Fortune Favours the Brave: Lessons I Took Home from The Brave Collective

Yesterday, 5 August, I spent the day at The Brave Collective, and what a beautiful day it was. Thank you to Perri and Taryn for dreaming this up and creating a space where women could gather, learn, laugh, reflect and simply be. I arrived not knowing what to expect. I left with pages of notes, a full heart and a lot of questions for myself. Funny how that happens. Sometimes we go looking for ideas, and instead we find ourselves. One question in particular has been sitting with me ever since: When did I learn to shrink? Not when did someone tell me to shrink, but when did I quietly start making myself smaller? When did I stop putting my hand up? When did I decide my voice wasn't worth hearing?

Khensani Nobanda reminded us that we don't have to leave our stories at the door just because we've walked into powerful rooms. That really spoke to me. She said something I don't think I'll forget: "Emotional intelligence is not suppressing who you are. It is being aware of who you are, maturity is not about becoming quieter, it is more of becoming clearer. I don't need to disappear to make other people comfortable." Another question she asked was, "If all this disappeared, who are you?" I don't think that's a question you answer on the day. I think it's one you take home with you. Rachel Kolisi then asked us what season we were in. My answer came almost immediately: new beginnings. Not because everything is easy, but because I know God is doing something new in my life. She also challenged us to think beyond our titles. Who are you when you're not someone's wife, mother, boss or daughter? Who are you becoming? Then Lihle Ngxokolo-Nqini, founder of MaXhosa Africa, shared the story of her mother, and I found myself smiling. Growing up in a township in the 1980s, when many families dreamed of owning a television, her mother chose to buy a sewing machine instead. That one brave decision changed everything. Today, MaXhosa Africa is recognised around the world and will be showcasing its collection on the runway in Paris this September. Lihle spoke so beautifully about honouring her mother's legacy and carrying her dream forward. It reminded me that the brave decisions we make today may become someone else's inheritance tomorrow.

Romy Townsend encouraged us to move towards the things that scare us instead of away from them. She reminded us how fortunate we are to have survived the very things we once thought would break us. Her message was simple: Do it afraid. I think I needed that reminder. Carla Venter then spoke about money. She reminded us that being brave also means taking responsibility for our finances, learning, investing and thinking about the future instead of only today. As the day came to an end, I realised The Brave Collective was about becoming more of yourself. Owning your story. Using your voice. Taking the next step even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. Maybe bravery for you looks different to bravery for me. Maybe it's starting the business, applying for the job, writing the book or simply believing that your story still matters. Whatever it is, own it. Because maybe, just maybe, fortune really does favour the brave. Of course it does! ☺️

Love,
Elle