Page 10 - Winning Women 2017

10 BWASA

How do you choose

THE BEST OF THE BEST?
THE BEST OF THE BEST?

The judges of this year’s Businesswoman of the Year Awards had a tough time. The candidates were
“impressive”, “ambitious” and “driven”, and the task of whittling down all the entries to 13 finalists
was difficult, they said. Spanning four categories – corporate, social entrepreneurship, education and
entrepreneurs – the awards were handed out at a glittering function on September 7.
The finalists embodied the values that were synonymous with the Women With No Filter theme –
leaders who honour themselves by being the best they can be, staying true to who they are without
pretension, and who honour others by creating opportunities and leading by example

CORPORATE

FAITH KHANYILE:
Chief executive of Women’s Development
Bank Investment Holdings
aith Khanyile is deeply passionate
about the advancement and
Fupliftment of women in South
Africa. She learnt about business by
helping her mother and father in a
family-owned shop in the rural outskirts
of Empangeni.
“From a young age I learnt the
importance of self-reliance and hard
work. I also learnt from my parents the
importance of being of service to others,
and being humble.”
The second of six siblings, Khanyile
went to Ohlange High School, then
Emma Willard School in the United
States after receiving a merit-based
scholarship. She attended Wheaton
College and Bentley Graduate School of
Business, also in the United States.
Today she is the chief executive of
WDB Investment Holdings, a company
founded and led by women. Its mission
is to increase the participation of
women in the economy. Over the past
20 years the Women’s Development
Bank has grown to being a meaningful
player in business and creating
opportunities for women
entrepreneurs. organisation that works to family/work balance right. As a result,
“I’ve been blessed to have improve English literacy in most women are forced to choose
been able to rise from very previously disadvantaged between career and family, which is
humble beginnings and some schools, and she also mentors unfortunate because these companies –
personal setbacks at a young up and coming entrepreneurs. and, ultimately, economies – lose out on
age to get to where I am “I am extremely energised the female talent that is untapped.
today. I am extremely grateful by young people. I mentor “What needs to happen is a change in
to everyone who has played a many young men and women the corporate cultures and mindset
role in my life. That’s why I because I believe I have a among the boards of these companies
strongly believe that giving back to responsibility to lift as I rise and I as the tone is set at the top.
others is not a ‘nice to have’. It’s a want to learn from these young people.” “The advent of technology that allows
responsibility to all those who are Khanyile has seen the number of people to work from remote locations
privileged in whatever way, especially in women in senior positions either should enable such changes. Sustainable
a country like ours with its painful plateau or decline in the past decade. change will only happen if leaders are
history of systematic exclusion of and “As women’s lives change – for made to account for women
discrimination against black people and example, as women start having advancement and empowerment.”
women.” families – they do not get the kind of The Women’s Development Bank aims
She also supports a primary school in support and flexibility from their to become the leading gamechanger in
rural KwaZulu-Natal, where she workplaces that would encourage them the advancement of women not only in
sponsors a non-governmental to either return to work or get the South Africa, but across the continent.