11 March 2022
In 2022, as we emerged from the uncertainty and isolation of COVID-19, one thing was clear — we were craving connection.
During lockdown, I found myself deeply missing the everyday conversations with the wonderful women who walked through the doors of Caci. It wasn't just about skincare; it was about the laughter, the shared stories, the encouragement, and those meaningful moments of connection that often happened between appointments.
As I reflected on those conversations, I realised I couldn't be the only one longing to gather around a table again.
"Sometimes the best ideas are born from what we've been missing."
Around that same time, I had the privilege of meeting Catherine van der Meulen — an entrepreneur, climate strategist, and passionate advocate for positive change. She invited me to be a guest on her Entrepreneurial Women with Purpose podcast.
My immediate response? "No, no, no!" Cue the imposter syndrome. I was convinced I wasn't interesting enough, hadn't achieved enough, and had nothing worth sharing.
Catherine simply smiled and said:
"Getting uncomfortable means growth."
— Catherine van der Meulen
So I said yes. That conversation became so much more than a podcast interview. I shared a simple idea that had been quietly growing in my mind: what if we created a space where women could come together over lunch, hear inspiring stories, build genuine connections, and leave feeling just a little more courageous than when they arrived?
Our very first Women Who Lunch was held to celebrate International Women's Day 2022 — intentionally small, just 22 women gathered around one table, many of whom had never met before. We invited each guest to bring a wrapped gift and a handwritten card. At the end of lunch, the handwritten messages were read aloud as the wrapping paper came off.
Strangers became friends. There was laughter, there were tears, and there was something quite magical about witnessing women encouraging women they had only just met.
Those 22 women left feeling connected, inspired, and asking the very same question:
"When's the next one?"
And just like that, Women Who Lunch became more than a lunch. It became a community.
