FAIRLADY Santam Women of the Future

I think it’s kinda obvs how passionate I am about women in business. Whether they’re entrepreneurs or working in corporate, I love seeing women succeed. And I love it when publications recognise and bestow honours upon women.

Wait, what?

One such honour hit me unexpectedly when I received a phone call while I was working in London in June this year. The team from FAIRLADY magazine contacted me to let me know that I had been selected as one of three finalists for the FAIRLADY Santam Women of the Future Awards 2018.

The women eligible for this award are over 30 and have been in business for longer than 1000 days. I was rendered speechless. I couldn’t quite grasp what I’d done to be put in the same group as my fellow nominees.

My Fellow Nominees

I want to take this opportunity to recognise my fellow nominees – Patricia Schroder, founder of Reclite SA and Tebogo Ann Masego, owner of Ditsogo Projects. Wow! What you have achieved with your businesses is phenomenal and I’m extremely proud.

All three of us are featured in the August 2018 issue of FAIRLADY, which is currently on sale.

Who decides?

The decision is sitting with the judges at the moment. And what a panel it is – Suzy Brokensha (FAIRLADY editor), Professor Thuli Madonsela (Chief Patron of the Thuli Madonsela Foundation), Jo-Ann Strauss (Media Entrepreneur and International Speaker), Dawn Nathan-Jones (Entrepreneur and Shark on Shark Tank), and Annette La Grange (Head of HR Business Partners at Santam).

The event

The winner will be announced at an event in Jozi on 17 August 2018, and I might wet myself when I meet the judges. Will keep you posted.

I’m not expecting to win. And, please, I’m not saying this to sound like an asshole who’s fishing for attention. But Imma be cliched and say that it truly is an honour just to be nominated 🙂

UPDATE: A huge congrats to Patricia on winning the award! She’s an exceptional woman with an exceptional business 🙂