Page 40 - Winning Women 2017

40 BWASA

he Regional Business Achiever PHOTO: ISTOCK
Awards are the flagship events of
Tthe year for the branches of the
Businesswomen’s Association.
The purpose of the awards is to pay
tribute to the regions’ remarkable
businesswomen who have achieved
noteworthy milestones in their careers
and businesses. The winners in each
category are leaders in their fields, and
have crafted illustrious and diverse
careers that have affected the social
and economic wellbeing of their
communities.
A highlight on the annual social
calendar, the glamorous events are the
culmination of a rigorous selection
process, which is audited and overseen
by an independent panel of judges.
“This is an exciting time where
phenomenal women are recognised
and their achievements are showcased,”
said Zululand branch chairperson
Elaine Chetty.
“Recognition of women as part of
the process serves a dual purpose in
REMARKABLE
inspires other women to become REMARKABLE
that it showcases women achievers,
providing them with a platform that
they would not have had, and it
achievers themselves.”
“We get to see the exceptional talent REGIONS
These awards programmes are
followed closely by the association’s REGIONS
head office.
we have in the country, and it’s been
wonderful to watch the finalists and Here are the women making big
winners grow exponentially from a
career perspective, and then come back
and serve in the association’s changes in their communities
programmes and projects,” said the
organisation’s outgoing president,
Farzanah Mall.
Port Elizabeth chairperson Michelle The Regional Business Achievers Awards
Brown said the calibre of the winners
for 2017 was outstanding. pay tribute to those who have exceeded
“These awards continue to inspire
me, particularly when you hear the expectations, writes Alison Visser
amazing stories of determination and
grit behind the successes of our friendships and bonds formed among main sponsor of the branch’s event,
finalists and winners. the finalists that last for years to was proud to be sponsoring this year’s
“The regional awards offer a journey come,” Brown said. event again.
of personal growth and recognition to Investec Eastern Cape regional “The Businesswomen’s Association
the winners, as well as incredible manager Jacky Buys said Investec, the is by far the most influential
association of business and
professional women in South Africa. It
pays special recognition to those
women who have played a pioneering
role in transforming our communities,
our economy and our country. It
certainly has provided us with
numerous role models for young
women starting out in business or
professional life.
“At Investec, we like to recognise
those people who have been out of the
ordinary and have exceeded
expectations,” Buys said.
Monalisa Zwambila, the founder and
chief executive of Riverbed, one of the
country’s largest, black creative
agencies, won the entrepreneur
category at the Regional Business
Achiever Awards in Johannesburg.
RED CARPET Scholars from Alexander Road High School formed a guard of honour Zwambila said: “It’s a wonderful
for the Port Elizabeth finalists. With them is branch committee member Lucia Mtshake . TO PAGE 41