Topco Media hosted yet another successful annual Standard Bank Top Women conference. The two-day event highlighted women in leadership positions across different industries, addressing key topics to help attendees boost their careers and businesses.
With the theme this year being “Her Power. Africa’s Future,” it touched on the pain points of African female entrepreneurs and women in leadership positions.
The event covered various topics such as the barriers women face in having thriving businesses, the need for education and skills development, and the need for women in various aspects of life to make connections, have conversations, and learn from each other.
Women Shaping Africa’s Future
Award-winning broadcaster and financial journalist Gugulethu Mfuphi was the host for the day, giving a warm welcome to the special guests, sponsors, members of the South African government, delegates, and all integral members who played a key role in the event’s success.
The room was packed, filled with women in positions of leadership, women building careers, and women who had eyes filled with an incredible drive and hope for the future.
The host, Mfuphi, wasn’t merely a host but an impactful woman herself; she carried the audience gracefully, leading them through each topic and showcasing her journalistic skills in each panel. She shared that unemployment is highest amongst black females in South Africa, placing an emphasis on the need for efforts towards female empowerment.
Ralf Fletcher, the founder of Topco Media, shared a crucial sentiment that the cost of inequality doesn’t only affect women, who are at the brunt of it. “Unlocking more of women’s potential leads to trillions of growth in global GDP,” he says. According to Care.org, closing the gap for women in employment and entrepreneurship could boost global GDP by more than 20%. Closing the gap in lifetime earnings between men and women could unlock $172 trillion.
Women at the Centre of Change
There were many speakers who gave incredible insights. Here are some of the highlights:
Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank, called on delegates to look to the next generation of women shaping Africa’s future. She noted that women-owned businesses are not just contributing to the economy but are increasingly driving innovation and social impact.
Ncedisa Mpande, CFO of merSETA gave a keynote address where she reinforced the message that empowering women uplifts communities: “When women have control over resources, human capital increases. More efforts should be directed toward empowering the girl child.”
Placing a spotlight on creative industries, Jackie Motsepe reminded creative entrepreneurs that they, too, are in business. She emphasised the need to guard their intellectual property and resist signing away rights in an unregulated space.
The event also hosted incredible panels that addressed integral issues affecting females in their professional lives. A panel on women leading impact celebrated women leaders driving change with purpose and impact. Panellists shared how equity, mentorship, and community investment fuel growth, inclusion, and dignity. Their discussions also showcased the ripple effect of empowered leadership in building a more equitable future.
A Look into Barriers Faced by Female Entrepreneurs
SME South Africa had the chance to interview Naledzani Mosomane at the Standard Bank Top Women Conference. Naledzani is the head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Standard Bank South Africa. She shared insights on the persistent barriers women entrepreneurs face when trying to access funding.
She noted that while progress has been made, many women still encounter systemic hurdles. “Women are facing a lot of challenges in terms of getting access to funding. Land ownership rights are a critical challenge for many women who actually don’t own land and therefore do not have sufficient collateral when they are looking for funding,” Mosomane explained.
She added that affordability remains another issue, as many women cannot access or sustain loans due to high interest rates or being considered high risk. Thus, post-funding education is important. Beyond these structural factors, she highlighted the importance of financial education and strong business practices, pointing out that without well-managed accounts and sound business development knowledge, women often struggle to qualify for the support they need.
Women entrepreneurs face entrepreneurial challenges, all while handling their other responsibilities. This includes the challenge of balancing motherhood and household responsibilities.
In a panel discussion with Adv. Nthabiseng Sepanya Mogale, the chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality, highlighted that women face systematic barriers. Adv. Nthabiseng took us through what women in rural communities face. Numerous barriers hinder their ability to own land. In a report by the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), the CGE has noted an alarming trend of complaints from women struggling to access rural communal land in the country. These complaints were presented to some of its provincial offices.
Empowering Women at the SBTW Conference
The conference did not just provide attendees with information and unlock secrets from industry experts. Attendees got to visit a variety of exhibition stands to find out how the various brands could help them in their businesses and careers.
However, the big moment was a pitching session that was held, where five female entrepreneurs were given the chance to get up on stage for an elevator pitch. The intention was to give entrepreneurs the platform to expose their businesses to sponsors, industry leaders and attendees who could partner with their businesses. This pitching session was hosted by Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa.
20 Years of Excellence
The Conference also took a moment to highlight the massive impact and milestones achieved by Standard Bank Top Women by unveiling 20 years of excellence. Attendees got to witness the launch of the 20th edition of the Standard Bank Top Women Leaders publication at this year’s conference.
Fiona Wakelin, Group Editor, and Judy Twaambo Chileshe, Head of Brand at Topco Media, shared powerful stories of women’s leadership, which not only sparked inspiration across the room but also continued to emphasise the need for such initiatives to uplift women.
