February 2010

Chair Report - Ann Druce
Immediate Past Chair Report - Susan Abro

Chair Report

Good morning.  I was elected Chairman of Businesswomen's Association, when Susan Abro stepped down and my first call of duty this morning is to thank Susan on behalf of the entire committee for her contribution during 2009.  Those who do not know Susan may be unaware of the role she played in driving Businesswomen's Association forward.  Never afraid to confront issues that require confrontation, Susan is passionate about Businesswomen's Association and willingly gave her time and energy to various key BWA projects, and she still maintains an active role in two key projects.  So thank you, Susan.

The committee has also lost Matjale Motsuang, who took up a new position within Unilever in Singapore, Lee-Ann Hughes, whose family commitments doubled when she adopted, not one, but two babies, and Busi Pepu, who found time pressures meant she was unable to fully commit to the committee.

We also say goodbye to Margaret, who has stepped down from the committee due to sudden growth in her business which requires her full-time attention.  Margaret has served as Treasurer for at least 5 years, and has kept BWA on the straight and narrow, ensuring that we stay liquid and are able to meet our commitments.  Margaret, we are sorry to lose you, but delighted that it is business growth that demands it.

On the upside, we welcomed Farzanah Mall back to the committee, in the role of Vice-Chairman and Vanessa Dehrmann,  who is leading the Regional Business Awards project.

As Susan mentioned, the Businesswomen's Association is the largest and most prominent association of business and professional women in South Africa and we strive to be the voice of women in business.  And I say, strives to be, because until such time as we can say we know all our members, and our members actively seek representation through nominating people that they know, we can only be the voice of our members insofar as how we think you’d like us to represent you.

So my key objective for 2010 is to develop a more involved and participatory membership.  Let’s get real for a moment, it is nice to say that you are a member of an organisation like BWA, but like everything else, what you get out of it depends on you.  So I ask you now:

• When did you last have a look at what BWA has to offer you?�
• Do you have a good idea of what you can gain of BWA?�
• And, of course, do you buy into the principle that in any endeavour, what you get out of it depends on what you put in, that you give to get?

Dipstick research has clearly indicated that members:

• Are happy to attend meetings, though some are not interested in purely “networking” meetings
• Do not know their committee
• Feel they could contribute more to BWA
• Would like to be on a committee or task team
• Do not know about our projects

And despite this, 94% of you believe that BWA has a lot to offer.

What we have here is a group of strong, dynamic women who want to contribute more, but probably feel unsure of how to help, how to participate.  And this applies particularly to women who do not, whether due to time constraints or personal preference, attend the morning networking sessions.

The opportunity is this:  I, together with the other BWA committee members, need to make members clearly aware that your skills are valued, and we’d love to have you on board.

Leaping to the conclusion that I will be re-elected Chairman later this morning, my aim is to ensure that the opportunities we offer you for business and personal growth answer your needs, and create an environment where you get to know your colleagues in the organisation well enough to depend on them for support and input and have them depend on you too.

In order to promote women in business and advance their opportunities for success, BWA offers several ways to empower our members.

During the course of 2010, we will offer you opportunities to develop specific professional knowledge and skills.  Events which have been confirmed include:

• Full-day seminars every month on performance issues; the first three seminar topics are planning, productivity and profitability.  These seminars are subsidised by the sponsorship of Action Coach’s Marlene Powell, who runs these seminars
• Evening events with speakers on topics such as “Do you need Social Media as part of your Marketing Plan?”

We will also provide you with information and insights that add to your general growth and personal motivation.

• These events include this morning’s breakfast presentation by Nicky Weimar, explaining the 2010 Budget
• In March, Derryn Campbell from the Awesome SA foundation will make you re-think negativity towards South Africa, highlighting our strengths and the opportunities that surround us
• And you’ll be invited to the Annual BWA Census presentation that Susan mentioned,  which will take place in April

We’ll also provide you with a forum for social interaction at purely social events.  The first one, a whiskey tasting that is scheduled for April.

And these are just the events that have already been confirmed!

