MEDIA RELEASE
26 SEPTEMBER 2023
RMB’s Africa’s Fearless Thinker Award: finalists announced
RMB is delighted to, for a second time, be a category sponsor for the Accenture Gender Mainstreaming Awards (GMAs). The awards were developed by Business Engage to acknowledge and celebrate instances where women are represented meaningfully in mainstream business across Africa.
The RMB Africa's Fearless Thinker Award is a prestigious accolade that celebrates and honours individuals across the African continent who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation and courage in addressing pressing societal challenges. The top 5 finalists for the category this year are:
Ntombizodwa Mhangwani
Dr Ntombizodwa Mhangwani, Executive Head of Marketing at Vodacom Business, is an influential advocate for gender equality and inclusion. In addition to her corporate role, she is a founding member of the Voices of Change (VOC) Movement, promoting workplace gender equality globally through collaboration among women, men and the LGBTQ+ community. Under her leadership VOC has grown significantly, with an expanding annual conference and innovative virtual Leadership Coffee Sessions that engage diverse participants including business leaders.
Her educational achievements include a PhD in Management of Technology and Innovation, an MBA from Henley Business School and an Honours Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She exemplifies the values of the RMB Fearless Thinker Award by addressing gender mainstreaming issues head-on and driving innovative change.
Beyond her professional sphere, Ntombi partners with the Sandton Rotary Club to provide leadership training to young people internationally. She generously shares her expertise with organisations on gender policies and offers support to those in need. Her advocacy has earned her numerous awards, including the Gender Mainstreaming Awards’ Positive Role Model for C-Suite and the Equality Champion award from Accenture.
At Vodacom, Ntombi revitalised the Women's Network Forum, introducing initiatives to empower women within the company. Her passion and impact continue to inspire, reflecting her ongoing dedication to a more equitable world.
Leila Fourie
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Leila Fourie and her fellow Johannesburg Stock Exchange Board Directors seized the opportunity to help marginalised and vulnerable communities and those hit hardest by the crisis. They donated 30% of their earnings for three months to the national Solidarity Fund, which provided much-needed support to those in need. She also initiated the #trade4solidarity campaign, rallying market participants to pledge trading fees which resulted in a further R34 million in contributions to the Fund, uniting the financial services sector in a display of national solidarity.
Appointed as co-chair to the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance by the UN Secretary General, Leila plays a pivotal role in global finance. As Group CEO of the JSE, she has introduced innovative strategies to counteract traditional capital market contractions. She emphasises the importance of diversifying and evolving capital markets to address global shifts and investor needs, particularly in Africa, focusing on innovation, digitalisation, empowerment, education, employment and climate action.
Under her leadership, JSE acquired a stake in UK Fintech company Globacap, enabling the establishment of the JSE Private Placement (JPP) solution for SMEs and infrastructure markets, offering an alternative to traditional IPOs.
Leila also led the creation of JSE Investor Services (JIS), a subsidiary managing shareholder registry and communication, and the JSE Enterprise Acceleration Programme (JEAP) to support medium enterprises. She also oversaw the launch of a virtual AGM service and secured JSE Clear's license as an Independent Clearing House and Central Counterparty.
Furthermore, the JSE advanced cross-border trade among African securities exchanges, strengthening investment flows and liquidity in African markets. Leila’s advocacy for gender equality, women's rights and vulnerable groups has earned her numerous accolades, including Businesswoman of the Year and global recognition for her outstanding leadership.
Bertina Engelbrecht
Bertina Engelbrecht is an outstanding leader who has achieved ground-breaking work in the sphere of gender mainstreaming. As the CEO of Clicks Group, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Black woman to lead a listed retail group in South Africa.
Bertina's journey from a rural Eastern Cape town and the Cape Flats to attaining a Masters in Commercial Law exemplifies her determination and hard work. Her transition to HR leadership marked a turning point, propelling her into various key positions at Transnet, Sea Harvest and Shell and ultimately leading to her role at Clicks Group.
Her HR background has equipped her with valuable skills as Clicks Group CEO, where she emphasises the importance of high performance, market knowledge and embracing the role of South Africa's healthcare sector. She believes in leading by example and fostering a genuine affinity for people.
Bertina is a strong advocate for female leadership in the South African retail industry, recognising that diverse executive teams and inclusive cultures drive financial success. She aims to make female leadership appointments the norm, facilitating customer-centric innovations.
Throughout her career, Bertina has championed diversity and inclusivity, focusing particularly on the value of diverse perspectives and backgrounds in shaping organisations. Her dedication to making a difference and adapting to changing market dynamics drives her continuous improvement efforts at Clicks Group. She is a trailblazing leader in the corporate world who continues to make an indelible mark on gender mainstreaming and leadership.
Avesh Singh
Avesh Singh, Vice President of Global Operations at TransUnion, is a catalyst for transformative change in gender mainstreaming. He has successfully created a 100% female leadership team at TransUnion's Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Africa, where women comprise 68% of the overall workforce. He has also led the establishment of a female-led global Business Process Reengineering (BPR) team.
Avesh takes inspiration from his 18-year-old daughter whom he insists, like any other woman, should never find herself at a disadvantage simply because of her gender.
Avesh's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in his innovative approach. To overcome challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and South Africa's workforce living far from commercial centres, he initiated a 100% virtual work environment for GCC Africa. This model has attracted women to the organisation, offering them flexibility and financial empowerment – particularly valuable for primary caregivers.
His inclusive approach extends to employees with disabilities; 4% of GCC Africa's workforce is disabled, of whom 56% are women. Avesh's leadership and dedication exemplify the positive impact strong, committed leadership can have in promoting gender equality and inclusion within an organisation.
Anne K Waweru
Anne K Waweru, an accomplished educator, technology expert and advocate for gender equality, has over two decades of experience that make her a standout candidate for the RMB Africa’s Fearless Thinker Award. Her unwavering dedication to improving the lives of women and girls through education and technology is evident through her many contributions.
Anne has collaborated with renowned bodies such as Microsoft Philanthropies, the International Labour Organisation and the Rockefeller Foundation, playing pivotal roles in the development and implementation of ICT (information, communication and technology) policies and educational programmes in Kenya. She is notably responsible for the innovative Concord curriculum, aimed at promoting gender equality in education.
Furthermore, Anne has been instrumental in the digitalisation and ICT policy development of Kisumu County’s youth empowerment programmes, fostering digital literacy and opportunities. Her commitment extends to mentoring young women in IT and business and supporting marginalised communities – exemplified by her consultancy work in Dadaab refugee camp.
Anne's global influence encompasses international institutions and individuals through her roles as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Google Women Techmaker. Her ongoing impact on education and technology influences policies, institutions and individuals, promoting inclusivity and gender mainstreaming.
Despite the challenges within the education sector, Anne's determined efforts have brought about significant positive change, especially in bridging the digital divide for women and girls. Her book on digital transformation for SMEs and contributions to the digital transformation discourse on LinkedIn underscore her thought leadership in the field.
Says Alison Badenhorst, Chief Marketing Officer at RMB and also a category judge: "The RMB Africa's Fearless Thinker Award seeks to highlight people who have made a significant impact through their ground-breaking ideas and initiatives, spanning fields such as technology, entrepreneurship, social innovation and more. By acknowledging these exceptional minds, RMB aims to inspire a new generation of leaders and change-makers committed to shaping a brighter future for Africa, and we can confidently say that all our finalists live up to achieving this vision in their own right."
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