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From owning your space to daring to become a success: 7 books with practical tips from inspirational women

books with practical tips

By Keshia Africa Over the last ten years, the career landscape for women in entrepreneurship has changed tremendously. Women have single-handedly redefined what modern entrepreneurship looks like, in the world of business. Today we take a look at inspirational South African women in business and the books that they’ve written. If you’re a woman in business, looking for inspiration and advice on how to overcome the odds that have been stacked against you, this list is for you: 1. Meeting Your Power: Returning Home To Yourself by DJ Zinhle and Nokubonga Mbanga Entrepreneur and Dj, DJ Zinhle and business coach Nokubonga Mbanga, co-wrote this book. Both women tapped into their lived experiences as women in business and within their personal lives and shared their lessons with us. Meeting your power was written to ignite the desire you have within yourself, to do great things and also be great while doing so. If you want to be an empowered woman, this is the book for you. 2. Own Your Space by Lori Milner and Nadia Bilchik These two authors have successfully navigated the corporate world and also assisted other women in doing so. If you ever wondered if there was a toolkit for women in the world of work, this book is it. The book is filled with guidance, practical advice, disciplines and techniques specifically designed to help you tap into your true potential. The authors have focused this book on women who want to take their career to the next level. Does this sound like you? 3. Nothing is Impossible by Anthea Ambursley Anthea Ambursley is an award-winning entrepreneur. She experienced many highs and lows as she embarked on the journey of creating successful business ventures. Because of this, she realised how much she had to share with the world. Packed with valuable and practical insights, Nothing is Impossible is the book for any entrepreneur;  which will help you set and achieve the goals you want to, in your own business. 4. Keep Going by Keneilwe Magula Keneilwe Magula, aside from being an author, is a certified life coach, entrepreneur and NLP practitioner. Adversities and challenges are all a part of the journey in our careers. Kenielwe lives and believes that life is a journey, and it is how we respond to it, that will impact how it plays out. She encourages readers to navigate the journey and be reminded that your current location is not your final destination, and you should, Keep Going. 5. The Business Tango by Anna Shilina  Placing the microscope on entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, author Anna Shilina compares business to the tango – a dance that requires strategic planning, continuous effort and hard work. This book was written from her experience combined with that of other business professionals from various fields within entrepreneurship. If you love to read about someone’s personal experience that provides thought-provoking questions to your own life, this is the book for you! 6. Dare to become a Success by Mulenga Kasoma We all have hopes and dreams in this world, and things we’d like to achieve. However, for many of us, that’s all they are. Mulenga Kasoma’s book speaks about the courage it takes to put action behind those goals and how everything you desire is on the other side of discipline. This book is full of practical guides designed to help you move your life from where you are to where you want to be. Start succeeding in your life, stop making excuses and Dare to become a Success! 7. Power in the Paddock by Yolanda Sing Author and entrepreneur, Yolanda Sing’s life, and corporate career came to a standstill when she fell ill with a malignant brain tumour. It was in her time of recovery that she realised how much she had to share with the world; specifically, those caught in careers that are very demanding and no longer inspirational. Yolanda’s book shares how she became an entrepreneur on a mission through building her own company, after surviving a life-threatening condition. Her book is filled with hope, healing and transformation and written to show you that even in moments of despair, hope can arise within you.

