Loeries Creative Week is the biggest event in the calendar for the advertising and marketing industry in Africa and the Middle East. With most of the industry descending upon Cape Town from 7–11 October, it provides the perfect context for nurturing and inspiring the next generation of young women in the creative industry.

Friends in High Places – A Mentorship Initiative

Open Chair, in partnership with Nedbank, hosted Friends in High Places – a unique speed dating event for young women in advertising and marketing. Unlike traditional speed dating, this event took place on The Cape Wheel, where 65 mentees had the opportunity to meet with 31 mentors from across the industry. Each pod on the wheel served as a safe space for women to share knowledge and receive guidance on how to navigate their careers, all while enjoying breathtaking views.

Open Chair's Mission

The Loeries aims to recognise, reward, inspire, and foster creative excellence, aligning perfectly with the mission of Open Chair, a non-profit organisation dedicated to two key objectives:

1. Uplifting and inspiring women in the industry.
2. Making the industry safer for everyone.

Open Chair was founded by Suhana Gordhan, Independent Creative Leader and former Chairperson of the Loeries, with the vision to create more consciousness and connection among women in the industry. Gordhan is supported by a team of industry leaders, including:

• Nkgabiseng Motau (CCO & Founder, Think Creative Africa)
• Roanna Williams (CCO, Boundless)
• Fran Luckin (CCO, VML)
• Melina McDonald & Lorraine Smit (Co-Founders, Darling Films)

Filling Empty Chairs

Open Chair is driven by the belief that the industry faces a major challenge – empty chairs. Far too few women occupy leadership roles, and many are leaving the industry altogether. This community was created to provide access to industry leaders and foster a sense of belonging. As Suhana Gordhan explains, “Our events are about creating a safe space for women to meet face-to-face, gather guidance, navigate the tough parts of our industry, and ultimately learn from, and be supported by, each other. We want to focus on our futures and encourage each other to fill those chairs, to be visible, present, and unashamedly extraordinary.”

#OnMyWatch – Advocating for Better Behaviour

Open Chair has developed a Code of Conduct, promoted under the hashtag #OnMyWatch, to advocate for better behaviour across the industry. Nkgabiseng Motau highlights the importance of addressing the industry's history of destructive behaviour – including bullying, harassment, and microaggressions – and emphasises the need for change. "Our Code is not about naming and shaming but about painting the picture of the industry we believe is possible," says Motau. The aim is to create an environment where women can thrive without feeling threatened or disrespected, with their focus solely on creating great work.

Mentorship and Future Events

Melina McDonald expressed her gratitude to Nedbank for supporting this event, recognising the importance of investing in mentorship as a pathway to ensuring that leadership roles are filled by brilliant, young women entering the industry.

Friends in High Places, in partnership with Nedbank, took place on Thursday, 10th October during Loeries Creative Week from 2–4 pm. There are plans to continue hosting more speed dating events throughout the year in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Get Involved with Open Chair

You can adopt Open Chair’s Code here:
https://mailchi.mp/1d52ab85979d/xla1he1pbs

Join Open Chair on their social platforms:
LinkedIn: Open Chair South Africa
Instagram: openchair_
Facebook: Open Chair
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Social Media Post

Loeries Creative Week X Open Chair – Friends in High Places

Open Chair's speed dating event connected young women in marketing with industry mentors, fostering the next generation of creative leaders!

#OpenChair #LoeriesCreativeWeek #WomenInAdvertising #Nedbank #pressrelease #AfricaNewsroom #bizcommunity #publicrelations #africa #southernafrica #southafrica