W20 Delegates Sound the Kudu Horn at JSE to Champion Women’s Financial Inclusion

All images: Courtesey of JSE

The Women20 (W20) Summit delegates gathered at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) to sound the kudu horn (an ancient African call of unity and renewal). This time, it marked something modern: a global demand for greater financial inclusion and entrepreneurship opportunities for women.

The event, hosted in collaboration with the JSE, Global Summit of Women, and the City of Johannesburg, signaled the beginning of the W20 South Africa Summit. Held in Sandton, the session brought together some of the most influential voices in global finance, policy, and enterprise. Beyond ceremony, it represented a practical conversation about turning ideals of gender equality into measurable economic outcomes.

The JSE: Africa’s largest stock exchange and a vital link between global investors and the continent’s markets, used the occasion to reaffirm its commitment to inclusive growth. As a B20 sponsor and active contributor to G20 working groups, the JSE continues to play a pivotal role in connecting policy dialogue with private-sector leadership.

The CEO Circle for the event featured four powerful women reshaping global business:

• Irene Natividad, President, Global Summit of Women

• Wendy Lucas-Bull, Chairperson of Shoprite Holdings, South Africa

• Elif Çapçı, CEO and Board Member, Beymen Group, Türkiye

• Niroshma Chetty, CEO, Engie Africa: Avon and Dedisa Peaking Power, South Africa

Each leader brought a perspective grounded in results, proving that CEOs aren’t simply born, they’re shaped by resilience, reinvention, and risk. During a candid exchange, the panelists reflected on how none of their careers began with the intention of becoming CEOs. Each story was one of evolution: shifting industries, embracing uncertainty, and redefining success along the way.

The discussion took an introspective turn when they were asked a simple but revealing question: “Do you feel successful?” Elif Çapçı hesitated before answering, proving that women, are often conditioned to downplay their achievements. By contrast, Wendy and Niroshma Chetty responded without hesitation. “Yes,” they said, unapologetically.

This year’s summit theme: “Women in Solidarity Towards a Just Future” set the tone for dialogue focused on turning commitment into measurable action. Delegates agreed that while policy commitments on gender equality have grown across markets, progress remains uneven.

The call to action: move beyond advocacy to implementation. That means developing systems that track accountability, expand women’s participation in financial markets, and close persistent gaps in access to credit and investment capital.

Irene Natividad: President, Global Summit of Women

Irene Natividad captured the essence of the morning with a message that blended symbolism and strategy. “I always say optics matter,” she told the audience. “When women aren’t part of market opens, it’s as if we don’t belong. But we do belong and that’s why the image of women ringing opening bells is just as important for those who will follow. It’s a tradition, and it should be open to us as much as it is to men.”

Her point resonated: visibility and participation in spaces of power aren’t symbolic gestures, they’re structural statements. When women are seen leading at market openings or sitting at the financial table, it shifts perception and paves the way for others to follow.

Irene also addressed the pace of progress in corporate leadership. “Progress is slow, and results are slow,” she said, “but what gives me comfort is seeing countries take progressive steps to create a level field.” Her words reflected a pragmatic optimism: change may not happen overnight, but the foundations are being built.

Delegations from more than 25 countries, including the United States, Japan, India, Nigeria, France, and Brazil attended the W20 Summit, which ran from October 12 to 14 at the Vivari Hotel and Spa in Johannesburg. As one of the official G20 engagement groups, W20 continues to shape policy discussions that link gender equality with economic prosperity.

The kudu horn ceremony at the JSE served as both a symbolic and strategic moment: a collective declaration that inclusion is no longer optional. For W20 delegates, it was a call to move from intention to execution—aligning policy, private capital, and leadership to deliver measurable progress for women in every market.