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By Fiona Wakelin and Shumirai Chimombe
The Standard Bank Top Women Leaders publication celebrated its 20th edition when it was unveiled at the Sandton Convention Centre on 23 September. The highly successful Top Women Conference was the perfect occasion to launch this milestone, highlighting two decades of amplifying women’s voices and leadership and advocating for gender empowerment across South Africa’s business landscape.
In her speech at the launch of the publication, Topco Group Editor, Fiona Wakelin said that for two decades the pages of Top Women Leaders have been steadfastly dedicated to celebrating those who have contributed to building a future of equality, empowerment, opportunity, diversity and dignity in our country.
Significant to this 20-year milestone, this year’s front cover is graced by the Chairman of Standard Bank Group, Nonkululeko Nyembezi, who also penned the lead article on culture as capital. The foreword, “Africa is our home. And together, we will build a future worthy of this promise”, was written by Barbara Bell, Chief Financial and Value Management Officer, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking – following which we have three thought leadership pieces by Standard Bank Executives, Italia Mabula, Nerintha Ryan and Zoya Sisulu.
Speaking of front covers, what better way to reflect on this journey – which continues to be neither easy nor straightforward – than to summon up a selection of our icons who have graced the front of the publication over the years – and who epitomise the road we are on together: Wendy Appelbaum, Maria Ramos, Glenda Gray, Caster Semenya, Leila Fourie, and Dr Anna Mokgokong – what a collective powerhouse of empowerment. We wish to thank our icons and honour every person who has been part of this journey.
Inside the magazine, the section on Inspiring Women opens with the inimitable Princess of Africa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka; Zinzi Mgolodela the Director of the Justice Institute at Woollies; Parmi Natesan, CEO of the Institute of Directors SA; Terashni Pillay, CEO of Swiss Re and Young Global Leader; Professor Hester Klopper, Vice Chancellor of UFS and Dr Mutshidizi Mulondo, from the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS and a member of the 2025 cohort of the Global Young Academy.
And then there is a cornucopia of articles, tips and advice, interviews with our award winners, and the all-important index of researched gender-empowered companies.
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Fiona highlighted an important point in this age of AI, deepfake and post truth. “This publication, as with all of our stable, was conceptualised and created from human minds, hands and hearts – which is why it has a pulse, unlike any ChatGPT cut and paste. During COVID, when, like everyone, we were building the ship as we sailed it, we went digi-first with all our publications – and our previous 19th edition has garnered 184 000 reads thus far.
But we still do special print runs – I don’t know about you, but for me there is something special about holding a printed work.”
“I know this isn’t the Oscars, but there are some thank yous I would like to make – Thank you to Standard Bank for partnering with us – in particular, thank you Cleo Zwane and Odette Pillay for your invaluable input over the years. Thank you also to our sponsors and clients.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing Topco teams – in editorial content production, please take a bow Deputy Editor, Koketso Mamabolo, Assistant Editor, Shumirai Chimombe, designer, Tashwell Brown; Traffic Manager, Daniël Bouwer and marketing executive Samila Nkohla; our research team headed up by Veronique Anderson; Twaambo Chileshe’s team of sales executives, and Claire Garret, Head of Conferencing and Events.
The last thought I would like to leave you with is in the opening line of the editor’s letter in the magazine – I start by invoking a view of the publication through a bifocal lens – wishing to celebrate this landmark, but also very aware of the societal issues we continue to face and the journey ahead to ensure no one is left behind.”
Be inspired and read the publication below.
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