We’ll offer you business opportunities through

• The regular formalised networking meetings
• Invitations to supply BWA for events and functions - the first invitation (for caterers) was emailed yesterday
• Advertising and sponsorship opportunities – we’ve also asked members who have meeting rooms or training rooms who might host BWA events to volunteer their facilities, for which they’d get recognition in all event marketing communication.
• You could grow your professional profile through the BWA Regional Achievers Awards.  The call for nominations has gone out.  You could be the winner, and have your company name and achievements highlighted in the press.

And I guess the Awards Ceremony falls into the social and motivation categories too!  It promises to be a night to remember.  And if you’d like to become involved in this, speak to Vanessa.  There is still a lot to be done and your input would be welcomed.

Then there are our social investment projects.

Firstly, the BWA Postgraduate Bursary.  The funds have been raised and allocated, and applications are open,  so if you know someone who you think should apply, tell them to contact Catherine.

Secondly, Winning in the Workplace. This project comprises a seminar for school-leaving girls, helping them to face the challenges of entering the workplace.  Once again, there is a lot of work involved in this, Farzanah is championing this project, so please speak to her if you’d like to volunteer.

We are also working on introducing a Mentoring Programme for BWA members, but this is still in the initial planning stages.

There is also the Maternity Benefits Project.  Many women are dependent entirely on their UIF over there maternity leave, as their employers are unable to supplement this, needing instead to re-direct the salary to a temporary staff.  Susan Abro is working on this on a national level, with national organisations including the Commission for Gender Equity.

We do ask a contribution from members for most of the events to which you are invited, with costs going to cover catering (even if it’s only a cup of coffee and a muffin, they still have to be paid for), but any profits are directed to the social investment projects. BWA maintains a minimal staff (Catherine) and small overheads (shared office and equipment), and there is a lot to be done.

Of course, not all the work needs to be done by the committee. In fact, we have sub-committees for each project which comprise mainly non-committee members.  Some of you have made your willingness to assist known, and you will be contacted shortly.

But the committee fulfils a key role.  And I ask you to consider standing for the committee.  We particularly need a treasurer, and are looking for an accountant to fill that role.  We are also looking for members to support existing projects and gain experience rapidly so that they can take over and run BWA in Durban in the next year or two.  After all, there are so many of us who have a lot to add.  And new blood means new ideas and fresh energy.

ANN DRUCE
Chairman 2010

Immediate Past Chair Report

It was my pleasure and privilege to serve the Business Women’s Association of South Africa (BWASA) Durban Region for the period 30 April to 31 December 2009.

The BWASA is the largest and most prominent Association of Business and Professional Women in South Africa, and the voice of women in business.  Through strategic partnerships with sponsors, non-profit organisations, leading companies, business schools and international associations, it provides ongoing opportunities to advance the interests of Women in business.  Members include entrepreneurs, professionals and senior decision-makers.

The BWASA is a non-profit, voluntary organisation, committed to offering real value in the form of leading and training, connecting and supporting members of South African business.  The BWASA aims to be a united, non-racial business organisation that helps businesswomen to create connections on multiple dimensions, - personal, professional and business – throughout their career.  It also creates opportunities for Women business owners to grow their business.  As a National Association with Regional branches, it also provides local and national forums where members can exchange ideas, be informed about topical issues and create business opportunities. It acts as a lobby group on Woman business issues, highlighting and publicising not only the barriers to success that may still exist, but also the many opportunities available to Women in South Africa today.

The major activities of the BWASA in general are:

1. BusinessWomen of The Year Award, which has become South Africa’s most prestigious award for Women in business.

2. Regional Business Achievers Award, which runs alongside the BusinessWomen of the Year Award, and which have been presented since 2001 at each of the seven Regional BWASA branches.  These awards actively seek to identify, acknowledge and cultivate Small Businesses and Professional Practices, many of which are run by previously disadvantaged Women.  The awards serve as a platform for these emerging BusinessWomen to aspire to be nominated for the BusinessWomen of the Year Award in future.

