Kathabo Group among leaders of the new economy

Global research studies have empirical evidence that companies which put women in key leadership roles experience improved business performance. It’s a pattern borne out by the impressive achievements of some of South Africa’s top women leaders and women-strong companies, who were honored at 17 August’s Standard Bank Top Women Awards, hosted by Topco Media and Standard Bank at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Amongst the winners, Kathabo Group proudly took the trophy in the Top Gender Empowered Fast Growth Women-owned SMME Award category.

Commenting on the achievement, against tough fellow contenders, Lerato Rampana said, “It was through Perseverance, Persistence, Patience and Hard work.

The award categories showcased organisations and individuals, in both the private and public sector, that had evidenced strong gender parity in the last year (along with a contiguous level of performance).

The ceremony, expertly MC’d by Ursula Chikane, was not all business. An emotional highlight was the awarding of the honorary Lifetime Achiever Award, held since last year by former Public Prosecutor Advocate Thuli Madonsela, to the “Princess of Africa”, Yvonne Chaka Chaka. The embodiment of a “woman in full”, Chaka Chaka is a singer and songwriter; entrepreneur; humanitarian; teacher and icon in the fight against TB, HIV and malaria. The 800-strong audience on hand to applaud her included notable government leaders, CEOs,
a host of media houses and other celeb VIPs including Boity Thulo, Nomzamo Mbatha and Minnie Dlamini.

Commenting on the awards’ gender agenda, Top Women Director Karla Fletcher explained that, in tandem with the preceding annual conference and the coffee table publication Top Women Leaders, the awards were created to encourage more women to pursue their ambitions, and more organisations to join the new economy – a ‘she-conomy’ pursuing 50% stakeholdership by women. There is still much progress to be made: according to a recent Grant Thornton international business report, just 28% of senior management roles in SA businesses are held by women.

Standard Bank Top Women is determined to see our country raise that figure 22% higher by the year ‘22 – and Kathabo Group has every intention to be part of that achievement.

To view the full list of Standard Bank Top Women Awards winners, plus photo and video highlights, click here.

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