Sanlam, Sasol and SARS among 2025 Nedbank Top Empowerment Award winners

2025 Nedbank Top Empowerment Award winners

The prestigious Nedbank Oliver Top Empowerment Awards 2025 took centre stage on the night of 31 July 2025, celebrating the exceptional individuals, companies, and organisations driving transformation and empowerment across South Africa. Held under the theme “Defying Limits, Empowering Change,” the event gathered the country’s foremost leaders, changemakers and visionaries in a powerful tribute to inclusive growth and economic justice. Hosted by the renowned broadcaster Leanne Manas, the evening commenced with a welcome address by Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, who acknowledged the remarkable progress being made in economic empowerment. The event featured insights from the esteemed judging panel during a live Q&A session with Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive: Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank, and Gavin Fitzmaurice, Partner at Webber Wentzel, who reflected on the calibre of this year’s entries. Guests were further inspired by a powerful keynote from Mfundo Nkuhlu, Chief Operating Officer of Nedbank Group, followed by an address from the Honourable Minister Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, who spoke to the critical role of digital transformation in building an inclusive, empowered future. Congratulations to the finalists and winners of the categories: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: FAST GROWTH BLACK-OWNED SMME OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Bono Property Group Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: PUBLIC SECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: South African Revenue Service (SARS) Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: ENTERPRISE AND SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD, Sponsored by Nedbank Winner: Mondi Zimele (Pty) Ltd Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Schneider Electric Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Nestlé ESAR Highly Commended: Isanti Glass Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD, Sponsored by Nedbank Winner: Sanlam Life Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Vaxowave Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Sasol Limited Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED: LIFETIME ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD Honourable Minister Enoch Godongwana – Minister of Finance for South Africa MUNICIPAL WOMEN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD, Sponsored by SALGA NEDBANK OLIVER TOP EMPOWERMENT LEGENDS 2025  TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: JOB CREATION OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Geeks4Learning (Pty) Ltd Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Mondi Zimele (Pty) Ltd Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED: PUBLIC SECTOR LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Edward Kieswetter – South African Revenue Service (SARS) Finalists: RICHARD FLETCHER ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Patricia Tshitema – Bono Property Group Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED: YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD (UNDER 40) Winner: Beverley Siwisa – Afrizan People Intelligence (Pty) Ltd Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED: BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner: Sindisiwe Dlamini – Pamodzi Unique Engineering Finalists: TOP EMPOWERED COMPANY: BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD, Sponsored by Nedbank Winner: Oceana Group Limited Highly Commended: Isanti Glass Finalists: The 2025 Nedbank Oliver Top Empowerment Awards not only recognised excellence but reignited the national conversation around transformation, equity, and sustainable development. As the winners and finalists take their well-deserved place among South Africa’s top empowered leaders, this year’s event stands as a bold reminder that meaningful change is not only possible – it is already in motion. A heartfelt thank you to our valued sponsors whose support made this celebration of empowerment possible: Nedbank, our Platinum Sponsor; SALGA, also proudly supporting our Category Awards; and our esteemed Lifestyle Sponsors — L’Oréal, Jenna Clifford, and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa — for adding their unique touch to the evening. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners who continue to inspire, innovate, and lead the way forward.

Africa Tech Digital Transformation Award winner: Etapath’s Co-Founder on making transport more accessible

