Santie’s 40 over 40 portrait experience was all about stepping into visibility, celebrating her story, and embracing the beauty of life over 40. As part of my 40 over 40 portrait photography campaign in Johannesburg, we created powerful portraits that reflect both her strength and softness. This campaign is designed to honour women 40+, giving them a day of celebration, confidence, and portraits that truly capture who they are! 

What drew you to this 40 over 40 campaign?

I feel that this is a sacred moment in my life—a time of deep remembrance and embodiment. I’ve spent decades building organizations, raising others, and healing from within. Now, I am ready to be seen. Not just as a leader, but as the woman who remembers who she is. This campaign felt like an invitation from the universe to share my sacred story—not to prove anything, but to inspire other women to trust the divine unfolding of their own.

Do you have a story / experience you want to share?

Yes. My entire life has been a journey from structure to spirit. I was raised in a system of fear-based faith, became a medical technologist, and climbed into executive leadership. I followed the rules. Built accredited laboratories. Ticked every box.

But something deeper kept calling—a truth I couldn’t ignore.

Eventually, I walked away from the systems that no longer fit my soul and co-founded companies not just to serve, but to heal. I began integrating sacredness into leadership. I realized I wasn’t here to fix the system—I was here to remind the system of its soul.

If you could go back and tell your 20 year old self something that you think would change your life, what would it be?

You don’t have to save the world, my love.
You are not responsible for carrying everyone.
The only thing you ever need to do is come home to yourself.
Everything sacred flows from there.

What are you post proud of yourself for?

For breaking the cycle. For choosing my truth over perfection.
For leaving relationships when it was hard.
For leading teams with love.
For helping others rise—without losing myself in the process.
And most of all, for becoming a safe place within—so I could lead without causing harm.

What are some goals or things you still want to do?

I want to write my story as a book.
I want to guide global leaders to build sacred and healing organizations.
I want to host spiritual retreats where we remember that work, too, can be holy.
And I want to leave behind a blueprint for a new way to lead—one built on love, not fear.

“Lead from soul. Love without condition. Build what matters.”

Has there/is there anyone in your life who has made a massive impact, if so, how?

Yes—many. My life has been shaped by sacred relationships, each arriving exactly when I needed to grow, heal, or remember who I truly am.

My husband Anton has been my safe space, my grounding presence, and my quiet champion. He is the first man who offered me love without trying to change me. His steady, unconditional support allowed me to unfold fully into my spiritual gifts and visionary calling—without judgment, without pressure, just love.

My son Reuben awakened a deeper, more anchored version of myself. Through him, I came home to the sacred feminine—soft, powerful, protective, nurturing. He reminds me daily that presence is the most important gift we can offer another human soul.

My business partners, Vinay and Elphus, have been transformative soul allies. Through our partnership, I’ve experienced what it means to lead across difference—with reverence, equality, and love at the center. Together, we are building organizations that aren’t just successful—they are healing containers for humanity.

And throughout the years, I’ve been divinely guided to meet many spiritual teachers—each one offering a mirror, a key, a frequency I needed to integrate.
Some taught me to trust my own guidance.
Some helped me reclaim the Divine beyond dogma.
Some activated my gifts as a healer, guide, and steward of sacred organizations.
Together, they dismantled the fear that I’ve been holding onto and helped me hear the voice of God within myself again.

Each of these people—my family, my soul partners, my teachers—changed the trajectory of my life.
They didn’t just shape who I became.
They helped me remember who I’ve always been.

My friends and family describe me as:

Wise. Grounded. Passionate. Soulful. Visionary. A safe place.

Thoughts on aging?

Aging, to me, is integration.
It’s when all the fragments of who we’ve been start folding into something whole.
It’s when beauty softens, wisdom deepens, and we finally realize we don’t need to become someone else—we just need to become who we’ve always been.

What do you think some of your best qualities are?

Empathy. Vision. Intuition. Devotion. The ability to feel what others don’t say—and meet them there, gently. The ability to build systems that heal people.

What advice do you have for other women 40+ out there?

Don’t wait for permission to become who you really are.
The world doesn’t need more perfect women—it needs more present ones.
Your softness is power.
Your truth is medicine.
And your leadership—when rooted in love—can transform everything.

What has gotten easier for you since turning 40?

Saying no. Trusting my intuition. Letting go of what doesn’t feel sacred. Not needing to explain my calling—I just live it.

let it be known that I am here to lead a movement of remembrance.
To awaken a new way of working, leading, and living.
To help others build not just organizations that succeed—but organizations that heal.

This campaign is currently sold out.
If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

This campaign is currently sold out.
If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

Click on images to be taken to their blogs

📍Johannesburg, South Africa 

This campaign is currently sold out.
If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

Do Santie’s 40 over 40 campaign portraits look like something you might want for yourself too?

While this campaign is currently sold out. You are welcome to submit your details below to be added to the waiting list. If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

Are you interested in spending a day in studio having your dream portraits created, laughing and celebrating you, then you need to fill out this form!