Standard Bank Top Women Conference 2025 Building Africa’s Future Together
The Standard Bank Top Women Conference has long been a catalyst for change, a platform where women leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators come together to shape Africa’s growth story. The 2025 edition, held under the theme ‘Her Power, Africa’s Future’, lived up to that reputation, delivering two days of powerful conversations on leadership, resilience, technology and empowerment.
Day One: Setting the Tone
Day One set the stage with a call for intentional leadership and inclusive growth. Speakers highlighted that leadership is no longer about titles, but about creating environments of psychological safety, empathy, and trust where women and all employees can thrive.
The keynote by Hon. Mmapaseka Letsike, Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, underscored the role of policy in transformation. “The advancement of women is not a side issue — it is central to the inclusive growth and social cohesion we want to see in South Africa,” she said. Her message to business leaders was clear: dismantle barriers, build ecosystems of support and ensure no one is left behind.
Naledzani Mosomane, Head: Enterprise and Supplier Development, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking, reinforced this with a business perspective: “Sustainable growth happens when we stop working in silos and start building ecosystems of support that allow women to scale.”
Panels showcased women’s leadership across industries:
- In mining, speakers encouraged entrepreneurs to tap procurement opportunities and training academies to build capacity.
- In aviation, leaders acknowledged the cost of losing female pilots due to inflexible systems, with new maternity and scheduling policies now reshaping culture.
- In global business services, the focus was on resilience, future-ready skills and protecting women from gender-based violence.
A memorable contribution came from Elani van der Laan, Head: Legal & Accounting Sector, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking, SA, who reminded delegates: “Compliance is a passport — it gets you into the room. But what keeps you there is performance, impact and trust.”
Health and well-being were also central. From reminders that “the health of a woman is the health of a nation” to calls for workplace flexibility, the message was clear: sustainable growth cannot be achieved if women’s holistic needs are overlooked.
Day One closed with a strong reminder that Africa’s future depends on inclusive leadership, bold collaboration and the relentless commitment to transformation.
Day Two: Well-Being, Learning and Leverage
Day Two carried the momentum, starting with Jenine Zachar, Head: Value Propositions & Client Experience, Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking. She stressed that well-being is not a break from leadership but a part of it. Her message to leaders: invest in self-care so you can show up with clarity, empathy and resilience.
Zachar also called for men to play a stronger role in gender equity, urging women to raise sons who will become allies. “Investing in women is not just advancing the economy — it’s shaping Africa’s future,” she said.
Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, highlighted education as the foundation of transformation. She pointed out that women now make up more than 60% of enrolments in higher education institutions in South Africa, particularly in STEM fields.
Her challenge was direct: “If we put education at the centre of our growth, we will begin to see real transformation.”
A dynamic panel reframed technology and generative AI not as threats but as tools for inclusion and growth. Entrepreneurs were urged to collaborate with technology rather than compete with it, using automation to free up time for strategy and innovation.
Speakers highlighted that women-owned businesses need ecosystems of partnerships that align values, resources and impact. Digitalisation and AI can unlock growth, but only when combined with mentorship, policy support and collaboration.
The conversation also touched on the future of work, with the World Economic Forum projecting that six in ten workers globally will need reskilling by 2027. For SMEs, the implication is clear: invest in both people and platforms to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.
One of the most engaging sessions was the “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” panel, featuring women leaders across finance and insurance. They discussed policy shifts, capital allocation and mentorship as essential to closing the gender gap in financial access.
Practical insights for SMEs included:
- Using AI for smarter, faster credit applications and risk assessments.
- Embedding compliance and digital training into staff development.
- Reaching rural entrepreneurs through digital platforms available in all 11 official South African languages.
As one panellist noted: “If each business here took just two or three young people into their workspace, imagine the opportunities we could create.”
Beyond the Conference: A Call to Action
Across two days, the message was consistent: while conferences inspire, real progress comes from action. For SMEs and entrepreneurs, the takeaways were clear:
- Build partnerships — growth is stronger when ecosystems work together.
- Invest in skills — education and reskilling unlock competitiveness.
- Leverage technology — use tools that free up capacity for innovation.
- Lead with empathy — well-being and psychological safety drive performance.
As Zachar reminded delegates: “Beyond the conference, there is work to be done.”
The Standard Bank Top Women Conference 2025 was more than an event, it was a rallying call. In 2025 it reaffirmed that inclusive growth is not optional, it is essential. Marking the 20th anniversary of the Standard Bank Top Women magazine, the event celebrated the progress made while acknowledging the work still to be done.
For Africa’s entrepreneurs, the path forward lies in bold leadership, collaborative ecosystems and the courage to harness both education and technology to unlock opportunity.
At Standard Bank, we remain committed to partnering with you to start, manage and grow your business, because when women rise, Africa rises.