Empowering Women to Lead Boldly, Thrive Holistically, and Redefine Success
21st May 2025
Amid the serene breeze of Lake Malawi’s golden shores at Sunbird Nkopola, the 2025 edition of the Professional Women’s Conference (PWC), hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (ICAM), brought together a constellation of brilliant, ambitious, and change-driven women from across the country and beyond.
Held under the evocative theme “Redefining Success – Balancing Career, Leadership, and Well-Being,” the three-day event was a resounding celebration of ambition, resilience, and holistic empowerment.
From 15th to 17th May 2025, the conference drew over 170 women professionals from diverse fields – accounting, law, health, finance, entrepreneurship, academia, and civil society – to share experiences, ignite inspiration, and chart a collective path toward purposeful and sustainable leadership.
OPENING SESSION: A CALL TO PURPOSE
The event began with a warm welcome by ICAM CEO, CA Noel Zigowa, who underscored ICAM’s commitment to advancing women’s professional and personal aspirations. He hailed the conference as a space not only for dialogue and growth but for the rewriting of societal expectations surrounding female leadership.
Empowering Women to Lead Boldly, Thrive Holistically, and Redefine Success
21st May 2025
Amid the serene breeze of Lake Malawi’s golden shores at Sunbird Nkopola, the 2025 edition of the Professional Women’s Conference (PWC), hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (ICAM), brought together a constellation of brilliant, ambitious, and change-driven women from across the country and beyond.
Held under the evocative theme “Redefining Success – Balancing Career, Leadership, and Well-Being,” the three-day event was a resounding celebration of ambition, resilience, and holistic empowerment.
From 15th to 17th May 2025, the conference drew over 170 women professionals from diverse fields – accounting, law, health, finance, entrepreneurship, academia, and civil society – to share experiences, ignite inspiration, and chart a collective path toward purposeful and sustainable leadership.
OPENING SESSION: A CALL TO PURPOSE
The event began with a warm welcome by ICAM CEO, CA Noel Zigowa, who underscored ICAM’s commitment to advancing women’s professional and personal aspirations. He hailed the conference as a space not only for dialogue and growth but for the rewriting of societal expectations surrounding female leadership.
CA. Noel Zigowa- ICAM CEO
Noel emphasized that PWC is not just an event, but a celebration of resilience, progress, and the limitless potential of Malawian women. He reminded attendees of their collective power, stating: “This conference gives us the space to reflect, recharge, and reframe what success truly means in today’s fast-changing world.”
ICAM President, CA Daniel Jere, followed with a stirring message emphasizing the necessity of creating environments where women can rise without sacrificing their wellness. “This is more than just a conference,” he said. “It is a movement to recognize that success is not linear, and it must accommodate well-being, family, purpose, and joy.”
CA. Daniel Jere- ICAM CEO
He challenged the participants that the conference was a powerful declaration of Malawian women’s readiness to shape industries, lead institutions, drive innovation, and transform communities. He reinforced that success is no longer solely defined by traditional metrics of promotions and profits, but includes personal well-being, health, relationships, and the ability to lead with authenticity and compassion.
He characterized the conference not just as a meeting, but a place where voices are amplified, ideas nurtured, and purpose reignited, challenging women to collectively forge new paths toward gender equity and inclusive leadership. He also reminded attendees about the importance of “sisterhood” – lifting as they rise, mentoring the next generation, and advocating for policies that allow every woman to flourish.
Setting the tone for the conference was the Guest of Honour, Ms. Letty Chiwara, UN Women’s Country Representative, who gave a rousing keynote address.
Ms. Letty Chiwara, UN Women’s Country Representative
She applauded ICAM for its gender-transformative initiatives and called on women to “redefine success in a way that is authentic, sustainable, and inclusive.” She emphasized that redefining success meant dismantling systemic barriers while also nurturing self-care and mental health.
The evening concluded with a lakeside dinner, offering delegates a chance to connect informally and gear up for the sessions ahead.
DAY 2: BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING BRIDGES
The second day, May 16th, featured a series of engaging presentations. Akonda Yakobe Supuni, President of FAWOMA, delivered a presentation on “Why Leaders Should Lead with Emotional Intelligence”.
Akonda Yakobe Supuni- making her presentation
She defined Emotional Intelligence (EI) as the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions effectively in oneself and others, highlighting five key components: self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, social awareness, and social skills. Supuni emphasized that EI skills can be learned and are crucial for enhanced communication, stronger relationships, improved conflict resolution, increased employee engagement, and better decision-making. She used Lionel Messi as an example to illustrate these EI components in a successful individual.
Phatuma Amasi-Mataka, Managing Counsel at Amasi & Associates, presented on “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Women in Male-Dominated Industries”. Her presentation aimed to shift the narrative from “victimhood” to empowerment, focusing on the opportunities and strengths women bring.
