Editor's note: A tribute to the financial empowerment of women

Every year, Women’s Day invites us to pause, reflect, and honour the women who’ve shaped our country’s history and the women in our lives. But it also calls us to celebrate the women who are shaping its future, quietly, boldly, and often without fanfare. In the world of personal finance, that future is being written every day by women who are budgeting with precision, investing with purpose, and making decisions that secure not just their wellbeing, but that of their families and communities.

As a woman editor in this space, I see the power of financial literacy not just as a tool, but as a form of liberation. I’ve watched women navigate debt, negotiate salaries, start businesses, and buy their first homes, sometimes with support, often against the odds. These are not just financial milestones; they are acts of courage.

This Women’s Day, we celebrate the rising number of South African women who are financing their futures with clarity and confidence. From the young professional saving for her first car, to the single mother building generational wealth, to the retiree managing her portfolio with quiet wisdom, each story matters.

We also acknowledge the systemic barriers that still exist, and the work that remains. Financial freedom should not be a privilege, it should be a right. And as editors, writers, and advocates, we have a responsibility to ensure that every woman has access to the knowledge, tools, and support she needs to thrive.

So here’s to the women who read this publication, who challenge norms, who ask the hard questions, and who believe in their worth. May your financial journey be one of empowerment, resilience, and joy.

Happy Women’s Day.

PERSONAL FINANCE