Top Women Awards: A key empowerment opportunity for women in business

Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media

While the numbers on women in business may appear to be encouraging, it is evident that there is still a long way to go. There are many barriers that prevent women from completely empowering themselves, some of which arise from concerns that have traditionally taken root in the minds of many. Recognising them aids in their eradication.

“Empowerment is an ongoing process,” says Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, organiser of the annual Standard Bank Top Women Awards. “This entails questioning long-held cultural conventions that are detrimental to women. Empowerment campaigns also push for changes in laws and practices that are discriminatory or unjust to women.”

Are you ready to highlight your gender empowerment?

The prestigious Standard Bank Top Women Awards, taking place on 10 November 2022, recognise and honour outstanding leadership, inspiration, vision, and innovation in organisations that help women rise to the top of the economic ladder.

“If you are a businesswoman, it is time to take more firm steps toward your empowerment,” says Fletcher. “And if you have women on your team, it is your responsibility to foster a culture that supports their participation in your company or organisation. Empowering yourself and/or others helps to expand your business, the economy, and the establishment of more diverse and inclusive workplaces.”

Featuring corporate and individual awards, these annual awards recognise and honour outstanding leadership, inspiration, vision, and innovation in organisations that help women rise to the top of the economic ladder. Covering all key economic areas and recognising businesses at all levels, from SMME to national.

“Today's empowered woman is tomorrow's leader for change,” emphasises Fletcher.

Reasons to enter

As a business leader, you know recognition is important. Award and quality marks can improve your organisation's reputation and set you apart from the competition. They can also increase morale by highlighting your employees' accomplishments. Here are five more reasons to participate in this year's Top Women Awards:

• Winning a Top Women Award entitles you to a range of digital collateral to help you promote your gender-empowered status.
  
• Winners will receive PR and multi-channel marketing exposure, promoting their winning status on our website and to our email subscribers.
  
• Participating in the awards is a terrific way to honour your employees and build your brand by measuring your performance against South Africa’s most gender-empowered companies.
  
• A nomination will differentiate your business from competitors and raise your profile to attract investors and key industry stakeholders.
  
• You will get the opportunity to network with other businesspeople who are enthusiastic about gender empowerment.

Enter the Top Women Awards today.

Looking back at the 2021 Standard Bank Top Women Awards

The 18th annual Standard Bank Top Women Awards, which aimed to bridge the gap between the public and private sectors, took place on the evening of 4 November 2021. The awards recognise people who have had a considerable influence on women in South Africa by their unwavering vision and innovative leadership. Every year, about eight hundred critical decision-makers attend the ceremony.

Previous winners have gone on to achieve greater success such as representing the country at a UN level. Sponsors included Servest, SANBI, and Boschendal.

To see the full list of Top Women Past Winners and finalists, visit https://www.topbusinesswomen.co.za/awards/

Winners

Top Business Woman of the Year Award – sponsored by Standard Bank: Leila Fourie – Johannesburg Stock Exchange

Top Women Young Achiever – sponsored by Standard Bank: Charmagne Mavudzi – Volvo SA

Top Women Empowered Company: Diversity in the Workplace – sponsored by Servest: Unilever

Top Women Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Boschendal: Institute of Directors in South Africa

Top Women Empowered Company: Skills Development – sponsored by Ekurhuleni West TVET College: The Skills Development Corporation

Top Women Public Sector Leader Award – sponsored by Motheo TVET College: Chantelle Martin Strauss – Department of Small Business Development

Top Women in Tech Award: Priya Thakoor, Vodacom

Top Women in Science Award: Mogaleadi Seabela, Anglo American

Top Women Empowered Company: Corporate Citizenship Award: Adcock Ingram

Top Women Empowered Company: Fast Growth Women-owned SMME: Torque Solutions

Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Thandeka Ndlovu-Mngomezulu, Total Serve Facilities Management

Top Women Empowered Company: Resources, Construction & Infrastructure – sponsored by TEG Group: Turner & Townsend

