On Sunday, 31 August 2025, the Shanda Initiative launched a new movement — The Shanda Roundtable. This intimate women’s lunch, hosted at Cocomia, Sam Levy’s Village, brought together women CEOs and entrepreneurs for an afternoon of raw, honest conversation.
The concept was simple: ten women, one table, three hours. Out of the ten invited, eight women were present, while two had to step aside due to last-minute obligations. The women who attended came with open minds and hearts, ready to share the challenges they face in business and explore solutions that work in real life.
Phones were put away. Notebooks were opened. And for three hours, the group leaned into the kind of conversations that are often missing in formal networking events — conversations about courage, pricing, sustainability, resilience, and the realities of balancing multiple roles.
The Shanda Roundtable is not a networking event. It is a movement under the Shanda Initiative designed to foster trust, accountability, and collaboration among women in business. After the lunch, a 30-day support group was launched, giving participants the chance to extend their conversations, share resources, and hold one another accountable.
This group will feature virtual classes, reflection prompts, and ongoing peer-to-peer support. Its purpose is simple: to create measurable impact by ensuring that the conversations at the lunch table translate into action beyond it.
The vision is clear — every month, a new group of ten women will sit at the table, share their truths, and leave empowered with strategies, support, and renewed confidence. Over time, these monthly roundtables will create a ripple effect, impacting not just the women at the table, but the communities and businesses they lead.
As we close the chapter on the first edition of The Shanda Roundtable, we celebrate the courage of the women who came, shared, and opened this journey with us. And we look forward with anticipation to the next ten women who will take their seats at the table in the coming month.
The Shanda Initiative has always been about more than just ideas — it’s about creating spaces where women can grow, thrive, and build sustainably. The Roundtable is the newest expression of that mission. One table at a time, we are shaping a movement of women building boldly together.