Etapath Digital Transformation

By Koketso Mamabolo In just five years Etapath went from manual internal process to building an in-house tool which evolved into client-facing, digital-first, centralised tech solution. Their digital transformation journey has seen them help businesses provide their employees with safe, reliable and affordable transport.  “Our journey has been rooted in a vision to make transport in South Africa more accessible, efficient, and opportunity-driven,” says Benjamin Gordon, Co-Founder of Etapath, the winner of the 2025 Africa Tech Digital Transformation award. Across the country, Etapath has completed over a million scheduled commutes, with over 15 000 users and the results are impressive: Their corporate clients report 30% in savings on transport and a 40% drop in absenteeism.  After having made such an impact in only half a decade, there’s sure to be even more success in store for the rapidly growing tech company. “Opportunities only materialise when you’re prepared to seize them, and we’ve made it a priority to always be ready for what’s next.” Congratulations on winning the Digital Transformation award. What does winning the award mean to you and your organisation? Winning the Digital Transformation Award is a significant milestone for us. It affirms the hard work we’ve invested in evolving from manual operations to digital systems, from reactive problem-solving to proactive innovation, and from serving local needs to having a national footprint. More than just a recognition of our technology, this award honors the real-world impact we’re making; supporting workers on their daily commutes, enabling businesses to function reliably, and opening doors for communities to access better opportunities. Meet the Africa Tech Founder of the Year Please tell us about your journey, how did you get to this point in your career? Our journey has been rooted in a vision to make transport in South Africa more accessible, efficient, and opportunity-driven. Since Etapath’s start in 2020, we’ve focused on delivering high-tech transport solutions that address real-world challenges. Early traction with major corporate clients helped us expand nationally by 2022. Along the way, we developed impactful tools like the Team Manager platform, an integrated payment system, and detailed passenger data analytics. Strategic partnerships with organisations such as BPESA and Google Mobility have played a critical role in our growth and influence. What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your journey and how have you been able to apply them? One of the most important lessons is to never take things personally. The best ideas should win, no matter where they come from. True progress happens when ego steps aside. Another key lesson is that luck is really the intersection of preparation and timing. Opportunities only materialise when you’re prepared to seize them, and we’ve made it a priority to always be ready for what’s next. Read: The full list of winners from 2025 Africa Tech Awards What inspires you to do what you do? We’re driven by a bigger mission: to eliminate technology as a barrier to employment, investment, and growth. We believe tech should be an enabler, not an obstacle. By making commuting simpler, safer, and more affordable, and by equipping small fleet operators with advanced tools, we’re helping build an inclusive and competitive transport ecosystem that benefits everyone, from individual commuters to enterprise-level clients. What do you believe are the major trends you believe we should be looking out for in the next few years? We expect Cape Town to emerge as a key hub for tech innovation in South Africa. We’re also watching the rise of homegrown e-hailing platforms expanding across Africa. And of course, AI is set to transform the transport industry even further; especially in areas like route optimisation, driver allocation, and operational efficiency.

Triple S: The simplest business plan ever

The simplest business plan ever

By Juanita Vorster Traditional advice guides business owners who feel stuck in some way to review – or create – a business plan as a framework for identifying the cause of feeling stuck. The catch is that a business plan can often be unnecessarily complex or lengthy for a business owner that is in need of quick and practical insights. An existing or template business plan may also be more geared towards funding requirements than the relentless grind of running a business past the initial exciting first few years. Business owners who are feeling stuck or overwhelmed need a simple structure that they can remember and review of the top of their heads. The following structure requires that a business owner reviews the entire business using only three main topics – strategy, sales, systems – and five questions – why, who, what, where, when, and how. For more complex entities, the same three topics and five questions can be used for each distinct business unit. The trick to keep this structure as simple and useful as possible is to stick to the three main topics, and to adapt the specific questions to the unique needs of the business. This flexibility also makes it much easier for business owners to do this review quickly and regularly. Strategy Every business needs a strategy. In the simplest terms, designing a business strategy is deciding where the business is going and how it’s going to get there. Questions to ask during this topic of the business review include: Sales A brilliant business strategy is useless without sales that bring it to profitable life. Questions a business owner can ask themselves when considering the state of sales of the business include: Systems Under the systems topic of this simplified business review, a business owner has to consider the people, processes and technology that enable the business to consistently implement its strategy. After completing this quick review, all that’s left for business owners to do is to create an action plan based on what they discovered during the review, and then do everything they can to make sure that the plan is followed. Running a sustained profitable business might be hard, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Student to entrepreneur: Eight lessons from the first 5 years of business