Top Women in Property Award: Lettie Mashau, Motheo Construction Group

Top Women Empowered Company in Youth Development: Unilever

Top Women Empowered Company: Public Sector Award – sponsored by Public Sector Leaders: National Agricultural Marketing Council

Top Women Empowered Company: Health & Pharmaceutical Award: Adcock Ingram

Top Women Empowered Company: Biodiversity, Conservation & Environmental – sponsored by SANBI: Triplo4 Sustainable Solutions

Top Women Empowered Company: Retail & E-commerce Award: Vodacom

Top Women Lifetime Achievement Award: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Top Women Lifetime Achievement Award: Irene Charnley

Top Women in Sports Award: Tatjana Schoenmaker

Top Women in Sports Award: Kgothatso Montjane

Top Women in Sports Award: Bianca Buitendag

Enter the Top Women Awards today.

2021 Top Women Finalists

Top Businesswoman of The Year:
Founder & CEO, Annette Stewart – Stewart Attorneys
Group CEO, Charmaine Mabuza – Ithuba Holdings
CEO, Emma Mashilwane – Masa Risk Advisory
Deputy CEO, Janine George – Carrol Boyes
CEO, Leila Fourie – Johannesburg Stock Exchange
CEO, Lyn Mansour – KLM Empowered
SA country director, Melicia Labuschagne – Liqui Moly
Acting assistant GM, Mpho Modisane – Airports Company Sa
Head of Digital Africa Solutions, Pamela Mkhize – Enel Green
ME, Priya Thakoor – Vodacom
CEO, Parmi Natesan – Institute of Directors in South Africa
Commercial director, Rumisha Motilal – Gilbarco
CEO, Sholain Perumal – The Gold Bar
CEO, Wendy Alberts – Restaurant Association of South Africa

Top Woman Young Achiever – sponsored by Boschendal:
Co-founder & managing director, Alexandra Miszewski – Novita Biotechnology
MD Farah Moosa – Neonhive Management
Founder Innocentia Mahlangu – Hatch & Shengineers
Senior account manager, Lerato Chiyangwa – Apo Group
Fleet Business head, Lizelle Erasmus – Tiauto Investment
Contract manager, Mampho Sotshongaye – Golden Rewards
Section manager, Mogaleadi Seabela – Anglo American
Supply chain procurement expert, Nadina Singh – Tetrapak
Marketing director, Natasha Maharaj – Distell
Director, Nosihle Mngqibisa – UCT Shawco Law
Founder & CEO, Pretty Ndlovu – Virtuoso Digital Agency
Executive director Raksha Naidoo – Synerlytic Analytical Services
CEO Sma Mathibeli – Calvin & Family
Head of Marketing & Consumer Experience, Charmagne Mavudzi – Volvo Sa
Project manager, Kamva Donah Makabane – Cisco Systems
Founder & executive director, Marie Sebueng – Iams Powerhouse
Founder & principal, Renisha Bhima – Bonalesedi College
Founder, Noli Mini – Relax Spa

Diversity In the Workplace – Sponsored by Servest:
Ethekwini Municipality
Gilbarco
Global Business Solutions
Seymore Du Toit And Basson
Tetrapak
Turner & Townsend
Unilever

Skills Development – Sponsored by Ekurhuleni West Tvet College:
Ekurhuleni East Tvet College
Goodwork Foundation
KLM Empowered
Mancosa
The Skills Development Corporation
Total Facilities Management
Tsebo Group Holdings
Career Box

Top Woman Entrepreneur – Sponsored by Standard Bank:
CEO, Asima Haroon Joosub – Aj5d Projects
Founder & CEO, Helen Seymour - Nephro Best Dialysis
Founder, Marie Sebueng - Iams Powerhouse Consulting
Founder, Mbali Bhengu – Mindswitch
Founder, Nelisiwe Radebe – Nelly Projects
Founder, Noli Mini - Relax Spa
Founder, Nomalanga Sitole - The Voice Within
CEO, Nomazibulo Tshanga - Ziyana Consulting
Founder & principal, Renisha Bhima - Bonalesedi College
Founder & MD, Sally Acton - Torque Solutions
CEO, Thandeka Ndlovu-Mngomezulu - Total Facilities Management
Founder & MD, Thandeka Nombanjinji-Nzama - Mbokodo Building
Founder & MD, Tshego Kekana - Alfa Destiny Communications
CEO, Xoliswa Daku - Daku Group