She acknowledged the challenges, such as historical and cultural barriers, structural issues like unequal pay and limited mentorship, and unconscious biases. Amasi-Mataka highlighted opportunities for advancement, including growing representation, mentorship, networking, and policy reforms. She provided practical advice for success, such as setting clear career goals, seeking challenging assignments, embracing feedback, and taking risks. Crucially, she addressed the importance of balancing career, leadership, and well-being through prioritizing, setting boundaries, self-care, and maintaining strong family connections.
Florence Zeliwe Mataya, Operations Director at One Stop Community Pharmacy, spoke on “Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship: Leading Innovation from Within”. She defined entrepreneurship as identifying and pursuing opportunities to create value through innovation, requiring a mindset of perseverance and continuous adaptation. She also explained intrapreneurship as fostering an entrepreneurial environment within an existing company, where individuals drive innovation from within. Mataya provided examples of successful innovation, including Gmail, Post-it Notes, FDH Bank, and OneStop Community Pharmacy. Her key takeaways for success included embracing risk, building networks, investing in people, staying community-focused, and adapting to change.
Boat ride
Post-lunch, attendees boarded boats for a scenic Lake Malawi ride. Against the backdrop of shimmering waters, women exchanged business cards, shared struggles, and forged alliances. The day closed with a cocktail dinner, where the buzz of new connections drowned out the dance floor.
Dinner & Dance
DAY 3: LEADING WITH AUTHENTICITY AND COURAGE
The final day, May 17th, began with a refreshing hiking session. Subsequent presentations included Temwani Simwaka, CEO of NBS Bank, who addressed “Authentic Leadership in a Changing World: Leading with Empathy and Inclusivity”. Simwaka emphasized that modern leadership requires authenticity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. She highlighted self-awareness, transparency, long-term vision, trust, and credibility as pillars of authentic leadership. Her presentation encouraged women leaders to embrace vulnerability, build mentorship networks, engage in continuous learning, and promote work-life balance.
Elizabeth Mkutumula, Safeguarding Officer at Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, presented “Swimming Against The Current: The Courage To Challenge Harmful Means That Lead To Unsustainable Ends”. She stressed the importance of challenging harmful norms that hinder progress towards sustainable and equitable outcomes, emphasizing courage and perseverance. Mkutumula discussed psychological safety in the workplace, the significance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), and the ongoing challenges of gender equality, including bias, stereotypes, and pay inequality. She argued that well-being is an investment and challenged the audience to redefine success by disrupting harmful norms and prioritizing well-being.
A co-opted presentation by Fatima Zulu focused on women’s health, specifically cervical cancer, and broader health concerns for professional women. She provided detailed information on cervical cancer anatomy, development, screening, and treatment, highlighting its preventability with early detection. Zulu also covered causes, risk factors, and symptoms of cervical cancer. Broader health topics discussed included work-life balance, stress management, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular complications from prolonged sitting, and the effects of divorce on professional women and their children.
Group photo for the participants
ICAM President, in his closing remarks, praised the resilience, brilliance, and unity demonstrated by the women present. He reaffirmed ICAM’s commitment to driving inclusive growth in the professional landscape and reminded delegates that the impact of the conference lies in action: “The real work begins when you return to your boardrooms, classrooms, clinics, and businesses. Redefine success boldly—and do so together.”
Legacy of the conference
As the 2025 Professional Women’s Conference came to a close, one thing was clear: this was not just another event—it was a collective awakening. A space where ambition met wellness, where purpose merged with leadership, and where sisterhood was the glue holding every story together.
From hiking trails to boardrooms, from networking lounges to policy debates, the conference became a beacon of possibility. It reminded women across Malawi and beyond that success is not about doing it all—but about doing what matters, with heart, clarity, and bold intention.
- Noel Zigowa- ICAM CEO
Noel emphasized that PWC is not just an event, but a celebration of resilience, progress, and the limitless potential of Malawian women. He reminded attendees of their collective power, stating: “This conference gives us the space to reflect, recharge, and reframe what success truly means in today’s fast-changing world.”
ICAM President, CA Daniel Jere, followed with a stirring message emphasizing the necessity of creating environments where women can rise without sacrificing their wellness. “This is more than just a conference,” he said. “It is a movement to recognize that success is not linear, and it must accommodate well-being, family, purpose, and joy.”
- Daniel Jere– ICAM CEO
He challenged the participants that the conference was a powerful declaration of Malawian women’s readiness to shape industries, lead institutions, drive innovation, and transform communities. He reinforced that success is no longer solely defined by traditional metrics of promotions and profits, but includes personal well-being, health, relationships, and the ability to lead with authenticity and compassion.
He characterized the conference not just as a meeting, but a place where voices are amplified, ideas nurtured, and purpose reignited, challenging women to collectively forge new paths toward gender equity and inclusive leadership. He also reminded attendees about the importance of “sisterhood” – lifting as they rise, mentoring the next generation, and advocating for policies that allow every woman to flourish.
Setting the tone for the conference was the Guest of Honour, Ms. Letty Chiwara, UN Women’s Country Representative, who gave a rousing keynote address.
