Women Entrepreneurs can now apply for Santam Women of the Future Awards 2023

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 13 April 2023

Entries are being accepted for the 2023 Santam Women of the Future Awards, which are being awarded in collaboration with Fairlady and Truelove.

Santam, Fairlady, and Truelove are looking for the most significant, resilient, and inspirational female company entrepreneurs in the country. Whether you've just started a business or have been running your own for a while, we want to hear from you.

Since we believe that women business owners have a substantial economic influence on our country, the awards, now in their ninth year, honour and recognise the extraordinary achievements made by these individuals. We are also pleased to announce that Lancôme, a well-known cosmetics company worldwide, has joined the awards as a partner.

Santam is once more giving the awards critical support. The organisation has vast expertise assisting women in South African business, so it has a thorough understanding of the numerous risks associated with following an entrepreneurial route. Santam acknowledges that the first 1,000 days of running a business are the hardest; if you're still in business on day 1,001, we feel you're in it for the long haul, says Andrew Coutts, CEO of Santam Broker Solutions.

JUDGING PANEL

Nonkululeko Gobodo, CEO of Awakened Global

Nonkululeko Gobodo is a businessman, innovator, and leader who started SizweNtsalubaGobodo, the largest Black-owned auditing and accounting firm in South Africa, in 1987 after becoming a chartered accountant.

Professor Thuli Madonsela, Law Trust Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Law

Professor Thuli Madonsela is known for her work as South Africa's Public Protector, being included in Time magazine's 100 Most Important People, receiving the Order of Merit and Knight of the Legion of Honour, and co-writing Melo's Kingdom.

Dawn Nathan-Jones, entrepreneur and CEO at Over the Rainbow

Dawn Nathan-Jones is passionate about entrepreneurship and mentoring, and recently teamed up with Lesley Waterkeyn of Over the Rainbow to help female entrepreneurs create successful enterprises.

Norah Sehunoe, Executive Head of Human Resources at Santam

Norah Sehunoe of Santam believes that South Africa's future hinges on its young and entrepreneurship, which should be encouraged and supported through platforms like the Santam Women of the Future Awards.

Suzy Brokensha, Fairlady Editor-in-Chief

Suzy Brokensha believes that female entrepreneurship can change the local environment and promote gender equality, and the Santam Women of the Future Awards are an annual pleasure to recognize their accomplishments.

Mbali Soga, Truelove Editor

Mbali Soga, founder of Truelove magazine, believes that entrepreneurship is essential for women to prosper and become independent. She champions the Santam Women of the Future Awards for recognising and supporting women who bravely contribute to the economy.

PROCEDURE

A businesswoman who is at least 30 years old, has been in operation for more than 1,000 days, and is well on her path to building a sizable operation is given the Santam Woman of the Future title.

The Santam Emerging Star designation is given to an entrepreneur between the ages of 16 and 30 who has not yet completed her first 1,000 days in company but whose assessors predict will succeed well beyond them.

An entrepreneur that is truly improving her community and is 30 years of age or older is given the Santam Social Entrepreneur designation. The first 1,000 days of her firm, social venture, or NPO were successful.

The Prizes

• Women of the Future, Rising Star, and Social Entrepreneur receive cash.
• Lancôme offers a luxury beauty hamper worth R10,000.
• Advertisement in Fairlady or Truelove to promote business, social enterprise or NPO.
• Mentorship with one of the judges is invaluable.
• GIBS offers courses on New Markets and Strategic Marketing.
• A Frederique Constant Vitality women's watch is worth R15,495
• Lithotech offers business printing worth R5,000.
• Samsonite offers a R4,899 Stackd cabin case.
• Execuspecs offers three pairs of Baker sunglasses worth R5,397.
• Superbalist offers a R3,000 fashion and lifestyle voucher.