Year End Breakfast Bash

Date: Friday 20, November 2009

The year was closed off with a highly successful Breakfast Function held at the Durban Country Club on Friday, 20 November 2009. Cindy Norcott, from ProAppointments, opened up the morning with a highly motivational and encouraging presentation on How To Put The Spring Back Into Your Step. Once all had treated themselves to the vast array of breakfast options, the BWA welcomed The Premier of KZN, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, as the guest of honour who addressed the common issues that South Africa is facing through the current depression and presented practical ways in which each individual can assist in playing their part in rectifying it. Each guest walked away with a bag brimming with interesting feminine items and samples and many were treated to fantastic hampers and lucky draw prizes. All in all, it was a fantastic way to close the year.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for contributing towards the success of the event:

• Darrel de Wet: Illovo
• Lee Anne Mounter: Antinomy
• Mijke Prinsloo: Beiersdorf
• Julie Cloete: BellaBody
• Michelle Proctor: Caxton
• Candice Turnbull: CLT Solutions
• Margaret Bass: COMENSA
• Evelyn: Elizabeth Arden
• Pippa Lynch: Fashion Stylist
• Monica Holman: Gold Circle
• Arlene Smit: Miladys
• Lynda Bryant: National Rd Pharmacy
• Nicky Read: Nestle
• Judith Gale: Spar
• Wendy Richards: Sugar Bay Resort
• Chantal Edouard-Betsy: The Bedroom
• Megan Fernandez: Tiger Brands
• Pam Ranjith: Virgin Active

BWA Welcomes the 2009 Businesswomen of the Year

Date: Monday, 19 October 2009

The Businesswomen’s Association celebrated Venete Klein, the 2009 BWA Businesswoman of the Year, in Durban on Monday morning.  The BWA has honoured outstanding businesswomen with this award since 1980. In recognising these successful women, the BWA raises the profile of significant role models to inspire other women to raise their sights and reach their goals.

Influential banker, Venete Klein and exhibitions and events specialist, Carol Weaving scooped the 2009 BWA Businesswoman of the Year Awards in the corporate and entrepreneurial categories respectively. Klein flew into Durban to address the members of the BWA's Durban Branch, PricewaterhouseCoopers and their guests after a lavish networking breakfast sponsored by PWC.Â

Klein, Executive Director for Retail Banking at ABSA, has a remarkable CV.  Currently responsible for a turnover of R2.5m per hour, 10 million clients and 15 000 staff, Klein was spurred onto success when a sorely misguided superior told her that "people like you will never amount to anything."

Presenting with humour and humility, Klein recalled how she set out to prove her supervisor wrong; illustrating that with determination and effort, all women can achieve success as defined by their own objectives.

In addition to her demanding responsibilities at Absa, this financial powerhouse is also the first South African to serve on the World Trade Organisation’s International Policy Commission, the first woman (and person of colour) to serve as Vice Chair of the Agricultural Business Chamber, and the first woman to be appointed as President of the AHI (Afrikaanse Handels Instituut) in its 66 year history.  Klein is also visiting Professor at the University of Free State and regularly presents at Stellenbosch University as well as the University of Louisiana and Cornel University in the USA.

Venete pointed out that what may seem like a failure might really be an invitation to explore other, potentially more significant, avenues.  She highlighted the support structures of family and friends without whom she would have been unable to take advantage so many opportunities, and without whom her success would be far less rewarding.  And Venete illustrated her belief in the ability and potential of women and challenged all businesswomen to help to promote other women in business.

Venete Klein has succeeded by many standards.

Please view our gallery for event photos.

If you’d like to join the Businesswomen’s Association, please contact Catherine Smith on 031 261 8668 or email dbn@bwasa.co.za

Winning in the Workplace

Date: Saturday, 8 August 2009

Winning in the Workplace is Durban BWA’s annual Social Responsibility Initiative, held on Women’s Day each year. WIWP is a workshop held for up to 200 Grade 12 learners from schools within Durban and surrounding areas. The workshop provides the "businesswomen of tomorrow" with the skills necessary to make a success of their future entrance into the business world. As the entire event is sponsored, there is no charge, enabling many disadvantaged schools to attend.

This year’s function was met with fantastic motivational and empowering speakers that brought much insight and clarification about the business world. The students were kept energised throughout the day through competitive challenges such as competing to be the next president, including speeches and voting. After lunch each girl was surprised to find a bursting bag of goodies on their seat, ranging from magazines to chocolate, supplied by the sponsors that supported the event. Winners of the essays went home with laptops, iPods and a number of extravagant prizes. The day will go down in the memory banks of many young ladies as a worth-while and wonderful experience.

Regional Business Achiever Awards

Date: Wednesday, 8 July 2009

The 2009 RBAA was an extreme success. The judging process was an eye-opener to all judges as each candidate had a more impressive and outstanding story to tell than the next. After hearing so many incredible women share their stories of motivation and dedication, deciding on only one winner in each category was found to be a great challenge.

The evening of the Gala dinner and awards ceremony welcomed many honourable guests, dressed to impress in the re-run of their Durban July outfits. With Sundru Pillay, Director of Metro Travel, leading the order of events as the Master of Ceremonies, the evening was met with fantastic entertainment, including an enjoyable fashion show done by Madelain Clark, one of Durban's top designers, and fantastic singing by Praline Ross as she walked through the crowds. The BWA were also proud to welcome Devi Rajab, of the Golden Key Society, as the evening’s guest speaker. After much anticipation and suspense the winners of the awards were announced and were overwhelmed by the recognition and publicity they received for their good works and hard efforts.