By Shumirai Chimombe

 

After two highly successful  events in Cape Town and Durban, the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER series is now heading to Johannesburg for its final regional stop on 21 August at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton.

 

From inspiring conversations and networking where meaningful connections were made, to bold entrepreneurial pitches that inspired other women entrepreneurs with their powerful storytelling, the EmpowHER series has already empowered hundreds of women to connect, learn and grow. 

 

Now, it’s Joburg’s turn.

 

An exciting programme has been lined up for this week’s event.  Expect words of inspiration from:

• Standard Bank keynote address by Stella Parker, Head, Business Banking, Standard Bank Gauteng
• Keynote address by Nonnie Kubeka, Executive Director, Gauteng Convention & Events Bureau
• Fireside chat with Sinovuyo Mondliwa, Founder of Love Kinks 

 

Delegates will have plenty of time to network and engage in meaningful conversations with potential business partners, clients and new connections during the Fast Track Networking Session with the theme ‘Turning conversations into connections”.

 

The spotlight will then fall on the ever-popular EmpowHER Pitching Den – where 10 courageous entrepreneurs step on the stage to pitch their businesses in just three minutes, and face a high-impact Q&A with a panel of judges consisting of top business experts. The winner of the Joburg Pitching Den will take home the R50 000 prize.

 

The panel of the Pitching Den judges are:

 

Thoko Tshabala-Shandu – Managing Director, VEA 
Lebo Jane – Manager, Premium & Growth Segments, Standard Bank 
Lagini Govender – Head, Enterprise Banking, Standard Bank Gauteng 
Kume Luvhani – Co-Founder & Executive Director, Vaxowave 
Nonnie Kubeka – Executive Director: Gauteng Convention & Event Bureau 

 

The Standard Bank Top Women Pitching Den finalists who will present in Joburg are:

 

Hannah Rasethe – PEAK A SITE PTY LTD
Koketso Zandile Mogashwa –  Naleko Digital Solutions 
Yonela Nzmaa – Azi flavor burst 
Pretty Kubyane – eFama App

Zulfa Nkosi – Zulfa’s Glamour Girls Trading Enterprise 
Refilwe Moreno Barahona – TsogoMath Pty Ltd 
Sewela Matjekane – Mc Lante Telecoms 
Vutomi E Muchemenye – Renature PTY LTD T/A Eullys Cakery
Nompumelelo Sthabile Magwaza – Sthabile Business Investments 
Mosa Mufamadi – Tshedza Shangoni Holdings 

 

Some feedback from the last two events:

 

EmpowHER Cape Town

 

“The key take-aways for me were building strong networks, speaking with confidence, trying even if you are failing, embracing innovation, and just starting and being confident because you know what you are doing and no-one else knows what you are doing except yourself. And one of the keynote speakers spoke about the four Fs [“Your best stories lie in your failures, your flaws, your frustrations and your firsts” – Verity Price].

 

This stood out for me and it made me reflect that no-one is perfect but you need to just keep trying. Another speaker Tarynne Keown Rajh spoke about how she made her vision about her child and it reminded me about the ‘why’. I have a background in IT and engineering and I recently left corporate after working for a large firm for 9 years. My business focuses on corporate and industrial cleaning as well as property management services. But I have linked my passion for IT and engineering to my businesses, so I continue to do what I love and add innovation to industrial and corporate cleaning.” Kiki Sepuru – Afrique360 Solutions and winner of the Pitching Den in KZN

 

EmpowHER KZN

 

“What we witnessed at EmpowHER KwaZulu-Natal was more than a pitching competition. It was a powerful showcase of the resilience, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that women bring to South Africa’s economy. Through initiatives such as EmpowHER, Standard Bank is creating platforms that connect entrepreneurs to opportunity, meaningful networks and business growth support. When women-owned businesses succeed, they create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to inclusive economic growth.

 

We congratulate Kiki Sepuru on her outstanding achievement and celebrate all the entrepreneurs who demonstrated the courage and confidence to share their vision on the Pitching Den stage,” Fikile Msiza, Regional Head for Business Banking (Kwa-Zulu Natal) at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa

 

Join a powerful network of like-minded women entrepreneurs and book your ticket for EmpowHER Johannesburg  here