Ms. Letty Chiwara, UN Women’s Country Representative
She applauded ICAM for its gender-transformative initiatives and called on women to “redefine success in a way that is authentic, sustainable, and inclusive.” She emphasized that redefining success meant dismantling systemic barriers while also nurturing self-care and mental health.
The evening concluded with a lakeside dinner, offering delegates a chance to connect informally and gear up for the sessions ahead.
DAY 2: BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING BRIDGES
The second day, May 16th, featured a series of engaging presentations. Akonda Yakobe Supuni, President of FAWOMA, delivered a presentation on “Why Leaders Should Lead with Emotional Intelligence“.
Akonda Yakobe Supuni- making her presentation
She defined Emotional Intelligence (EI) as the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions effectively in oneself and others, highlighting five key components: self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, social awareness, and social skills. Supuni emphasized that EI skills can be learned and are crucial for enhanced communication, stronger relationships, improved conflict resolution, increased employee engagement, and better decision-making. She used Lionel Messi as an example to illustrate these EI components in a successful individual.
Phatuma Amasi-Mataka, Managing Counsel at Amasi & Associates, presented on “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Women in Male-Dominated Industries“. Her presentation aimed to shift the narrative from “victimhood” to empowerment, focusing on the opportunities and strengths women bring.
She acknowledged the challenges, such as historical and cultural barriers, structural issues like unequal pay and limited mentorship, and unconscious biases. Amasi-Mataka highlighted opportunities for advancement, including growing representation, mentorship, networking, and policy reforms. She provided practical advice for success, such as setting clear career goals, seeking challenging assignments, embracing feedback, and taking risks. Crucially, she addressed the importance of balancing career, leadership, and well-being through prioritizing, setting boundaries, self-care, and maintaining strong family connections.
Florence Zeliwe Mataya, Operations Director at One Stop Community Pharmacy, spoke on “Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship: Leading Innovation from Within“. She defined entrepreneurship as identifying and pursuing opportunities to create value through innovation, requiring a mindset of perseverance and continuous adaptation. She also explained intrapreneurship as fostering an entrepreneurial environment within an existing company, where individuals drive innovation from within. Mataya provided examples of successful innovation, including Gmail, Post-it Notes, FDH Bank, and OneStop Community Pharmacy. Her key takeaways for success included embracing risk, building networks, investing in people, staying community-focused, and adapting to change.
Boat ride
Post-lunch, attendees boarded boats for a scenic Lake Malawi ride. Against the backdrop of shimmering waters, women exchanged business cards, shared struggles, and forged alliances. The day closed with a cocktail dinner, where the buzz of new connections drowned out the dance floor.
Dinner & Dance
DAY 3: LEADING WITH AUTHENTICITY AND COURAGE
The final day, May 17th, began with a refreshing hiking session. Subsequent presentations included Temwani Simwaka, CEO of NBS Bank, who addressed “Authentic Leadership in a Changing World: Leading with Empathy and Inclusivity“. Simwaka emphasized that modern leadership requires authenticity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. She highlighted self-awareness, transparency, long-term vision, trust, and credibility as pillars of authentic leadership. Her presentation encouraged women leaders to embrace vulnerability, build mentorship networks, engage in continuous learning, and promote work-life balance.
Elizabeth Mkutumula, Safeguarding Officer at Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, presented “Swimming Against The Current: The Courage To Challenge Harmful Means That Lead To Unsustainable Ends“. She stressed the importance of challenging harmful norms that hinder progress towards sustainable and equitable outcomes, emphasizing courage and perseverance. Mkutumula discussed psychological safety in the workplace, the significance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), and the ongoing challenges of gender equality, including bias, stereotypes, and pay inequality. She argued that well-being is an investment and challenged the audience to redefine success by disrupting harmful norms and prioritizing well-being.
A co-opted presentation by Fatima Zulu focused on women’s health, specifically cervical cancer, and broader health concerns for professional women. She provided detailed information on cervical cancer anatomy, development, screening, and treatment, highlighting its preventability with early detection. Zulu also covered causes, risk factors, and symptoms of cervical cancer. Broader health topics discussed included work-life balance, stress management, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular complications from prolonged sitting, and the effects of divorce on professional women and their children.
Group photo for the participants
ICAM President, in his closing remarks, praised the resilience, brilliance, and unity demonstrated by the women present. He reaffirmed ICAM’s commitment to driving inclusive growth in the professional landscape and reminded delegates that the impact of the conference lies in action: “The real work begins when you return to your boardrooms, classrooms, clinics, and businesses. Redefine success boldly—and do so together.”
Legacy of the conference
As the 2025 Professional Women’s Conference came to a close, one thing was clear: this was not just another event—it was a collective awakening. A space where ambition met wellness, where purpose merged with leadership, and where sisterhood was the glue holding every story together.
From hiking trails to boardrooms, from networking lounges to policy debates, the conference became a beacon of possibility. It reminded women across Malawi and beyond that success is not about doing it all—but about doing what matters, with heart, clarity, and bold intention.
Editor-In- Chief.