factsheet 2025
THE STANDARD BANK TOP WOMEN AWARDS Breaking down
Categories, Criteria, and Celebrating Excellence in Leadership and Gender Empowerment in South Africa.
Established in 2003, the Standard Bank Top Women Awards is a collaborative platform recognising exceptional leadership, innovation, and vision in South Africa’s private and public sectors. The awards honour outstanding women and Organisations that have made significant strides in gender empowerment, creating inclusive and equitable workplaces.
The awards are divided into two main sections: Organisational Awards and Individual Awards.
The Organisational Awards celebrate companies that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to gender empowerment, recognising their efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
The Individual Awards honour individuals who have made significant contributions in their fields, acknowledging their hard work, dedication, and leadership.
By acknowledging the influence and impact of women in business and society, the Standard Bank Top Women Awards encourage excellence and shape the future of leadership. They provide a platform to showcase trailblazing women and organisations, and to encourage others to strive for excellence.
Winners become part of an esteemed community, recognised for their contributions and commitment to gender equality.
Organisational Awards
CATEGORIES 2025
These categories will celebrate and recognise the achievements of organisaions striving to make the workplace supportive to women.
TOP WOMEN OWNED Business SMME 2025
SPONSORED BY STANDARD BANK
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in Health & Pharmaceutical 2025
SPONSORED BY DRS MASHAO & DZICHAUYA INC
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in ICT & E-commerce 2025
SPONSORED BY TELKOM
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in Public Service 2025
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in Construction, Infrastructure, Resources & Mining 2025
SPONSORED BY RS SOUTH AFRICA
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS Transport, Logistics & Mobility 202
SPONSORED BY CASTROL
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in Skills & Youth Development 2025
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS in Corporate Citizenship & Community impact 2025
TOP WOMEN BUSINESS of the year 2025
Individual Awards
CATEGORIES 2025
These categories will recognise the achievements of individuals for the past 18 months of individual female entrepreneurs, executives, employees as well as men driving gender empowerment.
TOP WOMEN LEADER in Professional & Support Services 2025
TOP WOMEN LEADER In STEM 2025
TOP WOMEN LEADER in Public Sector 2025
TOP WOMEN Young Achiever 2025
TOP WOMEN Entrepreneur of the year 2025
HALEY FLETCHER
Top Women Business Leader of the year 2025
2025 CATEGORY SPONSORS
Our Esteemed
JUDGES OF 2025
Meet our esteemed panel of adjudicators, featuring top experts with diverse backgrounds and extensive experience. Their broad perspectives ensure insightful and thorough evaluations, bringing unparalleled expertise to our process.
Communications Manager, Procter & Gamble
SULAIMAN CEO South Africa, DHL
Director, Dewdrop Skincare (Pty) Ltd
Director External and Regulatory Affairs & Chairperson, Vodacom Foundation, Vodacom South Africa
Marketing & Corporate
AMINAH
SHABNUM DAWOOD
NONNIE KUBEKA
SAMMY TSHIULA
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Vaxowave
Marketing Director, RS Group PHUMELELE ZULU
Chief Financial Officer, MerSETA NCEDISA MPANDE
Director, Castrol Southern Africa
Head of Department: Governance Insights & Analytics, Good Governance Africa
Group Executive: Corporate Services, Airports Company SA
Management Director,
MAHLUZA Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Siyakha Consulting
Chief People Officer, Deloitte
MOGATUSI-
The Benefits
OF ENTERING THE SBTW AWARDS
Gain Recognition, Networking Opportunities, and Business Growth Through the Prestigious Standard Bank Top Women Awards Platform
As a Top Women winner you will get a range of digital collateral that you can use to promote your award. Differentiate your business from your competitors & stand out in your industry
We will promote your winning status across our website and media. We have 20 000 email subscribers and 50000 visitors to our site monthly. PR & media exposure through multichannel marketing
Entering the awards is a great way to thank and honour your employees and build your brand. Measure your performance against SA’s best
Raise your profile to attract investors & key stakeholders
Network with other business individuals
Journey to Excellence
CONNECT, REVIEW, ENTER.
Relive the magic of last year’s awards ceremony and join us this year to mingle with pioneers of gender empowerment, celebrating another year of trailblazing achievements and leadership excellence.
For more information on the Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2025, contact one of our trusted Topco team members.
HOW TO ENTER THE AWARDS:
General Criteria
All companies must show a turnover above R35 Million (unless otherwise specified).
Please advise of any allegations against you or your organisation in the past 48 months
Gender Equity
• 30% of Female employees
• 20% of Female directors (executive)
• 10% of Female senior management
• 20% of Female ownership / shareholding / partnership
Company Policies (Female Specific)
Skills Development (Female Specific)
CSI Expenditure (Female Specific)
Financial Performance
Annual Turnover
Turnover Growth
Profit Ratio
The independent judges will base their scores on two important sections broken down as follows:
• 10% of your score will be on general criteria (10 points allocated to general criteria)
• 90% of your scores will be on the organisations motivation (90 points allocated to motivation)
“Push the envelope, break the glass ceilings, do your very best to make sure that your name is known and you do good in society so that we see a better future not only for ourselves but for future generations.”
GUGU MKHIZE | CEO: INSETA
Once your Awards Entry is successful you will receive:
1 x Organisation category
1 x Individual category
Welcome post on Social Media –thank you for entering
Administration & judging of your entry – both internal and external
If you are a FINALIST you will receive:
TOPCO PR exposure press pack (mentioned in our press release, finalist badge, digital certificate, social media posts)
Our Awards team will be in touch with you.
Admin fee: R5000
“It is such an honour to get this recognition for something that ICAS Southern Africa is deeply passionate about, and committed to making g a difference.”
NAVLIKA RATANGEE | MANAGING DIRECTOR: ICAS