Pizza Hut's LeadHerShip Initiative Empowers Young Women In South Africa

• Pizza Hut's LeadHerShip organized a mentorship session on International Women's Day
• The session centered on job prospects and growth mindset for young South African women
• The EmpowerHer session was conducted with the third cohort of the program

In celebration of IWD, Pizza Hut's LeadHerShip programme arranged a powerful session on mentorship and developing a growth mind-set, providing employment opportunities for young women in South Africa. As part of its continued dedication to empowering young women, Pizza Hut's LeadHerShip most recently hosted an inspiring EmpowerHer session for its newest set of participants, cohort three.

Hosted at the head office of Pizza Hut, the event focused on cultivating a growth mindset and the value of mentorship, emphasizing the shared dilemma of young job applicants: "I can't get a job without experience, and I can't get experience without a job." Together with the Youth Employment Service (YES), LeadHerShip addresses this dilemma by providing young women with worthwhile work experience in not-for-profit organisations, as well as skills training and monthly pay.

Approximately fifty females from cohort three participated in the session, with discussions centered on embracing a growth mindset and continuous adaptation. Rirhandzu Manganye, Pizza Hut Turkey, Africa, & Germany's Head of Brand Marketing, commented, "By learning to turn challenges into opportunities and failing well, LeadHerShip participants are empowered to become the masters of their own futures."  

Leanne Emery-Hunter, YES's Chief Commercial Officer, contributed her thoughts on developing a growth mindset. Stressing the importance of learning as an ongoing process, she quoted, "A delay in your journey is not a denial of your dreams." She further pointed out YES's role in providing more than 178,000 quality work experience opportunities to young South Africans.

Tshegofatso Phungwayo, 23 and from cohort three, told of how she went from joblessness to being offered a marketing internship at Pizza Hut. She credited her success to determination and mentorship, saying, "It does work. You just need to keep pushing."

Olerato Mtshweni, a 25-year-old media content producer, spoke of the value of empathy and authenticity. "Everybody has their struggles, and having an idea where people are coming from can offer a lot of insight. Just be yourself and give it your all," she counseled.

The event further comprised a mentoring session, where LeadHerShip cohort three participants were matched with senior mentors at Pizza Hut South Africa's regional office.

Hosted by Nadine El-Hadad, Pizza Hut Global Franchise Market Chief People and Culture Officer, and HR Lead for Africa and Europe Terikha Nagin, both highlighted the importance of the initiative. "LeadHerShip is about building a supportive community and fostering professional development. Mentorship empowers young women to achieve their full potential," they explained.