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By Shumirai Chimombe

“Our goal is clear and unwavering: to empower women and give them a voice in the workplace. We exist to create opportunities for women to grow, to lead, and to shape the future of work. Every decision we make is guided by our purpose to uplift and develop women – in our own business, in our clients’ organisations, and in the broader community.”

It is this deep-seated purpose of redefining the workplace by uplifting women that earned Humankind Group the coveted Standard Bank Top Women-Owned Business SMME award 2025. The awards ceremony took place in Johannesburg on 2 December.

Sponsored by Standard Bank, this award celebrates South African SMMEs that, beyond recording significant growth over the last three years, have successfully given women a voice and empowered them in the workplace. 

Humankind is a 100% female-owned and 100% female-led recruitment and executive search consultancy. At the helm is a leadership team of women who have experienced the challenges faced by women in the workplace. This drives their ambition to help other businesses create an environment where women are heard, recognised and respected, and where they can thrive both personally and professionally.

The company name, Humankind, is founded on the belief that being both human and kind can redefine the world of work.

“Our recruitment model combines deep market understanding, emotional intelligence and technology to create a more human, inclusive and values-driven hiring experience. We take the time to understand both company culture and candidate purpose, ensuring long-term matches that create measurable impact.”

We caught up with Humankind Managing Director, Jessi Tomkinson for her insights on successful entrepreneurship and leadership.

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What does winning this award mean for you and your business?

Winning the Standard Bank Top Women-Owned Business SMME award is incredibly meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. As the founder of Humankind Group, I have built this business with a very clear intention – to create a high-performance recruitment agency rooted in humanity, accountability and culture.

This award feels like recognition not just of growth or financial success, but of resilience. Entrepreneurship is not linear. There have been moments of doubt, difficult leadership decisions, performance challenges and personal growth that few people see. To be recognised on this platform affirms that building a business with strong values, consistent standards and long-term vision truly matters.

For my team, it reinforces that the work we are doing – helping clients hire better, building cultures intentionally and developing recruiters into leaders – has impact. For our clients, it builds further trust. And for me personally, it is a reminder that courage, consistency and conviction compound over time.

In your opinion, how are women leaders driving impact and making a meaningful difference in South African business?

Women leaders in South Africa are driving impact in a way that is both commercially sharp and emotionally intelligent. We are seeing more women lead with empathy, accountability and long-term thinking, while still holding high standards and driving measurable results.

Many women in business are balancing multiple roles – leaders, mothers, partners, community contributors – and that lived experience shapes how they build organisations. They tend to prioritise culture, people development and sustainability alongside profit.

In the South African context especially, women leaders are also creating opportunity. They are mentoring younger women, opening doors in industries historically dominated by men and building businesses that contribute meaningfully to job creation. That ripple effect is powerful. It changes families, communities and the economy.

Do you have any words of inspiration for other women entrepreneurs?

Build the business, but build yourself first.

Your mindset, resilience and leadership capacity will always be the ceiling of your company. There will be seasons where growth feels effortless and seasons where it feels like everything is testing you. Stay consistent in your standards, even when it is uncomfortable.

Do not confuse kindness with lowering expectations. You can be compassionate and still hold people accountable. You can be feminine and powerful. You can lead with heart and still demand performance.

Most importantly, do not wait to feel “ready”. Start. Learn. Adjust. Keep going. Success is rarely about one big moment – it is about showing up, again and again, especially when it would be easier not to.

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