Seven Women from Gauteng Shortlisted for BWASA Businesswoman of the Year Awards

Johannesburg, 29 August 2017– Faith Khanyile, Mpumi Madisa,Johana Mukoki, Susan RoseHadcroft, Dr Shaheda Omar, Prof Mzikazi Nduma and aProf Katijah Khoza Shangase of Gauteng are 7 of 13 women to be shortlisted for Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa’s (BWASA) 37th annual Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

These women form part of a handful of extraordinary South African women to be nominated for the awards. They were chosen for the integrity and humanity they demonstrate in business and civil society.

BWASA National President, Farzanah Mall, says the theme for this year’s event is Women with no filter. “We chose this theme because in South Africa and globally, many leaders commence their leadership journeys with wealth creation in mind. These women, however, use their knowledge, capabilities and experience to impact their businesses, families, communities and countries.”

Two Women from Gauteng were shortlisted in the Corporate category

Faith Khanyile, who is CEO and founding member of WDB Investment Holdings (WDBIH), has been shortlisted in the corporate category of the awards. She serves on the JSE-listed boards of Discovery Limited, Safari RSA Investments, Seed Engine, a supporter and funder of SMMEs, and International Housing Solutions, an unlisted Private Equity Fund.

Khanyile graduated on the Dean’s Honour Roll and was on the Dean’s List at Wheaton College in the USA. In addition, she obtained her MBA from the Bentley Graduate School of Business, also in the USA. She attended Executive Leadership Training at Columbia Business School, New York. In 2016, she received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Wheaton College for the upliftment of rural women through her work at WDB.

Nompumelelo (Mpumi) Madisa, is the Executive Director of Bidvest SA, she has Masters in Finance and Investment from Wits, BComm Honours in Economics and BSC in Economics and Mathematics. She was a 2015/2016 finalist in Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government, Corporate Category and was named in the top 200 young African leaders by the Choiseul 100 Africa – In her more than 10 years within the Bidvest Group, she has held various senior management and executive board director positions such as general manager: business development, divisional director: business development, corporate affairs director and sales and marketing director. Mpumi is the Director of 16 Bidvest subsidiaries.

The above two Women were shortlisted in the Entrepreneurial Category

Johanna Mukoki – Group CEO Travel with Flair, Johanna Mukoki is an Chartered Accountant with a B.Comm degree from Rhodes University. She is the co-founder of Travel with Flair with 2 partners 20 years ago. At inception it only had 3 employees and one office in Pretoria. Currently her company employs over 700 staff nationally.

Johanna has received the following awards: “Most Influential Woman in Business and Government in Tourism”; the Ernst & Young Emerging World Entrepreneur of the Year award; Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and an Exceptional Commitment Award from the ASATA Diners Club Awards.

She is the first person from the African continent to sit on the Global Tourism Board (ACTE) – Association of Corporate Travel Executives where she represents the Middle East and Africa.
She also sits on the ASATA Board as Vice-President and the Salvation Army board where she assists with fundraising for their children shelters.

SUE HADCROFT – is the Founder and Managing Director of Cubicle Manufacturing Solutions, founded in 2009, a company that specialises in the manufacturing water resistant and durable toilet and shower cubicles, lockers and benches for shopping malls, hospitals, offices and gymnasiums. Her clients include Virgin Active gyms, Engen Garages and Planet Fitness gyms.

She attributes her success as an entrepreneur to her strong business acumen skills and a flair for entrepreneurial development, continually focussing on innovation. She has successfully grown Cubicle Manufacturing Solutions to be a market leader within the manufacturing industry, as is evident in the company’s turnover, which has quadrupled since the launch of the company.

DR Shaheda Bibi Omar was shortlisted in the Social Entrepreneurship category

Dr. Shaheda Bibi Omar, is the Clinical Director of the Teddy Bear Clinic. She has a B.A. Social Work (Hons.), Masters in Mental Health, Dip. In Marriage Guidance & Counselling, Forensic Assessment of child victims of abuse, doctoral thesis on young sex offenders. She has over 25 years’ experience in the field. Shaheda has been with The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children for 16 years. She developed the Diversion Programme for young sex offenders which is the most progressive programme in the continent. She is the author of the Diversion Handbook, ‘Children who sexually abuse other children’.
Shaheda has presented at numerous national and international conferences, workshops and trainings. She sits on the SAPSAC committee, Shukumisa Campaign (working group for sexual offences legislation) and on the Accreditation committee for diversion.

She serves on various boards, Nkosi’s Haven; Muslim AIDS Programme; Arepp, Theatre for Life; Johannesburg Institute for Social Services amongst others. She also volunteers as a counsellor at the Parktown convent & AIDS clinic in Hilbrow.

The last two Women were shortlisted in the Education Category

Prof Katijah Khoza-Shangase, is an Associate Professor and former HOD in Speech Pathology & Audiology at Wits. She is the 1st and only Black African to be awarded a PhD in her field. She sits on numerous committees and boards at various faculties, schools and universities – and at national level. She sits on the board of the National Health Professions’ Council of SA. She has been nominated and has won numerous awards particularly in the area of research and best contribution to Audiology.

She has published a number of peer-reviewed journals, technical reports and position papers which she has presented at national and international conferences. Her publications continue to be the main audiological evidence from developing countries. She is fully engaged in curriculum development of many courses that she teaches and all her qualifications are from Wits.

Prof Mzikazi Nduna is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Witwatersrand. She holds a BA and a Higher Diploma in Education, Honors in Psychology, Masters in Research and a PhD in Public Health.

Mzi is a NRF Y-rated scientist, is registered with the South African Council of Educators and has 21 years working experience as an educator, facilitator and trainer. Mzi has co-authored 52 peer-reviewed journal articles, a book review, 3 book chapters and edited two special issue journals. She is an alumnus of the Sexuality Leadership Development, the Carnegie and the ICP CHANGE Fellowships. She is a member of the gender-based violence Prevention Network for the Horn, East and Southern Africa, the HIV Vaccines Network, the SANAC and the DST/NRF. Mzi also sits on the board of the National Women’s Shelter Movement.

The winners will be announced at a gala event to be held at the Sandton ICC on 7 September where guest speaker, Ashenafi Meaza, who worked as a judge and later a researcher for the Ethiopian Constitution Commission, will speak about her experiences as a successful woman in the world of business.

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