LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP narrativeCHANGING 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.

The 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 purpose to inspire others to do the same. WOS has blossomed into a wellrespected and credible organisation that empowers and enables women to live on purpose,” says Charlotte.

Charul Jaitly, who was also the Woman in Technology category winner, was named as the first overall winner of the WOS Global Awards 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

that the journey has been remarkably rewarding and positive.

Khanyisile Tshabalala, founder of Unqobile, a research consultancy and winner of the Woman in Mining WOS Awards prize, says her goal, as a category winner, is to equip young women across South Africa with the developmental skills necessary in order to empower and assist them in leading successful lives.

“It will also give these women the tools and resources to understand that they should and will have the opportunities that they lack, and give women an opportunity to sustain and promote governance in their business,” she notes.

This year, Rehema Isa was the overall winner of the 2022 WOS Awards, as well as the category winner for Entrepreneur of the Year.

“Leadership discussions focus on pointing out and interacting with individual leadership identities. This is a whole tribe acting as change agents with humility and passion. You meet a nominee or winner of WOS and you know you are interacting with a special person who leads by example and whose work speaks for them before they have even walked through the door,” says Rehema. WOS GLOBAL AWARDS

The WOS Global Awards, supported by Hadarat Global (see sidebar), was held on 13 May 2022 at the Dusit Thani Hotel located at the Dubai Trade Centre. The event was attended by key local figureheads as well as other international VIP guests.

The WOS Global Awards will run annually in Dubai and celebrate women in 10 categories namely: Entrepreneur of the Year, Woman in Construction, Woman in Coaching and Mentoring, Woman in Education, Woman in Engineering, Woman in Healthcare, Woman in Media, Woman in Oil and Gas, Woman in Technology, and Woman in Tourism (Hospitality). The localised South African WOS Awards recognise women in the same categories.

Charul Jaitly, who was also the Woman in Technology category winner, was named as the first overall winner of the WOS Global Awards. Charul is noted as being a serial entrepreneur who “endorses fearless and purposeful leadership and [is] an unwavering optimist”. She is a founder and managing partner of tech company Mātiti Group, which uses an array of solutions to help organisations reach their full potential.

“Excellence deserves formal recognition, and that is exactly what took place in Dubai. As the founder and CEO of the WOS brand, the Foundation and WOS Awards, I could not have been prouder to stand on a global stage. I am in awe of these remarkable women who were each honoured for the impact they are making in their respective countries Woman of Stature Awards South Africa and internationally. The WOS Award is earned and not given,” category winners remarked Charlotte, following the announcement of the winners of the WOS Global Awards. Charlotte also noted that each woman awarded has completed a journey from November 2021. “This is a test of their commitment and endurance, to finish what they started. A true test of character and exactly what we look for in a woman of stature,” she enthuses. WHO IS HADARAT GLOBAL? Hadarat Global is based in the Middle East, with footprints in Africa and Eastern Europe. Dr Ahmed Al Shemeili, founding member and CEO, is an official representative of the UAE in the EU Regional Secretariat of Centres of Excellence for the CBRN Emergencies and a recipient of many global awards in his field of expertise and leadership. “This being the first every WOS Global Award event is a historical moment thanks to Dr Hawa Charfaray, chief group executive, Hadarat Global, who selected the WOS Foundation as the Hadarat Global Awards Partner because of the strict, ethical awards adjudication and audited process. The partnership takes the WOS brand global,” Charlotte concludes. For more information about Hadarat Global, visit hadaratglobal.com.

Woman of Stature Global Awards category winners