Standard Bank Spotlights Women Leaders at the 22nd Top Women Awards 2025
South Africa’s boldest and brightest women leaders took centre stage at the Sandton Convention Centre this week for the 22nd Standard Bank Top Women™ Awards—a national celebration of innovation, resilience, and visionary leadership across business, public service, and social impact.
Hosted in partnership with Topco Media, this year’s awards drew over 800 attendees and honoured more than 150 finalists across 14 categories, showcasing the powerful imprint women are making on South Africa’s economic landscape. As headline sponsor, Standard Bank reaffirmed its commitment to fast-tracking women-owned enterprises and building an ecosystem where female-powered growth thrives.
The night’s highest honour went to Dr. Leila Fourie, CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, who received the Lifetime Achiever Award for her far-reaching contributions to strengthening the country’s financial system and championing women’s economic empowerment.
Other standout winners included:
- Akhona Qengqe, GM of KFC Africa — awarded the Haley Fletcher Top Women Business Leader of the Year 2025 for steering inclusive growth across one of the continent’s biggest consumer brands.
- Woolworths (Pty) Ltd — named Top Women Business of the Year 2025, recognised for its leadership in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and gender equality.
“Standard Bank is deeply committed to investing in women-led businesses and supporting their growth journeys,” said Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking South Africa at Standard Bank Group.
She emphasised that empowering women with capital, networks, and mentorship doesn’t just elevate businesses—it fuels exponential value for communities and the broader economy.
Award-winning broadcaster Gugulethu Mfuphi led the evening as MC, while Hon. Pemmy Castelina Pamela Majodina, Minister of Water and Sanitation, delivered one of the night’s most powerful keynote moments. Drawing links between South Africa’s G20 Summit success and women’s collective strength, she stressed that leadership milestones ring hollow when femicide continues to devastate families and communities.
Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Standard Bank Group Chairman, reinforced the message: women-led enterprises are a driving force behind South Africa’s most promising economic returns.
Topco Media CEO Ralf Fletcher described the awards as concrete evidence of women’s catalytic impact:
“Women-led businesses are the hidden power source of South Africa’s economy. These awards shine a spotlight on achievements that often go unacknowledged—and that visibility sparks economic expansion, community upliftment, and investor confidence.”
2025 Category Winners
Top Women Owned Business SMME (Standard Bank)
• Winner: Humankind Group
Top Women Business in ICT & E-Commerce (Telkom)
• Winner: Adbot
Top Women in Construction, Infrastructure, Resources & Mining (RS South Africa)
• Winner: Sauce Professional Development and Project
• Highly Commended: Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd
Top Women in Health & Pharmaceutical (Drs Mashao & Dzichauya Inc)
• Winner: Lyra Southern Africa
Top Women in Public Service 2025
• Winner: Petroleum Agency SA
• Highly Commended: Teddy Bear Foundation
Top Women in Corporate Citizenship & Community Impact
• Winner: Estée Lauder Companies
Top Women in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Winner: Mondi South Africa
• Highly Commended: Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa
Top Women in Transport, Logistics & Mobility (Castrol SA)
• Winner: DKN Transport cc
Top Women in Skills & Youth Development (merSETA)
• Winner: JumpStart Foundation Trust
• Highly Commended: Merchants SA (Pty) Ltd
Top Women Leader in Professional & Support Services
• Winner: Dr Denisha Jairam-Owthar, Council for Medical Schemes
Top Women Leader in STEM
• Winner: Megan Schalkwyk, Mungeni-Tukela Water
Top Women Leader in the Public Sector
• Winner: Dr Thandeka Ellenson, Moses Kotane Research Institute
Top Women Young Achiever 2025
• Winner: Dr Phindile Nkosi, University of Johannesburg
Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year (Standard Bank)
• Winner: Nisha Kostas, Niche Integrated Solutions
Top Women EmpowHER Entrepreneur of the Year (Standard Bank)
• Winner: Nokwanda Dlamini, Ozel Group (KwaZulu-Natal)
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