Annual Women in Business Seminar
The seminar that
builds women
who lead.
South Africa's most powerful gathering for black women in business. No gatekeeping. No performative panels. Just real knowledge, real connections and the relentless drive to build something that lasts.
Countdown to the WIB Seminar 2026
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Free
Attendance is completely free for all.
400+
Women have attended the WIB Seminar
10+
World-class speakers per seminar
1 Day
Packed with keynotes, panels and awards
100% black
women owned
our history
We used to build with clay and fire. Now we build with purpose.
SMAIS Bricks was born in 2020 in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, as a 100% black female owned brick manufacturing company. In an industry long dominated by others, SMAIS arrived with something different: a relentless belief that black women could not only compete in the construction sector but lead it.
The bricks chapter has since closed. But the spirit that fired those kilns has never cooled. What began as a company that literally built things has evolved into a platform that builds people. The Women in Business Seminar is the living proof of that evolution.
SMAIS Bricks is now a proudly South African women-led enterprise with its sights set firmly on the future. Every woman who walks through our doors carries the weight of the legacy we laid in Newcastle and the weight of the legacy she is building herself.
seminar experience
What to expect at
WIB Seminar 2026.
One full day of transformative programming designed to equip, connect and ignite every woman in the room.
01 - Feature
Keynote Addresses
Hear from South Africa's most powerful women in business. Every keynote is chosen for depth, relevance and the kind of honesty you will not find anywhere else.
02 - Feature
Panel Discussions
Multi-perspective conversations on funding, leadership, brand building, scaling and the realities of running a business in South Africa today.
03 - Feature
Masterclasses
Hands-on, practical sessions that give you tools and frameworks you can implement immediately. No theory without action. No panel without purpose.
04 - Feature
Structured Networking
Designed interactions that create real connections. Past attendees have left with business partners, mentors and lifelong friendships formed in a single afternoon.
05 - Feature
SMAIS Legacy Award
Our annual award ceremony honouring a woman who defines what it means to build with purpose, lead with heart and inspire a generation to follow.
06 - Feature
Emerging Voice Spotlight
A dedicated stage for the rising entrepreneurs of Johannesburg and Gauteng. This is where the next generation of SMAIS alumni announces itself to the world.
2025 Speakers · Past Edition
Voices that
shaped the stage.
Every speaker at SMAIS is selected for the quality of their lived experience and the power of their story. No fluff. No titles for show.
Past Editions · 2025 Summit
Inside the room where
women build.
Hundreds of women. One unforgettable day. Every edition of the SMAIS Women in Business Seminar fills the room with energy, ambition and the kind of connection that changes careers. These are the moments that made the 2025 WIB Seminar.
"Even a brick wants to
be something."
SMAIS Bricks · Since 2020 · Newcastle, South Africa
SMAIS seminar
Vision, Mission
and Values.
Our Vision
To become the leading force in empowering black women across every industry in South Africa. We envision a country where female entrepreneurship is not the exception but the norm. Where a woman's ambition is met not with doubt but with infrastructure, investment and community. SMAIS exists to build that world, one summit, one connection and one woman at a time.
Our Mission
To deliver transformative, world-class experiences that equip South African women with the knowledge, networks and confidence to build businesses that endure. Through our annual summit, our speaker programme and our community, we are committed to creating a pipeline of unstoppable women leaders who will reshape the South African economy from the inside out.
Our Mandate
We are building an industry that works for women.
SMAIS was founded with a mandate that was never just about making bricks or running events. It was about proving something. Proving that black women in South Africa can build from scratch, scale with integrity and inspire a generation to follow.
"Our ambition has never been to survive in business. It has always been to redefine what South African women in business look like."
Core Values
01
We do not stop. Not when the market is difficult, not when the odds are stacked. Relentlessness is the disciplined refusal to give up on something worth building.
02
Everything SMAIS does is rooted in genuine experience. We do not perform empowerment. We deliver it. Our manufacturing origin gives us a groundedness that shapes everything.
03
Black women deserve the best. Not the best for their budget. The best. Full stop. We hold our events, speakers and brand to that standard every single time.
04
Short-term wins are not enough. We think in decades. Every decision is measured against one question: does this build something that will still matter in twenty years?
05
No woman builds alone. SMAIS exists to make sure no woman has to. Our community is not an audience. It is a living ecosystem of support, accountability and shared ambition.
Become a Partner
Let us build
something together.
Complete the form and a member of the SMAIS team will contact you within 48 hours to discuss your partnership options.
We welcome all sizes of partnership. Whether you are a national brand looking for headline visibility or a local business wanting to reach hundreds of ambitious women, there is a tier for you at SMAIS.
Or email us directly : info@smaisbricks.com
Instagram : @smaisbricks
In partnership with
Johannesburg 2026
Be the first
in the room.
Register your interest now and be among the first to receive the 2026 speaker lineup, your official invitation and all event details before they go public.
Attendance is free but spaces are limited. Register now to be first on the list and avoid missing your place at South Africa's most important gathering for women in business.
Got Questions?
Frequently asked
questions.
The 2026 SMAIS Women in Business Seminar will be held in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The exact date and venue will be announced once confirmed. Register your interest to receive the announcement directly.
Yes. Attendance to the SMAIS Women in Business Seminar is completely free. Simply register your interest on this page and you will receive your official invitation and all event details ahead of the seminar. Spaces are limited so we encourage you to register early.
The SMAIS seminar is designed for women in business at every stage of their journey. Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur, a seasoned executive, an investor, a corporate professional or a student with ambitions, this seminar was built for you.
SMAIS is a women-centred event. While the seminar is predominantly attended by women, EVERYONE is welcome! Gender discussions can never be a monologue.
Complete the registration form on this page. Attendance is free. You will receive your official invitation and event details directly to your inbox once registration is confirmed. Spaces are limited so we recommend registering and attending the event early.
Yes. SMAIS offers a range of sponsorship packages for brands that want to align with South Africa's most powerful gathering for women in business. Visit the Partner With Us section on this page or email us directly at info@smaisbricks.com.
Speaker applications for the 2026 edition are open. We select speakers based on the quality of their story, their lived business experience and the relevance of their message to our audience. Email info@smaisbricks.com with a brief bio and speaking proposal.