Seen Here: Turning setbacks into stepping stones, Zanele, founder of Pizza in Naledi, champions resilience, women’s empowerment and the power of collaboration through WOMAN RISE — a movement inspiring women to learn, grow and build opportunities together. Photo Credit: Supplied
SOWETO, JOHANNESBURG — A missed opportunity has become a powerful lesson in resilience for Zanele, founder of Pizza in Naledi, who is using her entrepreneurial journey to encourage women to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks and build businesses through determination and collaboration.
For many entrepreneurs, the road to success is rarely straightforward. Behind every growing business are moments of uncertainty, difficult lessons and disappointments that test the strength of a vision. For Zanele, the experience of missing a scheduled radio interview became an opportunity to reflect, take responsibility and renew her commitment to building her business.
“Sometimes, the journey doesn’t go as planned, but that doesn’t mean your story is over,” she said.
“After the disappointment of missing my radio interview, I took a moment to reflect, learn, and keep moving.”
Rather than allowing the setback to overshadow her ambitions, Zanele chose to focus on the lessons she could take from the experience. Her determination received an encouraging boost over the weekend when orders poured in and customers showed their support for the local pizzeria.
“The orders came in, customers showed support, and I was reminded that there are people who believe in what we are building at Pizza in Naledi,” she shared.
For Zanele, the response represented more than business activity. It reinforced the value of community support and the relationships she continues to build with customers as Pizza in Naledi grows.
Her experience highlights a reality familiar to small-business owners: setbacks are part of entrepreneurship, but they do not have to define its outcome. The ability to acknowledge mistakes, adapt and keep moving forward can be just as important as celebrating achievements.
“Entrepreneurship is not only about celebrating the good days. It is also about taking responsibility when things go wrong, learning from our mistakes, appreciating our customers, and finding the courage to show up again,” she said.
Woman Rise: Creating Opportunities Through Collaboration
Beyond her work at Pizza in Naledi, Zanele is using her WOMAN RISE initiative to encourage women entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions, share their experiences and create opportunities for collective growth.
The initiative recognises that building a business can be particularly challenging for women who face limited resources, uncertainty and insufficient support networks. By encouraging connection and collaboration, WOMAN RISE seeks to create an environment in which women can learn from one another and find encouragement throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.
For Zanele, empowerment does not mean pretending that every day is successful or that every challenge has an immediate solution. Instead, it means being honest about the journey, recognising opportunities for improvement and understanding that growth often comes through difficult experiences.
Her message to women building businesses is to remain committed to their goals while making room for learning, personal development and mutual support.
“We are learning. We are growing. We are building. WOMAN RISE means we don’t have to pretend that everything is perfect. We learn, we build, and we create opportunities for ourselves and each other,” she said.
This philosophy places resilience, accountability and collaboration at the heart of entrepreneurship. It also encourages women to move beyond individual success and consider how shared knowledge, meaningful relationships and collective action can contribute to stronger businesses and communities.
Through WOMAN RISE, Zanele is championing the idea that women do not have to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship alone. By creating opportunities for women to connect and exchange experiences, the initiative seeks to turn encouragement into meaningful relationships that can support their personal and professional ambitions.
Women Who Rise Straw Hats & Pizza Picnic Returns To Soweto
Continuing this spirit of empowerment, Pizza in Naledi will host the third annual Women Who RISE Straw Hats & Pizza Picnic on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at The Pizza Garden in Naledi, Soweto.
Centred on the theme “Wealth • Health • Business • Collaboration,” the gathering aims to bring women together for an afternoon of networking, inspiration and relationship-building.
The picnic will provide an opportunity for women to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore ways to support one another in business and beyond. It also reflects the broader vision of WOMAN RISE: creating spaces where women can celebrate their progress, discuss their challenges and discover opportunities through meaningful connections.
With only 20 seats available, the gathering is designed to offer a limited-capacity setting for women seeking connection, inspiration and opportunities to expand their networks.
Event Details And Bookings
Event: Third Annual Women Who RISE Straw Hats & Pizza Picnic
Date: Saturday, 7 November 2026
Time: 13:00
Venue: The Pizza Garden, 2435 Lepping Street, Naledi Extension, Soweto
Tickets: R250 per person
Included: Pizza, snacks, a meal drink and a grazing board
Bookings: Call or WhatsApp 074 825 7154
Availability: Strictly limited to 20 seats
Prospective attendees are encouraged to book early to secure their places at the gathering.
Rising Beyond Setbacks
As Pizza in Naledi continues its journey, Zanele’s experience offers an important message to aspiring entrepreneurs: progress is not always measured by uninterrupted success, but by the willingness to learn, adapt and continue pursuing a vision when circumstances become difficult.
The support she received from customers following her disappointment demonstrates the importance of community in the growth of local enterprises. It also serves as a reminder that the relationships businesses build can become an important source of encouragement during challenging periods.
Through Pizza in Naledi and WOMAN RISE, Zanele is extending this message beyond her own business, encouraging women to support one another, embrace their lessons and create opportunities even when the road ahead is uncertain.
Her journey reinforces the idea that entrepreneurship is about more than the products and services a business offers. It is also about accountability, perseverance, relationships and the positive influence entrepreneurs can have on those around them.
Sometimes, the most important step towards success is finding the courage to rise again.
Pizza in Naledi — one order, one lesson, one opportunity at a time.
