The first annual FAIRLADY Women of the Future Awards, in association with Santam was held at an exclusive VIP luncheon and emceed by Gerri Elsdon at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton. and We were delighted to announce our incredible winners:
Boitumelo Ntsoane, managing director of Afrilink HealthCare, was awarded the FAIRLADY Women of the Future 2015 title. Ntsoane, who owns a primary health care service, was elated with her win, stating that it further reinforced the feeling that she is on the right track to expanding her business empire. “It is an affirmation that I am stepping into my purpose, and that I should just keep going. I feel that I don’t just have a job, but that I am living my purpose,” says Ntsoane.
The FAIRLADY Rising Star winner is Amy de Castro, owner of Bamboo Revolution, a producer of unique bamboo and leather wristwatches. While the cash prize will obviously be helpful, for De Castro, winning the FAIRLADY Rising Star Award is more about the title, the acknowledgement and the platform it gives her to inspire others. “Hopefully I can inspire young entrepreneurs – particularly women. There’s so much opportunity out there – you just have to grab hold of it,” she says. Adding: “It’s a challenge being a young woman entrepreneur. I learned quickly to have a strong backbone and not to take things personally. You have to look at the challenges as opportunities to grow and learn.”
The two inspiring winners were selected from a pool of amazing entries by a respected panel of successful and pioneering judges. The panel included Public Protector Thuli Madonsela; Santam executive head of Brand, Yegs Ramiah; author, motivational speaker and former PA to Nelson Mandela, Zelda La Grange; television presenter, MC and businesswoman Gerry Rantseli Elsdon and FAIRLADY editor, Suzy Brokensha.
FAIRLADY Woman of the Future 2015 winner Ntsoane receives R50 000 in cash, a R7500 online shopping voucher from Spree.co.za, an invaluable mentoring session with one of the judges, a GALAXY Note 4 and GALAXY Tab S from Samsung. She also walks away with a Buren ladies watch and a fragrance hamper from S Bacher & Company, an Elizabeth Arden hamper and a R5000 part-time Damelin bursary.
FAIRLADY Rising Star 2015 winner De Castro receives R20 000 in cash, a R7500 online shopping voucher from spree.co.za, an invaluable mentoring session with one of the judges, a GALAXY Note 4 and GALAXY Tab S from Samsung. And she also gets a Buren ladies watch and fragrance hamper from S Bacher & Company, an Elizabeth Arden hamper and a R5000 part-time Damelin bursary.
Thank you to our co-sponsor Place in the Wines for the incredible partnership.
Thank you to Elizabeth Arden, S Bacher & Co, Damelin, Samsung and Spree.co.za for the incredible prizes.