LEADERSHIP
narrative
CHANGING THE
Following on from the successful Woman of Stature Awards held in South Africa, the first Woman of Stature Global Awards that took place in May was a showcase of excellence among women across a range of industries. Meetings speaks with the organisers and winners to learn why the awards are so significant.
T
he Woman of Stature (WOS) Awards have undergone a major evolution to get to where they are today. Since the early 2000s, the event has taken place in a number of cities, under several different names, to become what is now a globally hosted event. The awards and its affiliated Woman Rise Programmes are run under the auspices of the non-profit WOS Foundation. The foundation was created to help address some of the socio-economic challenges that are prevalent among women, while the WOS Network ensures there is a company structure in place. As the brainchild of businesswoman Charlotte du Plessis, also the CEO of WOS, the awards were born from the need for Charlotte to find an outlet after sadly losing her mother to cancer. She decided to honour her mother and channel her efforts into building the means to support those who were fighting cancer. “WOS has come from humble beginnings but, being a woman with determination, dedication and passion, I have nurtured my vision and have never given up on my dream. It is my Charul Jaitly, who was also the purpose to inspire others Woman in Technology category to do the same. WOS has winner, was named as the blossomed into a wellfirst overall winner of the WOS respected and credible Global Awards
organisation that empowers and enables women to live on purpose,” says Charlotte.
WOS AWARDS SA The annual WOS Awards form a pivotal part of the WOS Community Impact Model, with the awards being designed specifically with the intention of feeding back into and nurturing the community. As part of its ethos, the organisers of the WOS Awards believe strongly in recognition amplifying credibility and inspiration, and that “excellence and quality impact need to be formally recognised”. WOS also supports mentorship and leadership development initiatives, and actively encourages its WOS Awards winners to empower other women within their network and within the WOS Foundation in particular. “The WOS Awards recognise women who are not necessarily members of WOS but have made such an impact in their communities that the general public has found them worthy enough to be recognised. Recognition stimulates growth and activity, and what these awards have done for so many ladies is unbelievable. I have seen the growth in businesses and in each person being involved in the awards,” comments Angelique Smith, cofounder of Event Synthesis and recent winner at the WOS Global Awards in the Tourism category. The WOS Awards, says Angelique, provide a platform that gives women across a multitude of industries a voice to keep doing what they do so well. The WOS Foundation, she adds, pushes one to be better and do their very best. Angelique is upbeat about her experience with the women who were nominees, finalists and winners, noting
14 • MEETINGS l MAY/JUNE 2022 www.theplanner.guru
