On Saturday, 15 August, the North-West University (NWU) Alumni Relations Office brought female student leaders on the Mahikeng Campus together for an empowering engagement focused on leadership, wellbeing and personal growth.

With the theme “Ladies, let’s talk; real stories, real growth”, the event encouraged student leaders to look beyond their positions and qualifications and take ownership of their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing while building meaningful careers.

Experts and accomplished professionals were in attendance, sharing practical insights on psychological wellness, physical health, leadership, career development, and the importance of supportive relationships.

In her talk on psychological wellness, Tlale Chakela, the deputy director for mental health at the Department of Health, encouraged students to think beyond the traditional understanding of mental health and to pay closer attention to their daily emotional wellbeing.

She engaged students by asking how they cared for their spiritual, mental and emotional health, prompting lively participation. While students readily identified prayer, exercise and personal hygiene, she noted that it became more difficult to explain how they intentionally care for their mental and emotional wellbeing. “We all go through emotional stages in life. We all experience sadness, loneliness, disappointment and rejection, and these things affect us emotionally,” she added.

Tlale encouraged students to identify and acknowledge their emotions, rather than suffering in silence, particularly when dealing with unresolved experiences and past trauma. She also reminded them that appearances can be deceptive. She encouraged them to prioritise healthy coping mechanisms such as getting enough sleep, eating healthily, staying hydrated, reading, exercising and learning how to manage stress, while avoiding harmful coping mechanisms such as substance abuse.

The conversation then shifted to physical health and wellness. Dr Nombulelo Zenani, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences, reminded students that understanding their bodies is an important part of self-care. “Our bodies are unique in that they are designed to heal themselves and tell us when something is wrong or when they need help,” Dr Zenani said.

She encouraged students to become comfortable with their bodies and to pay attention to changes in their skin, breasts and menstrual cycles, as well as other physical symptoms. She emphasised the importance of breast self-awareness and regular screening, as well as seeking medical assistance when unusual changes are detected.

When it came to sexual and reproductive health, Dr Zenani encouraged sexually active students to make responsible decisions, practise safe sex and consider family planning. “You can be everything and anything for other people, but you need to be everything to yourself too,” she said.

One of the programme’s highlights was the panel discussion with NWU alumni, who reflected on their time at university, their leadership experiences, the setbacks they had faced and how they had developed their careers. The panellists spoke openly about making difficult career decisions, navigating uncertainty, overcoming self-doubt, and balancing ambition with societal expectations. One panellist shared how pursuing an MBA from a nursing background challenged her and made her consider giving up, but ultimately taught her that setbacks do not necessarily equate to failure.

One powerful message that emerged was the importance of women supporting each other rather than competing. “I am here because there was a woman who opened the door for me, and I will leave the door open for the next woman,” said one of the panel members.

The event concluded with a talk on career empowerment by Tshegofatso Bogatsu, a career coach specialist at NWU Career Services. She challenged students to stop waiting for opportunities and start actively shaping their careers. “Own your career journey because it’s part of your story,” m Tshegofatso told students. She encouraged them to consider what they would pursue if fear were not holding them back, and highlighted planning, adaptability, career growth and self-awareness as key elements of career development.

The event left students with a powerful reminder: leadership begins with leading yourself. The discussions demonstrated that effective leadership requires personal responsibility and intentional self-care, covering topics such as mental and emotional wellness, physical health, relationships, mentorship and career planning.

Female student leaders on the Mahikeng Campus came together for an empowering leadership, wellbeing and personal growth engagement.