Award-winning women entrepreneurs redefine leadership

As Women’s Month unfolds across South Africa, it brings not only a celebration of progress but also a spotlight on the women courageously pushing boundaries in business.

Among them are the exceptional recipients of the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman and Bold Future Awards, a group of six pioneering entrepreneurs from 2023 to 2025 whose stories are reshaping the narrative of what female leadership looks like in South Africa today.

Now in its fourth year locally and 53rd globally, the Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot celebrates female entrepreneurs who embody innovation, leadership, and legacy.

Anchored by insights from the International Bold Barometer, a global study on women in business, the awards offer not just recognition, but a rallying cry for authentic, empowered leadership in a landscape still rife with gender bias.

“Doing so would strip away the heart, intuition and flair that comes with leading like a woman,” said Retang Phaahla, 2025 Bold Woman Award winner and co-founder of Setšong Tea Crafters. “I’ve embraced the opportunity to lead authentically.”

Leading a team that’s 92% women, Phaahla has developed a leadership style rooted in empathy, collaboration, and self-truth. For her, success lies in showing up fully and creating space for others to do the same.

This commitment to authenticity resonates with Claire Blanckenberg, 2023 Bold Woman Award winner and co-founder of Reel Organisation.

“Reel’s success shows that empathetic, collaborative leadership can outperform old playbooks. I lead with empathy, transparency and data. Success, to me, is measured in hectares of food gardens started and livelihoods created.”

In sectors often defined by rigid expectations, these women are proving that true leadership doesn’t require conformity. Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi, founder and CEO of Hazile Group and 2025 Bold Future Award winner, said, “I’ve proven that empathy, collaboration and intuition aren’t weaknesses; they’re strategic strengths.”

Zama Ngcobo, 2023 Bold Future Award winner and founder of WMN Attorneys Inc., added, “Bringing a feminine energy into the mix doesn’t disqualify you from respect or success.”

According to the Bold Barometer, 82% of South African women entrepreneurs feel they are more criticised than their male counterparts, often under the guise of advice. “The criticism I’ve received has often been personal, shaped by assumptions about what women like me should be doing,” Msomi said. “I’ve learned not to internalise that. I stay grounded by remembering who I’m building for myself, my children, and the communities I serve.”

For Morongwe ‘Mo’ Mokone, co-founder of Mo’s Crib and 2024 Bold Woman Award winner, resilience lies in discernment.

“Criticism has often come louder and faster because I am a woman, and a bold one,” said Mo. “What grounds me is staying rooted in my purpose, leading with empathy and remembering that leadership is not about being liked; it’s about being clear, courageous and consistent.”

Ngcobo added that criticism often revealed more about others than the leader herself. “In some cases, criticism may stem from stereotypes or inferiority complexes. I’ve learned to distinguish between these cases and deal with criticism accordingly.”

Refilwe Sebothoma, 2024 Bold Future Award winner and founder of Hakem Energies, said, “I’m committed to paying it forward by mentoring aspiring women entrepreneurs, sharing my experiences, and helping to shape a path for future generations.”