There are five categories:

• Emerging entrepreneur;
• Entrepreneur;
• Professional;
• Corporate;
• Social Entrepreneur.

3. BWASA Bursaries are awarded to Women students across the country, leading towards post-graduate qualifications. Bursaries can also be awarded to a Woman pursuing a research topic of importance to Women in business.

4. Annual Census – The BWASA entered into a partnership with Catalyst, the leading BusinessWomen’s Organisation in the United States, to conduct a South African census.  In 1993, Catalyst began to produce an annual census to clarify the status of Woman on the Boards of the largest companies in the United States.  The census was designed to establish accurate statistics to create a way to use the standard practice of benchmarking to promote Women’s advancement, and to apply the business principle of “what gets measured gets done”.  It has since expanded to Women in Executive Management.  It is currently being run in the United States, Canada and Australia.  The Catalyst census is a seminal study of its kind.  The results and hypotheses that it has generated have merited ongoing acknowledgement and discussion in the countries where it has been undertaken and in leading International Business publications, including the “Harvard Business Review” and “The Economist”.

The results of the South African Census were first released on 29 April 2004, and have made interesting reading for all of South Africa’s business leaders.  The census has, since then, been released on an annual basis.

The BWASA census, in association with Catalyst, has become one of the most important statistical documents when it comes to establishing the representation of Woman in Corporate and Government Institutions, and has now become a reference tool used by numerous speakers in their addresses.

5. The BWASA also conducts mentoring and the mentoring committee initiates and co-ordinates mentoring projects that are aimed at developing the potential of Professional and BusinessWomen in South Africa and raising the skill of Women to mentor and be mentored.  The BWASA realises how vital it is for working Women today to be empowered, guided and encouraged to grow both professionally and personally.

Turning to the year in review I am pleased to announce that the BWASA Durban Region has become an extremely active and efficient part of the BWASA.

On a monthly basis, there are networking meetings which are held in the following EThekwini areas:

1. South Coast;
2. Umhlanga;
3. Hillcrest – which has now moved to Westville;
4. Kingsmead – which commenced in October 2009.

These meetings provide an opportunity for members to network in geographical areas in which they conduct business with other members in the same area.  These are intimate meetings which allow members to advertise their businesses to other members inter alia, by enabling one member to speak at each of the sessions.  The balance of the sessions are reserved for networking to enable members to exchange business opportunities.  These meetings have become extremely popular and the number of members who attend on a monthly basis is growing proportionately.

Other events which were held by the BWASA Durban Regional Branch during 2009 were as follows:

1. February 2009 – the Budget speech, held at the offices of Nedbank in Kingsmead, with Nedbank’s Senior Economist, Nikky Weimar, providing an explanation of the budget speech by the Minister of Finance, which is always a well attended and popular event.

2. The AGM of the BWASA Durban Region was held during March 2009.

3. The Census Launch in the Durban Region was held in May 2009, at the Westville Country Club, which is also an extremely popular event, as members are provided with the results of the latest census together with copies of the census document, and a panel of speakers also provides the event with added interest, as they comment on the outcome of the census and its results as well as the current situation in their particular field of expertise.

In the Durban Region of the BWASA at the Census Launch for 2009 the speakers were:

• Xabiso Mahlawe from the EThekwini Municipality.
• Meryl Peryl, the previous winner of the BWA’s annual Regional Business Achiever’s Awards, Corporate Sector.
• Ncumisa Tsholanku of Transnet.
• Anesh Singh, the Principal, of the Graduate School of Business.

4. The BWASA Durban Regional Committee held a team-building event at the Gecko Cooking School, which was an evening of fun and cooking and socialising and strategising.

5. In July 2009, the BWASA Durban Region held its Regional Business Achiever Awards.  This was an extremely successful event which was held at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban, with an attendance of approximately three hundred people. The Programme Director was Sundru Pillay.  The Guest of Honour was the popular Devi Rajhab.

