What happens when women are given permission to pause, reflect and ask themselves what comes next?
For nearly 180 women from South Africa’s Metals and Engineering Industry, the answer unfolded over a morning of honest conversations, self-discovery and meaningful connection.
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) hosted its Reset & Rise Women’s High Tea on Friday, 14 August, bringing women together in Honeydew for an experience designed to go beyond a traditional Women’s Month celebration.
The focus was simple but powerful: pause, reflect, reconnect and rise.
More Than a Celebration
Women working across the Metals and Engineering Industry often operate in environments where resilience is essential. SEIFSA’s Reset & Rise event created an opportunity to step away from those everyday demands and turn the focus inward.
Leading the morning was professional coach Debbie Wheal of Routes Coaching, who describes herself as an unconventional coach.
Using her bespoke IDENTITY Workbook, Wheal guided attendees through a process of self-discovery.
Her approach encouraged women to confront deeper questions about their identities, motivations and ambitions. Through personal anecdotes and open conversation, the session created room for questions that are not always easy to ask.
Who am I?
What drives me?
What do I actually want next?
For SEIFSA, those questions formed an important part of creating a meaningful Women’s Month experience.
“SEIFSA celebrates the women who play such a crucial role in the male-dominated Metals and Engineering Industry. We wanted this year’s Women’s Month event to be more than a celebration. We wanted to create a space where women could pause, reflect and think intentionally about themselves and what comes next,” said Nuraan Alli, Marketing, Sales and Communications Executive at SEIFSA.
Turning Reflection Into Opportunity
The morning was not only about personal reflection.
It also provided an opportunity for SEIFSA to introduce guests to its Women of Steel – Women’s Leadership Mentoring Programme.
The six-month pilot is being run in partnership with the Danish Industries Gender Inclusion Initiative.
At its core, the programme is designed to connect emerging female leaders with senior industry mentors.
Participants receive structured mentorship, leadership development and professional support, with the broader goal of strengthening the pipeline of women moving into senior leadership positions across the metals, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
That makes the programme an important part of the wider conversation around women’s progression in industries where leadership pathways can be particularly significant.
Reset & Rise therefore connected two conversations: understanding where women are today and creating opportunities for where they could go next.
Wellbeing Is Part of the Conversation
The event was made possible through the support of the RMA Prevention Programme, the exclusive sponsor of Reset & Rise.
For RMA, supporting women in industry extends beyond physical workplace safety.
“At RMA, prevention is about more than physical safety. It is also about supporting the wellbeing of the people who make our industries work,” said Dr Jessica Hutchings, Head of Prevention at RMA.
“Reset & Rise created an important space for women to step away from the demands of everyday life, connect with one another and reflect on their own wellbeing and growth. RMA is proud to support an initiative that puts women at the centre of that conversation.”
That message added another layer to the event.
Wellbeing, professional development and leadership are not separate conversations. For women navigating demanding professional environments, they can be closely connected.
A Morning of Connection
Beyond the structured programme, the High Tea gave attendees the chance to connect with other women working across the industry.
The setting created space for conversations, networking and shared experiences, while the event’s emphasis on reflection encouraged attendees to consider their own journeys.
Invincible Valves also added a personal touch, providing guests with goodie bags containing bright notebooks, pens, lip balm, mugs and sweet treats.
It was a small detail that complemented the event’s broader focus on making women feel seen and celebrated.
Reset. Reflect. Rise.
For SEIFSA, the message behind Reset & Rise extends beyond one morning.
The organisation says its role is not only to celebrate women working in the Metals and Engineering Industry, but also to continue creating opportunities that support their development and progression.
“I would like to thank the incredible women of South Africa’s Metals and Engineering Industry who show up each day with courage, resilience and strength despite the challenges they face,” said Alli.
“Our role at SEIFSA is not only to celebrate these women, but to continue creating opportunities that support their growth, development and progression within our industry.”
And perhaps that is the most meaningful takeaway from Reset & Rise.
Celebration matters.
But so does what happens afterwards.
The reflection.
The mentorship.
The connections.
The opportunities.
Because sometimes rising starts with something much quieter: stopping long enough to ask yourself where you want to go next.
