Standard Bank Top Women™ 2025: Championing Inclusive Leadership, Innovation & Africa’s Future
Johannesburg, South Africa – 24 September 2025 — The 10th annual Standard Bank Top Women™ Conference, hosted by Topco Media in partnership with Standard Bank South Africa, concluded on a high note after two days of dynamic dialogue, innovation, and collaboration under the bold theme: “Her Power. Africa’s Future.”
Source: UGC
Held on 22–23 September 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre Ballroom in Johannesburg, the hybrid event attracted over 1,000 in-person delegates alongside a thriving online community of over 40,000 registered participants. Attendees engaged through live-streamed sessions, interactive panels, networking lounges, and rapid-fire pitch showcases, making this year’s event one of the most impactful to date.
The conference was expertly hosted by Gugulethu Mfuphi, award-winning South African broadcaster and financial journalist, who guided conversations with energy, insight, and authenticity.
Keynotes from Leaders Driving Change
The programme featured a powerful line-up of changemakers, including:
● Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking SA, Standard Bank Group (Opening Address)
● Italia Mabula, Head of Brand & Marketing, BCC, Standard Bank Group
● Jenine Zachar, Head of Value Propositions & Client Experience, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Bank, SA
● Rachel Kolisi, Co-founder, Kolisi Foundation
● Hon. Mmapaseka Letsike, Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities
● Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
● Disa Mpande, CFO, merSETA
These leaders underscored the urgency of inclusive policies, gender empowerment, education as an equaliser, and public-private partnerships as catalysts for Africa’s equitable economic growth.
Programme Highlights
Day One (22 September):
● Catalysts of Change Opening Panel spotlighted women entrepreneurs redefining Africa’s growth.
● Table Talk with Rachel Kolisi explored “Redefining Power: Women, Leadership, and Lasting Change.”
● PitchPower Networking (sponsored by CCBSA) electrified the room as entrepreneurs pitched business ideas in two minutes to investors and partners.
● Panels such as:
○ Skills to Scale: Equipping Women Entrepreneurs for Industrial Innovation
○ Leading with Purpose: Gender Empowerment as a Business Catalyst
○ Women Leading Impact: Feeding Potential Inside-Out (hosted by KFC Africa).
● Sector Dialogues on women in technology, inclusive aviation, and healthcare innovation.
Day Two (23 September):
● The launch of the Standard Bank Top Women Publication, celebrating 20 years of impact.
● Keynote by Jenine Zachar on customer-focused innovation in banking.
● The Financial Futures Panel explored breaking barriers for women in Africa’s financial landscape.
● PitchPower Networking sponsored by CCBSA continued, driving opportunities for women-led enterprises.
● SheLeads Dialogue on sustainability (hosted by Barloworld).
● Vodacom Tech Panel showcased digital tools as engines of gender equality.
● Dialogues on inclusive digital economies (Telkom), renewable energy (Enel Green Power), workplace wellness (Telkom, Discovery Vitality, Sibanye-Stillwater), and Africa’s creative economy (eNCA & Robb Report Africa).
A Platform for Growth
Beyond inspiration, the 2025 conference delivered tangible outcomes: targeted Business Matchmaking® sessions, private deal-making meetings, and high-impact pitch platforms that advanced women-owned enterprises across sectors.
“The Standard Bank Top Women Conference 2025 has been a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together with purpose and vision. Over the past two days, we’ve seen women leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and corporate champions driving bold conversations and forging real partnerships that will shape Africa’s future. At Topco Media, we are honoured to create this platform with Standard Bank and our partners — a space where inclusive leadership, innovation, and collaboration are not just celebrated, but accelerated. This year’s milestone conference has set a new benchmark for impact, and I believe its ripple effect will be felt across industries, communities, and generations to come.” Ralf Fletcher, CEO, Topco Media
Partnerships Driving Transformation
This year’s success was powered by the support of visionary partners:
● Platinum Partner: Standard Bank
● Gold Partner: merSETA
● Host Province Partner: Gauteng Tourism Authority
● Silver Partners: Vodacom, Harmony Gold, Merchants, KFC South Africa, Guerbet South Africa, Telkom
● Bronze Partners: Enel Green Power, Barloworld, Bridging & Associates, South African Airways, Sibanye-Stillwater, ENSafrica
● PitchPower Partner: Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA)
● Lifestyle Partners: L’Oréal, Nespresso, DHL, Mr Price Sport, Edgars Beauty, White Glo, Cape Island, and others
About the Standard Bank Top Women™ Conference
For the past decade, the Standard Bank Top Women™ Conference has been Africa’s fastest-growing platform for women who lead where policy meets purpose, industries are reimagined, and leadership legacies are built.
Source: Briefly News
