Top women share their insights at Sandton conference

The Standard Bank Top Women Conference, hosted in Sandton, brought together dynamic female leaders to discuss challenges and solutions facing women.

The conference celebrates the theme of Albertina Sisulu‘s centenary commemoration, ‘A woman of fortitude’ and commits to the Parity Pledge, whereby companies and individuals support women and speak up for gender parity, in her honour.

The conference aimed to respond to pertinent questions surrounding the barriers to success for women entrepreneurs.

Director of Standard Bank Top Women Karla Fletcher said, “We believe that the global advancement of women must take its roots in the acceleration of gender empowerment in Africa. Together with business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs, we aim to ignite public and private sectors to mobilise their efforts towards resolving key challenges and reach gender parity by 2025.”

Some of the women who shared their experiences in business included singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who also received last year’s Top Women Lifetime Achiever award, Phuti Mahanyele, the executive chairperson of Sigma Capital and Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, the chancellor of Nelson Mandela University.

The legendary songstress who has been a singer since the 80’s highlighted the importance of growing her business, even outside of her music career. While she was still pursuing her singing career she still focused on her education. “While I was singing I acquired knowledge…Yes, I wanted to sing but I wanted to be a better person. Your education is something that no one can ever take from you, so when I bettered myself, I did it for me.”

Mahanyele shared the importance of young businesswomen being able to share their knowledge and experiences through reverse mentoring in order to ensure that the older generation of leaders can continue to learn and grow.

“It’s so important that we have the ability within our organisations to engage in a meaningful way with society.”

Fraser-Moleketi, who was the former minister for public service and administration, highlighted that encouraging feminism is about identifying a problem within society and changing it. She added that there have been many women before who have fought for the rights of others. “We know that gender inequality exists worldwide and despite opportunities men and women still do not have the same opportunities to participate in economic activity.”

Details: Top Women 086 000 9590.

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Related Articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/209362/female-empowerment-is-good-for-business/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/184425/empowering-young-women-2/