Page 22 - Winning Women 2017

22 BWASA

PHOTO: ISTOCK

& &

DEDICATED DRIVEN

The women behind the success of the organisation

ALISON VISSER to be productive and active
. Outgoing president Farzanah Mall, a “ “ women to lean on and to provide
contributors to the country’s GDP.”
t’s not easy running an organisation
“It’s meant to be a sisterhood of
as vast and as visible as the
women with guidance and mentorship
IBusinesswomen’s Association.
Besides the busy and efficient
as they navigate the challenges of the
It’s meant to be a
permanent staff members at head
workplace and life,” adds Mall.
sisterhood of women to
office, there are eight board members
The organisation has five focus areas:
1. Skills development and training,
who meet regularly to evaluate and
lean on and to provide
plot the organisation’s next moves.
women with guidance
3. Leadership,
They are:
and mentorship as they
4. Awards; and
KPMG board member and director navigate the challenges of 2. Research and advocacy,
5. Corporate social investment.
(advisory – risk consulting); the workplace and life But there are many other avenues
. Executive director Matshepo Msibi; that the association explores.
. Cristina Teixeira, Group 5 chief “For example, given the country’s high
financial officer; youth unemployment, the association
. Kgomotso Tshaka, sustainability students. Its role remains the same can also play a role in ensuring there is
executive at Wesizwe Platinum; though – to promote and facilitate a pipeline of young women
. Happy Ralinala, managing executive opportunities for women to grow and entrepreneurs who will create
of private and wealth banking Africa at accelerate their careers and businesses employment and grow our economy,”
Barclays; and to ultimately become great leaders says Modisapodi.
. Natasha Lalla, head of audit: and players in the market. Young women are supported from
corporate and investment banking at “The association provides a platform school level with the Businesswomen of
Nedbank; and support structure for women who Tomorrow programme [See Page 33]
. Wyna Modisapodi, a senior legal are active participants in the economy and, at tertiary level, the association
consultant in private practice; and irrespective of field or industry in recently added a student chapter to its
.Deidre Nxumalo-Freeman, owner of corporate, business, informal, membership structure [See Page 30].
DNF Waste and Environmental Services. government or even academia,” says One of the areas that Msibi feels the
Initially aimed at women in business, Msibi, who has been a board member association could beef up is advocacy.
the association has grown over the and executive director of the “Our voice has not been as loud as it
decades to include women in the association since January 2016. should especially on the issues that
informal sector, start-ups, middle “The mandate is to motivate, develop South African women have been
management, leadership and even and empower women across the board . TO PAGE 23