Article: Lonwabo Mtyeku – Community Newsroom Photo Credit: Supplied
Photo: Nonkululeko Nyembezi_Standard Bank Group Chairman
Johannesburg, South Africa – 4 December 2025: South Africa’s most influential women leaders took centre stage at the Sandton Convention Centre this week as the 22nd Standard Bank Top Women™ Awards honoured the country’s champions of business, innovation, and social progress. The annual ceremony, now a cornerstone of the national leadership calendar, brought together over 800 industry giants, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more equitable and inclusive South Africa.
This year’s event shone a spotlight on the extraordinary women whose contributions are steering the country’s economic future—and reaffirmed Standard Bank’s commitment to advancing women-led excellence through investment, recognition, and opportunity.
Photo: Standard Bank Top Women Awards Image_Simone Cooper_Head of Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa & Akhona Qengqe of KFC Africa
A Night of Extraordinary Achievement
The evening celebrated more than 150 finalists across 14 categories, each representing a beacon of leadership within their sectors. From science and mining to technology, transport, and youth development, the awards underscored the depth and diversity of women’s impact across both public and private spheres.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr Leila Fourie
The ceremony’s most prestigious honour, the Lifetime Achiever Award, went to Dr Leila Fourie of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Her unwavering leadership in strengthening South Africa’s financial infrastructure and empowering women across the economic value chain earned her a standing ovation and heartfelt praise from the business community.
Top Women Business Leader of the Year: Akhona Qengqe
Recognised for reshaping corporate Africa, Akhona Qengqe, General Manager of KFC Africa, received the Haley Fletcher Top Women Business Leader of the Year 2025 award for driving inclusive growth across one of the continent’s largest retail networks.
Top Women Business of the Year: Woolworths (Pty) Ltd
Woolworths was crowned Top Women Business of the Year 2025, celebrated for its pioneering leadership in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and gender equality.
Photo: Standard Bank Top Women Awards_Gugulethu Mfuphi
Standard Bank: Empowering Women, Advancing Economies
Speaking at the ceremony, Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking South Africa at Standard Bank Group, emphasised the transformative economic impact of investing in women:
“These awards are a celebration of excellence, but more importantly, they are a reminder that when women are empowered with access to capital, mentorship, and the right networks, they unlock exponential value for our economy and communities. Standard Bank is proud to honour these trailblazers and to continue building platforms that help women thrive.”
Standard Bank’s long-standing partnership with Topco Media continues to be a catalyst for women-led entrepreneurial success, serving as a driver of innovation, inclusion, and sustainable business expansion in South Africa.
Powerful Voices, Urgent Messages
The ceremony was masterfully guided by the award-winning broadcaster Gugulethu Mfuphi, while keynote remarks from Hon. Pemmy Castelina Majodina, Minister of Water and Sanitation, set an emotional tone for the night.
She praised the country’s G20 Summit success and highlighted the “unseen but unstoppable power of women working together,” reminding the audience:
“Being in this room is already a victory. But leadership means nothing when femicide continues to ravage our communities. We must lead not only with excellence—but with purpose.”
Standard Bank Group Chairman, Nonkululeko Nyembezi, reinforced the financial case for empowering women, revealing that investments from South African women have yielded the strongest returns in the market.
Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher, described the awards as a monumental force for economic change:
“Women-led businesses are the hidden power source of South Africa’s economy. Their success drives expansion, strengthens communities, and attracts global investment. Real change begins by honouring their impact.”
Photo: Standard Bank Top Women Awards Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 Winners
Major Category Winners
- Top Women Owned Business SMME 2025 (Standard Bank): Humankind Group
- Top Women Business in ICT & e-Commerce (Telkom): Adbot
- Top Women Business in Construction, Infrastructure, Resources & Mining (RS South Africa):
- Winner: Sauce Professional Development and Project
- Highly Commended: Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd
- Top Women Business in Health & Pharmaceutical (Drs Mashao & Dzichauya Inc): Lyra Southern Africa
- Top Women Business in Public Service 2025:
- Winner: Petroleum Agency SA
- Highly Commended: Teddy Bear Foundation
- Top Women in Corporate Citizenship & Community Impact: Estée Lauder Companies
- Top Women in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Mondi South Africa
- Highly Commended: The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa
- Top Women in Transport, Logistics & Mobility (Castrol Southern Africa): 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: Dr Denisha Jairam-Owthar, Council for Medical Schemes
- Top Women Leader in STEM: Megan Schalkwyk, Mungeni-Tukela Water
- Top Women Leader in Public Sector: Dr Thandeka Ellenson, Moses Kotane Research Institute
- Top Women Young Achiever: Dr Phindile Nkosi, University of Johannesburg
- Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year (Standard Bank): Nisha Kostas, Niche Integrated Solutions
- Top Women EmpowHER Entrepreneur of the Year (Standard Bank): Nokwanda Dlamini, Ozel Group (KwaZulu-Natal)
A Celebration Made Possible by Purpose-Driven Partnerships
Topco Media extended gratitude to generous partners and category sponsors including Telkom, RS South Africa, Castrol Southern Africa, Drs Mashao & Dzichauya Inc., merSETA, Jenna Clifford, Procter & Gamble, Dewdrop, Lux Leisure, Estée Lauder, Nespresso, Environ, and Equilibrium Jewellery, whose collective support elevated this landmark event.
To view the full list of finalists and judges, guests are encouraged to explore the official Souvenir Programme.