Top Woman in Public Sector Leader – Sponsored by Motheo Tvet College:
Assistant director, Chantelle Strauss – Department of Small Business Development
Deputy director: Resource Based Industries, Dr Nthabiseng Maude Mthetwa – Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Senior manager – Portfolio Delivery, Gcobisa Mashegoana – Eskom
GM: Risk Management, Mpho Modisane – Airports Company Sa
Council member, Shandini Naidoo – National Agricultural Marketing Council
Acting chief officer, Sonto Mayise – KZN Convention Bureau
Executive manager, Viwe Mgedezi – Gautrain Management Agency
PR councillor, Kekeletso Mahlelebe – Democratic Alliance
CRO, Yvonne Mothibi

Top Woman in Tech:
Senior account manager, Lerato Chiyangwa – Apo Group
MD Linda Botha – Skillstrain Distribution
CEO Marilyn Radebe –Soma Solutions
Business director, Mushfiqoh Samodien – Aspire Solutions
IT Systems manager, Nolwazi Mfingwana Moepeng – Mancosa
Founder, Pretty Ndlovu – Virtuoso Digital Agency
ME, Priya Thakoor – Vodacom
ME, Alexa Terblanche – Exosystems

Top Women in Science:
MD Babalwa Fatyi – Myezo Environmental
Founder, Innocentia Mahlangu – Hatch & Shengineers
Section manager, Mogaleadi Seabela – Anglo American
Head of Africa Digital Solutions, Pamela Mkhize – Enel Green
Director, Phumzile Lembede – Emvelo Quality and Environmental
Executive director, Reyna Singh – Ng Global Energy Solutions
MD Simphiwe Mamvura – Maponya 911 Ems

Youth Development:
Goodwork Foundation
The Aurum Institute
The Skills Development Corporation
Unilever

Corporate Citizenship:
Triplo4 Sustainable Solutions
Tiauto Investment
Adcock Ingram
Ng Global Energy Solutions
Mdito Business Enterprise

Retail & E-commerce:
Carrol Boyes
Hirsch
Honey
The Gold Bar
The Regency Hotel
Vodacom

Fast Growth Women-Owned SMME:
Golden Rewards
Myezo Environmental
Nelly Projects
The Transformation Legacy
Torque Solutions
UCT Shawco Law
MKG Travel and Tourism

Resources, Construction & Infrastructure:
Motheo Construction Group
Synerlytic Analytical Services
Turner & Townsend
WOA Fuels & Oils
Aj5d Projects

Public Sector:
Ekurhuleni East Tvet College
Ethekwini Municipality
Gautrain Management Agency
National Agricultural Marketing Council

Health & Pharmaceutical:
Nephro Best Dialysis
Maponya 911 Ems
Adcock Ingram
The Aurum Institute

Top Woman in Property:
Founder Bella Mfenyana – Neatela Property
CEO Dina Soukop – Soukop Property
CEO Lettie Mashau – Motheo Construction Group
MD Nomawethu Bolane – The Regency Hotel
Principal, Thelma Ubisi – Thelma Properties

Top Male Driving Gender Empowerment:
MD Leon Hendricks – Dkl Group
CEO Theo Baloyi – Bathu
MD Velaphi Ratshefola – Coca-Cola South Africa

Top Women Business of The Year:
Daku Group
Institute Of Directors in South Africa
Ithuba Holdings
Restaurant Association of South Africa
Unilever
Vodacom
Mdito Business Enterprise

Biodiversity, Conservation & Environmental:
Novita Biotechnology
Nsovo Environmental Consulting
Triplo4 Sustainable Solutions