moving into position to be a pioneering force in online PR in South Africa. Cath also takes the honours as a superconnector, and go.to to make things happen. Wonder woman.
Beverley Merriman aka Feisty Female, who was nominated in the Garden Route regionals as Woman of the Year (& turned it down because she didn’t have the time to fly in) has finally arrived in Cape Town and joined the Mango OMC crew, while still somehow managing her own company. Bev is a also a fellow Thought Leader at the Mail & Guardian
Michelle Matthews writer and publishing consultant specialising in digital hybrids (Tertia’s ex.publishing agent), founder of the Oshun imprint, mobfest maven - well worth discovering more about this publishing visionary
HajraBibi Cassim stay-at-home mom with MBA in tow, ex tech gal, who is a long.time fan of the worthy blogging queen Tertia
Kerry-Anne Gilowey who I met at Podcamp (she organised a Mini for the day as a prize) is another wonderful wordsmith with her own content creation consultancy specialising in social media production and co.creator of the popular Cape Town Daily Photo. She is also an alumnus of Nomadic Marketing.
Jenna Miller Bloch who I will no doubt see at future geek.girl gigs and definitely spend more time with; incubated her PPC talent at Incubeta and is soon to join the Shoulders of Giants team.
Robynn Burls co.founder (with hubby Scott) of Encyclomedia [media database co. connecting PR and media outlets (also read bloggers) together] who I met at the Bloggerati party through catalyst Cath Luckhoff
Kirsten Pearson fellow Huddleminder (our Catalyst of Progress) whose Conscious Dialogue workshops are starting to add real value to individuals, couples and corporates who participate in the sessions; amongst keeping Huddlemind processes on track and practising Reiki
Thank you all so much for your splendid company!
[We missed Tanya Odendaal (diarised the wrong day, but helping to organise the Cape Epic will do that to you) & Lauren Cohen (chasing a gritty story in a squatter camp on Valentine's Day for the Sunday Times), another wordsmithy Thought Leader Bridget McNulty, Christine Da Silva (also ex.Incubeta, now owner of AlterSage online reputation management), Verashni Pillay (News24.com journo & blogger here), Jacky Lourens (helping refresh the film industry in SA), and MariaVasco (the force behind the Goddess Events & the Bookless Bookclubs around the country)].
PS. Please let me know (leave a comment or mail me) if you’re keen to come to, or even sponsor a little something fabulous for our upcoming and more structured Women in Tech (name TBC) dinner in March >>
* a word on the header
I say “.co.za” when of course I mean Cape Town; but given that when it comes to the real.world social element of online culture in South Africa, Cape Town has consistently proven to be the pioneer.
From geekdinners to podcamps, the meme emerges here & goes on a great trek north. (Sound like a little dare to you Jozi & George crews? It’s supposed to ;-) The more we blend our realities & share space beyond the isolating busyness, the closer we get to developing a strong tech culture here)
You are such a fabulous woman Max. You forgot to add how much we all adore YOU!!
Can’t wait for the Geek Girls Dinner.
xxx
Oh Max, thank you so much for arranging this and to Tertia for extending your invite to all of us, I had to run to a meeting, but left the lunch inspired and am still feeling it.
Looking forward to the Geek Girls DinDin ;-).
Max - keep shining .. xxx
Hey Max - please put me on your list for the next Geek Girls lunch/dinner/otherwise fab get-together… what an awesome group of women! I’m on the same trip as Shana and we’ll be kicking butt over there in the US, showing them what we SA chicks are made of… If it’s appropriate/of interest, I’d be happy to sponsor a lucky draw for a free 3 month portfolio on Freelancentral at your next do. x Jo
Hi Max
I’m definitely at the next one. Well done. Let me know if you need help with organising, gifts, etc.
Thank you. Big kiss
Ps, please make sure it’s not on the same day as one of my events, so I don’t miss out on all the fun.
I will have to send this link to the Garden Route Geek Gals!
Thanks for an awesome event “Amazing Max”! Looking forward to the Geek Girls dinner.
Max, Tertia, you are the source. Thank you for an incredible lunch with incredible (non.pink and fluffy) women.
a fly on teh wall i woulda loved to be.
Fly on the table that is. Quite a table of content.
I love what you are doing!! Cannot wait for the get together in March.
Please send me an f-invite to the next meet-up.
Tertia! x x thank you so much T :’-D oooh yes.. dinz promises some sparkle and excellence if our little lunch was anything to go by
Shana you too, just soooo delighted that I came to the Bookless Bookclub. What a valuable addition to our circle of friends you are!
Jo hooray! how cool is THAT?! worthy representatives you both are. thank you so very much, we’re grabbing the prize with both grateful hands :-D
Maria plz post up when the Goddess, Poker nights, BooklessBookclub etc dates are: 1. so we can know & maybe join in 2. so we don’t conflict d8s. you are a TREASURE, I’d love some of your eventing genius esp. re.sponsors.
Bev yes! maybe worth a roadtrip :-D
Ms Luckhoff always a pleasure, thank you so much for adding your brilliance to the gathering C, you ROCK
Rafiq LOLOLOL :’-D or spiderman
Molo dude!! I miss you - what is going on here. I’m organising to see you next week. You are too cool not to be seen on the regular.
Marth-El connect in with me on FB - LOVE to know what YOU’re doing?!
Joy-Mari of course! really looking forward to seeing your talented self again mej.J-M
It was wonderful. :) I had an awesome time, and I’m so glad I stayed right till the end (even braving the crazy traffic as a result), because the company and conversation was absolutely worth it. Thanks, Max and Tertia, for putting this together, and thanks to everyone else for being such excellently inspiring company. I can’t wait for the next one.
Kerry-Anne me too, the conversation really deepened at the end & made it worth the R40 (!) parking. Bloody V&A, my own fault for not wanting to walk half a mile to pay only 10.
Such a pleasure.
Next one 12th March so hope you’ll have it free! Will announce on Friday I think.
Love the comments, this site is great! I’ve recommended your services to our clients :)
Thx Shana for sending me the link!
Ciao