Brave Conversations, Bold Identities & Authentic Connection
On the 1st of July, the PSASA KZN Chapter gathered once again for an unforgettable evening that reignited the true essence of what this community is all about: meaningful conversations, deep personal growth and intentional connection.
From the warm welcome by Chapter President Colleen Wilson, to the insights delivered by two powerhouse speakers, to the inspiring debut of our MC for the evening — this was a session where heart and humanity took centre stage.
A New Face at the Mic – Thank You Zonke Ngcobo
Our evening was masterfully guided by first-time MC Zonke Ngcobo, who stepped into this role with courage, humility and grace. As Zonke reflected in her own words on LinkedIn:
“Something powerful happens when you dare to push your boundaries. You unlock parts of your potential you never knew existed.”
Her energy, authenticity and presence set the tone for an evening of self-discovery and transformation. Zonke reminded us all of the power of showing up, being seen and being willing to grow — and for that, we thank her.
Speaker 1: Thobile “Tops” Mkhwanazi
Talk Title: Authentically Understanding the Business of Talk
Tops brought a bold and soulful voice to the stage with a message that was both philosophical and deeply practical. She reminded us that being behind the mic comes with responsibility — to honour the conversations we choose to have and especially those we often avoid.
“Do we say the things we mean, and mean the things we say?”
She unpacked how names carry stories, and how our identity is deeply embedded in how we introduce ourselves to the world. A title may fade, but your voice — your truth — is uniquely yours. Through her work with Sisterhood Connect and her newly launched Soul Networks, Tops creates platforms where stories matter and connection is sacred.
Her call to action was clear:
Let’s normalise hard conversations, and let our words be intentional, vulnerable and impactful. Because when we value the mic, we value the people listening.
Speaker 2: Kerry Jones
Talk Title: Ignite Your Identity – Empower Your Life & Personal Brand
From the moment Kerry walked on stage, the energy of the room shifted. With her signature lively personality and warm, friendly delivery, her message was clear: the most important work we’ll ever do is on our own story.
Using her own life journey, Kerry illustrated how limiting narratives from childhood often shape how we show up as adults. Through her IDig (Identity Ignite) Model, she walked us through how our identity is formed through our experiences of events, our interpretations of these, the actions we take from those and the results that follow. Most powerfully, she reminded us that we often jump to action without processing our interpretations to the extent we maybe should — and that’s where the real work lies.
Her 3 Cs framework — Clarity, Conviction and Congruence — served as a practical guide for all attendees to begin rewriting their inner narrative and aligning with their true identity.
A key takeaway for all guests to ponder from Kerry’s talk was the notion that “self-awareness is the greatest gift we can give ourselves”.
Growing Together
We were thrilled to welcome about 20 guests, many of them joining us for the first time. It’s incredibly encouraging to see new faces, fresh energy and growing appetite for speaking development in KZN. These events are not just about professional development, they’re about finding your people and planting the seeds for real connection.
Heartfelt Thanks
To our incredible leadership and member contributors, we extend our greatest thanks:
● Colleen Wilson, for steering the ship with consistency and vision
● Zonke Ngcobo, for stepping up and showing what’s possible when we lean
into growth
● Kerry Jones, for bringing passion, tools and transformation
● Raksha Mahabeer, our Deputy President working behind the scenes to
ensure we uphold excellence for our Chapter
● Brenden Cavanagh, Past President, for ongoing support and mentorship.
To every guest, visitor and member who joined us — thank you for contributing to the heartbeat of this vibrant community.
See You in August!
We’ll be back on Tuesday, 5th August for another value-packed evening of learning, networking and inspiration. With more exciting speakers and opportunities to connect, you won’t want to miss it.
Keep an eye on your inbox and our social media for event details.
Until then — here’s to brave conversations, bold identities and the courage to show up as your authentic self.
