A woman’s soulmate is another woman: Kalli Purie at Business Today MPW 2024

Good evening,
What amazes me about this room full of truly exceptional women is that most of them here have forged their own unique paths, chosen “the road less taken”. They have journeyed here, switching careers, countries, cities and accepting impossible challenges. The range of talent here, the diversity, the achievements of the winners today is downright astounding.
This is the 21st Business Today Most Powerful Women awards. I have been involved with these awards from their inception. Initially as an observer from the sidelines, to an advocate in the editorial board, and now here on the podium. Evolution. Along the way, I have witnessed first hand the transformation in women leaders —right from the industries that women are leading; to the age groups represented; to even the style and the spirit of those who are honoured and the people who have come out to celebrate them.
It’s been phenomenal.
And I think much of how we got here has to do with the fantastic work done by our hall of famers—the true trailblazers. And I salute them for it.
We have, over the years, opened up so many conversations about who was the wind beneath the wings of these women.
The soul mate—so to speak—as many women of my generation were conditioned to believe.
But now, there’s been a wonderful new twist, the recognition of something quite profound—that your soulmate does not need to be your male partner.
In fact, most women can attest to this—more likely than not, their soulmate is another woman.
The best friend, the sister, the daughter, the colleague, who is willing to listen to the same lament for the 100th time; she who will pick up your phone in the middle of anything anytime; tell you that you have lipstick on your teeth; counsel you through the imposter syndrome; encourage you to raise your hand, step on toes; stand by you in whatever your choices are; co-parent your teenager as the cool masi; drop everything for you; rehearse your bridal walk to your CEO speech; pick a fight out of loyalty to you and sometimes; by doing nothing at all but just breathing silently on the other side of the line.
And I am sure you have your own list of special things that your soulmate has done for you.
The new acknowledgment of this support system—of women lifting each other up—is really heartening and reassuring. I think we are finally creating that chain of empowerment where one woman shows up for another, pulls her up, and lets her stand tall.
We saw it in the just wrapped up tightly contested US elections with iconic women across fields endorsing presidential candidate Kamala Harris— from Beyonce, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, and Michelle Obama to Taylor Swift, all of them championing what could have been a watershed moment for women’s rights.
Yes, she didn’t make it this time and, once again, the world’s high table does look a bit like an old boys club with a lot of back slapping and bad behaviour.
And so we will need to come closer together to ensure that women continue to thrive and flourish even when the odds are stacked in this way that’s not very orderly at all.
Because this journey is not just about women flourishing; it’s about fostering a more holistic, empathetic, equitable approach to the world order.
I am not saying that men can’t lead with empathy and compassion—many absolutely can.
But I just believe women leaders can do it better!
And we’re just getting started. Thank you.