Qhawekazi Mdikane is a trailblazer in the brand marketing space. With a wealth of experience in strategic marketing and a deep passion for empowering women, she advocates for breaking down barriers and redefining success on one’s own terms.
Glamour: Can you elaborate on how you are breaking stereotypes with your success and what it means for you personally?
Qhawekazi: I grew up in an era where traditional gender roles dictated how individuals should behave based on their gender and any behaviour that challenged societal norms and expectations was frowned upon. Luckily for me, that was not the case at home. I was raised by a liberal mom who didn’t believe in this rigid approach to gender roles. She believed that chores between my brother and I were just that, chores. For example, I was expected to wash the car, we both took turns cooking, making tea and washing dishes.
My mom taught me to follow my dreams and shape my own path to success from an early age which included taking a gap year after I matriculated to au pair in New York City. So, I feel I have been breaking stereotypes my whole life because my mom encouraged me to do so. I hope I’m an example to my daughter to follow the same path and march to the beat of her own drum with confidence.
Glamour: The theme of this year's #SheOwnsHerSuccess campaign focuses on women defining success on their own terms. How do you interpret this theme in relation to the Gallery Lines?
Qhawekazi: At Momentum, we believe that success is a deeply personal journey, unique to everyone. And our narrative for our #SheOwnsHerSuccess campaign is to drive meaningful change by empowering women to achieve financial independence and gender equality. The Gallery Lines are our way of acknowledging that success comes in many different forms, and everyone has their unique path, but advice is necessary on that journey. Our gallery lines are about being inclusive while also encouraging women to be bold and own their unique path to success.
Glamour: The Gallery Line “There is power in contentment” suggests that being content can be a form of success. How does this concept resonate with you and your journey?
Qhawekazi: Contentment is important because it contributes to a more balanced, fulfilling, and resilient life, supporting both personal well-being and healthy interactions with others. Personally, it fosters a sense of peace, self-acceptance and self-love. I appreciate and I am proud of my own achievements, and I don’t compare myself to others or seek validation from others. This approach has helped me to manage stress, create healthy boundaries and set realistic expectations for my dreams. I feel more empowered and confident in my decisions and actions.
Glamour: As an advocate for empowering financial freedom, how do you believe financial independence contributes to overall success for women?
Qhawekazi: One of the topics we will be covering in our annual #SheOwnsHerSuccess workshop series is hyper-independence. It’s a phenomenon where independence almost becomes unhealthy and harmful to your mental and physical health. However, there is also the flip side of feeling like if you don’t do it no one else will and so independence for women can be stressful. This also applies to financial independence because your state of mind contributes greatly to how you manage your money, and I think for us we always encourage women to get the right advice. You don’t have to do it all on your own – this can seem counterintuitive to how we think of independence and success. It’s okay to ask for guidance, insight, and perspective. This is the crucial role that advice can play on your journey to success.
Glamour: What advice would you give to women who are looking to define and achieve success on their own terms?
Qhawekazi: I have a motto that I live by: ‘Life is Tricky Baby, #StayinyourMagic’ – and it has served me even in many ways. My advice would be to stay true to yourself, don’t be so hard on yourself and approach failure as a gift – use it to learn and get better. I would also encourage women to lean on their support system. Do not feel pressured to do everything yourself. Again, it’s ok to ask for help, even for those first-born daughters. I know the struggle is particularly real for us. LOL!
Glamour: How does the #SheOwnsHerSuccess campaign support and amplify the voices of women in defining their own success?
Qhawekazi: The #SheOwnsHerSuccess campaign is about sparking vital conversations, inspiring action, and driving impactful change in society. Our goal is to provide women with the tools, resources, and support they need to overcome barriers and pave the way for future generations. We focus on this at our annual workshop series taking place on August 14 and August 17 where we unpack relevant topics and themes that impact women. We also have a brand resource centre on our website, momentum.co.za that women can refer to for practical advice from all past and current seasons of #SheOwnsHerSuccess.
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