2022 Top Empowerment Conference & Awards: Africa Driving a Transformed Economy

Under the theme “Africa Driving a Transformed Economy”, this year’s Top Empowerment Conference & Awards will look at how imperative it is for South Africa’s businesses to push for a progressive and thriving economic ecosystem for both big and small, new and legacy companies, as we navigate a new normal following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the past two years have taken its toll on economies and organisations due to COVID-19, it has provided a boost for innovation and transformation, and it is for this reason that The Top Empowerment Conference returns for its 7th year. 

As one of the world’s greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela, who wrote the foreword in our first publication, once said, “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” 

Taking place virtually during Nelson Mandela Month, from 20-21July 2022, The Top Empowerment Conference & Awards will connect business leaders and organisations all with the common goal of transforming Africa. Participants include policymakers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, academia, and transformation experts.

With an expected audience of over 5 000 delegates, the Conference is aligned with the African Union’s AGENDA 2063 which is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the Pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance.

“Will you do whatever it takes to scale your leadership as the demands of your enterprise grows? If so, then you must attend this event. We look at great companies and are guided by great research. Our country right now needs top leaders who are getting people to do what must be done while also doing it themselves.” says Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media.

The Top Empowerment Conference is the leading and most recognised platform in South Africa that connects the public and private sectors by identifying, recognising, celebrating and sharing best practices of different organisations that have successfully shown impact into development and investment projects and businesses, who can clearly demonstrate success with measurable returns to projects aligned with transformation. 

With President Cyril Ramaphosa recently defining the new Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council as ‘landmark’, ‘historic’ and ‘a game-changer’, key themes that will also be presented include employment equity as a business priority in 2022 and Black ownership and management.

“When we speak about the next frontier, we are talking about a new vision for B-BBEE; that builds on successes, that learns from shortcomings, and that is both agile and adaptive in response to the realities of the national and global economies,” Ramaphosa said at the launch of the council early in July.

By attending the Conference, you will learn from the best of the best in transformation practices and successful and sustainable empowerment principles, you will be able to connect one-on-one with CEOs and business leaders alike while expanding your network and reinforcing collaborations. 

Book networking meetings on the platform ahead of the conference here.

With the aim to inspire and reflect on Africa’s transformation journey thus far, providing substantial and expert solutions to the recurring issues in the context of transformation and the positive impact of empowerment, the Conference will include discussions on how an innovative green transition can create economic opportunities; how corporates can open their supply chain to empower SMMEs and the township economy; identify solutions to the youth unemployment rate as well as hearing some actionable insights from top empowered organisations.

Confirmed speakers include Ciko Thomas, Group Managing Exec: Retail and Business Banking at Nedbank Limited; Carl van der Riet, Chief Executive Officer at AVBOB Mutual Assurance Society; Lindiwe Mandonsela, Executive Director for Compliance at the B-BBEE Commission and many more.

In addition to the Conference, those who are committed to empowering Black-owned businesses in gaining actionable insight into transforming South Africa’s evolving workforce will be celebrated at the awards ceremony on 21 July 2022.

The Top Empowerment Awards have showcased the businesses leading in transformation over the past 19 years, acting as a source of inspiration for South Africa’s business elite. The platform provides exposure among empowered industry players, honouring those who have displayed innovative leadership and who have made significant impact on the communities in which they operate as well as society at large.

Award categories include:

• Top Empowered Company: Socio Economic Development
• Top Empowered Company: Enterprise & Supplier Development
• Top Empowered Company: Customer Focus
• Top Empowered Company: Fast Growth Black-Owned SMME
• Top Empowered Young Achiever
• Top Empowered Company: Business Leader
• Top Entrepreneur of the Year
• Top Empowered Company: Youth Employment Service Initiative
• Top Empowered Company: Job Creation
• Top Empowered Business of the Year
• Top Empowered Public Sector Leader

To network and learn more, register for your virtual seat here. 

Partners include Nedbank, Hollard, Merchants, AVBOB, University of the Free State and Nemesis Accounting.

Don’t miss out on the 2022 Top Empowerment Conference & Awards, taking place on 20-21 July 2022, secure your ticket today at https://bit.ly/3ASKMWD.