Delivery tech - Kimberely Taylor potrait

By Kimberley Taylor There was a pivotal moment in my entrepreneurial journey when the tables turned, and I found myself transitioning from the person seeking guidance to the one being sought out for advice, insights, and expertise. Suddenly, people were reaching out to me for guidance on building their own businesses, eager to hear my pitch, or seeking introductions to valuable connections.  It’s a surreal experience, to say the least. And while I’m humbled by the recognition, I’m also acutely aware that I’m far from having all the answers. In fact, I don’t think anyone can truly know it all, nor do I want to. The beauty of entrepreneurship lies in its complexity, its ever-changing landscape, and the constant need for innovation and adaptation. With that in mind, I’d like to share eight key lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey building Loop – lessons that have shaped me, challenged me, and helped me grow both personally and professionally. Assumption error  Too often we assume rather than ask. We assume somebody else is going to solve the problem, or that the solution already exists. But everybody else is assuming the same, leaving plenty of room for solutions and opportunities. This phenomenon is often referred to as “pluralistic ignorance,” where everyone assumes others know something they don’t, resulting in collective inaction.  Curiosity is key to breaking this cycle. Be curious about the problem, the process, the people, and the possibilities. Ask questions, seek feedback, and challenge your own assumptions. Test your assumptions constantly, both about how the world could look and what you believe it should look like. By doing so, you’ll uncover new insights, identify potential blind spots, and create opportunities for innovation and growth. In my experience, assumptions can be particularly damaging when they’re based on limited information or biases. For instance, assuming a particular market trend will continue without verifying the data can lead to misguided decisions. By staying curious and testing assumptions, you can avoid these pitfalls and make more informed decisions. Try on new things  As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned to give myself permission to try on new things – almost like stepping into a character. When I’m inspired by someone’s confidence, leadership style, or approach to problem-solving, I allow myself to “try it on” for myself. It’s about experimenting with different personas, styles, and approaches to see what works best for me and my business. By doing so, I’m able to tap into new strengths, build confidence, and develop a more adaptable mindset. This process of trying on new things is essential for entrepreneurs, who must be willing to evolve and adapt constantly. It’s not about being a chameleon or pretending to be someone you’re not; it’s about being open to new experiences, learning from others, and finding what works best for you and your business. Whether it’s trying a new communication style, taking on a new role, or exploring a new market, the ability to try on new things can help you stay agile, innovative, and ahead of the curve. By embracing this mindset, I’ve been able to: Build in boiler rooms, not boardrooms In business you need to get your hands dirty. We can’t only theoretically conceptualise solutions to business problems in boardrooms. We need to get into the boiler room to understand what the actual problem is we’re trying to solve.  When I first started the business, I took every opportunity to learn from the person whose problem I was trying to solve. This looked like getting into the delivery vehicle with the driver, going on their route, asking questions about how they approach their day, why they do it a certain way, what they find challenging, and it was immensely useful in understanding the actual problem we’re looking to solve, rather than a theoretical assumption.  I also believe we need to feel the problem. When we have empathy with the person whose business challenge we’re trying to solve, we’re better able to understand the nuances and complexity and thus more likely to solve in an effective and relevant way. So, what? In my experience, entrepreneurs are innately curious. We’ve only got to look at children to know that’s true for all of us – they’re naturally inquisitive, always asking questions, and seeking to learn. As entrepreneurs, we need to tap into that same curiosity and ask questions that challenge our assumptions and push us beyond our comfort zones. One of the most powerful questions we can ask is “so what?” “So what?” is a question that prompts us to think further, to think beyond the obvious, and to explore the implications of our ideas and actions. It’s a question that encourages us to dig deeper, to seek connections, and to consider the potential consequences of our decisions. By asking “so what?” repeatedly, we can uncover new insights, identify potential opportunities, and develop a more nuanced understanding of our business and the world around us. For example, when analysing customer feedback, asking “so what?” can help us identify patterns and areas for improvement that might not be immediately apparent. When evaluating market trends, asking “so what?” can help us understand the potential implications for our business and identify opportunities for growth. Be the HGB HGB is for “hot girl or guy at the bar”. Hear me out on this one. It’s about attracting, not hard selling. In business, that means ensuring your product can sell itself (attracting) because the features and functionality are appealing to the potential customer as it solves a specific business problem. When your product is the hot girl or guy at the bar, it doesn’t shout “look at me, buy me a drink” but rather it carries itself in a way that others find interesting and appealing. Think of it like this: when you’re at a bar and you see someone who catches your eye, you don’t need to be sold on them. You’re drawn to them because of their confidence, charisma, and authenticity. That’s what we want