Celebrating phenomenal women and the companies behind them at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2021 - TopCo Media

Written by Staff Writer | Nov 18, 2021 8:25:23 AM

 

Standard Bank Top Women is the No.1 and the longest running gender empowered awards programme for Top Women and Women-led companies — amplifying both individual and company successes in diversity and inclusion. 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.

This year, the theme for the Standard Bank Top Women conference,  which took place from 6–7 October, was: “Brave conversations 2.0 that uplift and drive change” — this golden thread was evident in the awards which recognised ‘Agents of Change’ who have had a considerable influence on women in South Africa by their unwavering vision and innovative leadership. 

“I want to thank our friend and partners, Lindy-Lou Alexander and her organisation Standard Bank, who as you know, have become a tireless champion for women and gender empowerment for decades”, said Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher. 

“The Standard Bank Team has not only made this a special occasion year after year, but they have helped us to put Top Women at the center of everything we do at Topco.

“What we know is that on average, our finalists and winners increase their sales by 35% within 3 years, and they increase their profits by 12% above the market average…the organisations that are growing the most, of our finalists and winners, are actively celebrating their achievements”, he said.  

Finalists and winners who attended this year’s Standard Bank Top Women Awards had the opportunity to virtually network and celebrate their achievements. Winners were announced on the evening of 4 November at the star-studded virtual awards ceremony. 

 

The esteemed list of category winners included:

 

Top Business Women 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 in 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 Publication

National Agricultural Marketing Council

 

Top Women Empowered Company in Health & Pharmaceuticals Award

Adcock Ingram

 

Top Women Empowered Company In Biodiversity, Conservation & Environmental Sponsored By SANBI

Triplo4 Sustainable Solutions

 

Top Women Empowered Company in Retail & E-Commerce Award

Vodacom

 

Top Women Lifetime Achievement Awards

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Irene Charnley 

 

Top Women in Sports Awards

Tatjana Schoenmaker

Kgothatso Montjane

Bianca Buitendag

 

Previous winners have gone on to achieve greater success such as representing the country at  UN level. To see the full list of finalists, visit www.topbusinesswomen.co.za

Are you eager to get involved in the next Standard Bank Top Women Conference? Click Here to sign up ahead of the 2022 event.