The winners for the categories were as follows:

• Emerging Entrepreneur – Nobuntu Webster of Ayano Communications.
• Entrepreneur – Susilia Carrick of L G Green.
• Professional – Dr Jo-Anne James practicing at Dr G A Landers, Medical Oncologists.
• Corporate – Zama Phakathi of the Durban Chamber of Commerce.
• Social Entrepreneur – Dr Helga Holst of McCord Hospital.

These winners will go on to compete in the National Business Achiever Awards to be held in Durban in 2010, which is also the 30th Anniversary of the BusinessWomen’s Association of South Africa.

August 2009 was an extremely busy month with the BWASA BusinessWoman of the Year Award being held in Johannesburg.  At the same time the National Business Achiever Awards were also held at a different and smaller function in Johannesburg.

The Durban region was extremely proud to have the winner of the professional category of the National Business Achiever Awards for 2009, namely, Lynda Bryant, National Roads Pharmacy, Kloof.

The Durban Region of BWASA always holds an extremely important and relevant function which has become well-known and sought after by attendees, in respect of social development on Women’s Day each and every year, which is called “Winning in the WorkPlace”.

The Durban Region of the BWASA entertains grade 12 pupils from all over the region including, seriously disadvantaged schools, and treats them to a day which gives them an opportunity to understand what will happen when they leave school and enter the “real” world.  There are speakers who are all top BusinessWomen in their fields.  The committee members obtain sponsorship and gifts for the attendees.  There is an essay-writing competition where the students write essay’s before they attend the function, and the winners are awarded prizes which are usually laptop computers. This is an extremely successful and valuable contribution to our future BusinessWomen.

Also in August 2009, the BWASA Durban Region held a Women’s month celebration at a venue in Umhlanga with a motivational speaker, Chantual Jordan, from “Expressions”.

In September 2009, the BWASA Durban Region held the RBAA winners breakfast at Callissa Lodge in Cowies Hill, where the winners of the various categories of the Regional Business Achiever Awards were given an opportunity to address members of the BWASA, Durban Region, and inform them of their businesses and provide them with inspiration from their own successes.

In October 2009, the BWASA Durban Region welcomed the BWASA BusinessWoman of the Year winner, Venete Klein, Director for Retail Banking at ABSA, where she addressed the members and impressed them with her incredible career, and also provided inspiration for the members.  This extremely successful event was held in conjunction with Price Waterhouse Coopers at their offices.

The BWASA Durban Regional Committee also held a strategic planning seminar with Massive Results, led by Marlene Powell of ActionCOACH Business Coaching, where the members of the committee discussed the way forward for the Durban Region of the BWASA.  Thanks are due to Marlene Powell, from ActionCOACH, which has taken on the BWASA Durban Committee and Durban co-ordinater, Catherine Smith, as their Social Responsibility project and who are providing free coaching and planning assistance to the Durban Regional Branch.

In November 2009, the Durban Region of the BWASA held its Year End breakfast at the Durban Country Club, which was a great success with over two hundred members attending.  The guest of honour was Dr. Zweli Mkhize, the Premier of the Province, who turned out to be extremely personable and arrived early to mingle with the members, and the inspirational speaker was Cindy Norcott, the successful businesswoman, sought after speaker, business coach and charity founder.  Cindy is the owner and manager of the award-winning recruitment agency, Student Temps and Pro Appointments, and is a Trustee of the Robin Hood Foundation, a non-profit organisation that contributes a huge amount to the disadvantaged of the Durban Region.  Both speakers proved to be hugely successful and the event received an extremely positive response.

I am very proud to announce that the Durban Region of the BWASA has become one of the profitable branches of the BWASA, and has managed to ensure that the income from its events exceeds the expenses and that it has become self-sustaining. Further information in this regard will be available in the Treasurers Report.

I wish to thank Catherine Smith, who also commenced her position as the co-ordinator of the Durban Region of the BWASA early this year, and who has proved to be a great asset to the Branch and my Committee.  I also wish to congratulate my successor, Ann Druce, and wish her and her committee every success in the year ahead. It has been a privilege to serve the members of the BWASA in the Durban Region, and, at times stressful, but always adventurous and enjoyable.

S W ABRO
BWA CHAIRPERSON 2009