The 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards winners announced
Two visionary businesswomen, Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi and Retang Phaahla, were honoured at the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards for championing sustainability, culture, and social impact.
Celebrating entrepreneurial excellence and fearless innovation, the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards lit up Hyde Park Corner on the evening of July 16, honouring two standout South African women making a bold difference in business and society.
Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi, founder and CEO of Hazile Group, was awarded the Bold Future Award for her climate-smart enterprise driving sustainable agriculture, water, and energy solutions in underserved rural communities.
Retang Phaahla, founder of Setšong Tea Crafters, received the Bold Woman Award, recognised for her unique fusion of indigenous tea knowledge, rural upliftment, and eco-tourism in Limpopo.
Both women were selected from a competitive pool of six finalists, celebrated for pushing boundaries in their industries while positively impacting their communities.
The annual award, now in its fourth edition in South Africa, is rooted in the legacy of Madame Clicquot, the trailblazing 19th-century businesswoman known for transforming the champagne industry.
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Accepting her Bold Future Award, Cebekhulu-Msomi said, “This recognition is not just for me, but for women who dream of changing the world with purpose-driven work. The future is green, inclusive, and powered by bold ideas.”
Phaahla, who captivated the judges with her culturally grounded and sustainable business model, reflected on her journey,
“We are reclaiming our heritage through tea and telling stories that honour the land and the people who care for it. This award affirms that business can be both rooted and revolutionary.”
The judging panel, which included previous winners Amanda Dambuza and Morongwe Mokone, alongside leadership and business experts such as Erik Kruger, Happy Ralinala, and Timothy Maurice Webster, praised the winners for their vision, leadership, and measurable impact.
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