Ambassadors
Ambassadors are the heart of the Million Sisters Club, carrying its vision of connection, diversity, and empowerment into their communities. They serve as storytellers, connectors, and champions of the Club’s mission, creating a safe and vibrant space where women can celebrate identity, culture, and sisterhood.
VIVIAN KLEYNHANS
Visionary Leader
Vivian is the founder of African Roots Wines and creator of the acclaimed Seven Sisters brand, inspired by her siblings and their journey from humble beginnings in Paternoster. A pioneer in South Africa’s wine industry, she has broken barriers for POC-owned and women-led businesses, building an international presence. Vivian established Seven Sisters Vineyards in Stellenbosch, blending heritage, empowerment, and hospitality. As visionary leader of the Million Sisters Club, she champions women’s development and collaboration. Through her leadership and the Seven Sisters Foundation, Vivian ensures her success uplifts families and communities across generations.
THULI SANDILE
Membership Director
Founder of Nesh Couture and Nesh Promotions, Thuli drives her fashion forward brand for women by women. Thuli believes in effortless, sophisticated fashion, embracing all body shapes, sizes and strives to empower women through fashion!
HAYLEY RICHARDS
Director of Programs
Hayley is a seasoned Professional Makeup Artist with over 24 years of experience. Hayley co-founded A & H Professional Make-up Services and leads the company while balancing a demanding corporate career, steering a talented team committed to excellence. A & H proudly collaborates with MS London Cosmetics as Cape Town stockists, championing a female-owned brand. Guided by the ethos “You, only better,” Hayley continues enhancing natural beauty with artistry and care.
JILL VAN AS
Communications Director
Jill is an acclaimed author, entrepreneur, and culinary storyteller, best known for her book The Epicureal Journal and her engaging Saturday segment on Heart FM. Her journey blends food with honest conversations once reserved for the kitchen table, inspiring others to embrace authenticity over perfectionism. Having navigated trauma and obstacles, Jill shares her story with resilience and warmth, empowering others through her openness. From her grandmother’s kitchen to her own, she shows how recipes can heal, comfort, and connect. Jill invites everyone to savour life’s flavours and celebrate imperfect, courageous journeys.
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LUKRETIA BOOYSEN
Partnership Director
Lukretia is an Indigenous changemaker, creative entrepreneur, and curator, best known as the founder and director of the Koena Art Institute in Cape Town. Self-taught in her art advocacy, she represents Indigenous Khoe and San artists, creating platforms that celebrate heritage, storytelling, and ancestral knowledge. Her work emphasizes social justice through art, challenging exclusion and erasure by centering Indigenous voices and aesthetics. Lukretia curates exhibitions such as “The Evolution of Indigenous Arts” with Iziko Museums, forging recognition, inclusion, and creative expression for historically marginalized communities.
VICKY SAMPSON
The magical voice behind “Afrikan Dream” – the song that inspired a nation, speaking to the hopes and dreams of the people of South Africa! From her humble beginnings as a young girl growing up on the Cape Flats of Cape Town, Vicky has risen to international stardom Vicky is currently focusing on releasing a new album expanding her brand and legacy, being a businesswoman and honing in on her philanthropic interests.
COLETTE CILLIERS
Colette is the founder of Proudly Developing, a dynamic business accelerator dedicated to unlocking the potential of SMEs. With a passion for empowerment and local manufacturing, she helps businesses overcome barriers, enter new markets, and create meaningful employment opportunities. Proudly Developing bridges the gap between corporates and Enterprise & Supplier Development funding, ensuring SMEs not only survive but thrive in challenging economic times.
BABALWA MENTJIES
Babalwa is an accomplished jazz vocalist, songwriter, and vocal coach from Khayelitsha, Cape Town. A graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Music with a postgraduate qualification in Marketing Management, she combines artistry with education and community development. Babalwa is a music educator and project manager at IMAD (Institute for Music and Indigenous Arts Development) and co-founded the Amathunzi Arts & Development Centre, which uses the arts to address social issues. She has performed across South Africa and abroad, sharing stages with leading jazz musicians, and captivates audiences with her soulful, powerful voice and magnetic stage presence.
JULIA FALKEN
Director of EduEvents and founder of The Prosperity Initiative, Julia Falken is a mentor, community-builder, and advocate for women’s empowerment. Her areas of expertise include training, event management, including how to start and grow a business, where to find products, how to promote and sell your products and how to create a roadmap through the Business Model Canvas with all the necessary legislation that entrepreneurs face when starting a food business. This she tells through her own story and experience.
DIANA FERRUS
Dr Diana Ferrus is a South African poet, storyteller, writer, and activist celebrated for her powerful poem “I’ve Come to Take You Home”, a tribute to Sarah Baartman, which contributed to the return of Baartman’s remains from France in 2002. After a 25-year career at the University of the Western Cape (retired 2016), she continues writing in English and Afrikaans, publishing poetry and short-stories, facilitating workshops, and promoting creative expression among marginalised communities. Awarded an honorary doctorate by Stellenbosch University in 2022, she remains a vital voice in work on race, gender, identity and reconciliation.
SHIREEN ONIA
Shireen is a Cape Town–based entrepreneur, coach, and motivational speaker passionate about empowering people to live life on their own terms. A devoted mom of two and fierce mental health advocate, she blends personal development with business coaching to help individuals unlock their potential and lead with purpose. With a background spanning leadership, programme management, and hospitality, Shireen brings both practical tools and inspiring perspective to her work. She is especially committed to helping African leaders rewrite their narratives, driving meaningful impact across the continent. Her message is simple: you are exactly where you need to be.
