In this episode of Women Behind the Brand, I speak with Victoria Rowe, founder of SHIELD GBV Response and Safeguarding Consultancy.

Victoria shares how her experience of gender-based violence led her to create an organisation focused on safeguarding, education, early intervention and community support.

We discuss the silence and isolation that often surround abuse, as well as the gaps that can make it difficult for victims to access appropriate support in South Africa.

Victoria explains why listening without judgement matters, how safety planning can help and what individuals and organisations can do to create safer environments.

You’ll also hear insights on:

• How Victoria’s personal experience led to the creation of SHIELD
• Recognising the manipulation and patterns associated with abuse
• The importance of early intervention and safety planning
• Why victims need to feel heard, believed and supported
• Creating greater awareness through education and community initiatives
• The role businesses and organisations can play in safeguarding
• How recognition and awards have supported SHIELD’s work
• Victoria’s plans for expanding community engagement and education
  

This is an important conversation about breaking the silence around gender-based violence and recognising that safeguarding is a shared responsibility.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Victoria Rowe and SHIELD’s mission
02:02 The silence and challenges faced by abuse victims
04:41 The first steps in creating SHIELD
06:27 Current activities and community outreach programmes
07:45 Positive impact and success stories
09:08 Understanding the cycle of abuse and the possibility of change
11:14 Recognition and awards for SHIELD
12:21 Future initiatives and how to get involved
14:09 Advice for women experiencing abuse
15:32 Safeguarding and our shared responsibility

Connect with Victoria Rowe and SHIELD
Victoria’s GwenGo Collective profile: https://thegwengroup.co.za/listing/professional-services/shield-gbv-response-safeguarding-consultancy/

Connect with The GWEN Group

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegwengroup/
Website: https://thegwengroup.co.za/
GFounders Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/430307586087680

Join the GwenGo Collective: https://thegwengroup.co.za/become-a-member/

If this conversation could help someone you know, please share it with them.

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#TheGwenGroup #WomenBehindTheBrand #GenderBasedViolence #Safeguarding #SocialImpact

In this episode of Women Behind the Brand, Lorenza speaks with Carol Hampshire, a brand strategist and designer who helps female founders turn their expertise into premium brands that stand out, build trust and generate more sales.

Carol explores the inner shifts that often happen before a business pivot. She explains why dissatisfaction, restlessness or a desire for more can signal that your current positioning no longer reflects who you are, the value you offer or where your business is heading.

Carol also shares how her Brand Archetype Quiz can help founders understand their natural strengths and create a brand that feels distinctive, aligned and enjoyable to lead.

Learn more about Carol:

Carol is a member of the GwenGo Collective. Visit her GwenGo Collective profile to learn more about her work and take her Brand Archetype Quiz.

Website

www.carolhampshire.com

Instagram

@carolhampshire

Facebook

Carol Hampshire

Follow Women Behind the Brand for weekly conversations with women founders, entrepreneurs and professionals.

Email me at lorenza@thegwengroup.co.za to learn more about our women founder network and how you can get involved.

In this episode of Women Behind the Brand, Lorenza speaks with Loudine Heunis, founder and sole proprietor of EduHelp Garden Route and a Specialist Wellness Counsellor, about children’s mental health, academic pressure and the practical skills young people need to navigate school and life.

Loudine explores the impact of social media, smartphones, global events and school pressure on children and teenagers. She explains some of the changes parents can look out for, including irritability, withdrawal, disrupted sleep and difficulty concentrating.

You’ll also hear practical guidance on:

• Supporting children through tests and exams
• Starting open conversations about difficult subjects
• Time management and realistic study planning
• Study techniques that improve understanding and retention
• Helping children develop self-awareness and resilience
• Working with teachers and school-based support teams
• Balancing digital habits with face-to-face connection

Loudine also shares the story behind EduHelp and what building her own business has taught her about visibility, referrals and meaningful human connection.

Learn more about Loudine:

EduHelp

www.eduhelp.co.za

PsychologyToday
https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1786635 

Loudine is also a member of the GwenGo Collective. Visit www.thegwengroup.co.za to discover the collective and the women building businesses within it.

Follow Women Behind the Brand for weekly conversations with women founders, entrepreneurs and professionals.

In this episode of Women Behind the Brand, I sit down with Melanie, founder of HealthStack, to talk about visibility, confidence and the opportunities that can appear when you decide to put yourself and your business out there.

HealthStack is a wellness brand committed to creating pure, whole-form products in an industry filled with noise, trends and increasingly complicated messages about health. Mel shares the thinking behind the brand, why remaining true to her values matters and how she has built a business grounded in what she believes.

But this conversation is also about what has happened since Mel began showing up consistently on social media.

For a long time, she questioned whether anyone really wanted to hear from her. Like so many women founders, she knew her business and understood her products, but stepping forward as the person behind the brand felt uncomfortable.

Then she decided to do it anyway.

That decision has already led to opportunities beyond social media, including a speaking engagement in Cape Town, another speaking opportunity in Johannesburg and two radio interviews.

We talk about whether confidence needs to come before action or whether it is something we build by repeatedly doing the uncomfortable thing.

Mel shares what she has learnt from becoming more visible, what surprised her about the response and what she believes may be coming next for HealthStack.

This episode is for the woman founder who has valuable knowledge, experience and ideas to share, but still finds herself wondering whether people really want to hear from her.

It is a reminder that people cannot connect with a business they never see, and that showing up does not require having everything perfectly planned first.

Expect a practical, open conversation about building confidence through action, creating opportunities through visibility and giving people the chance to understand the woman, values and purpose behind a business.

Listen to the full episode to meet Melanie Erasmus, discover the story behind HealthStack and hear what can begin to shift when a founder stops waiting to feel ready.

Women Behind the Brand is an interview series from The GWEN Group, sharing the stories, knowledge and experiences of women founders, entrepreneurs and women in business.

To learn more about the GWEN movement, discover women-owned businesses and find out how to become part of the community, visit www.thegwengroup.co.za.