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The Next 30 Women is Director Woman’s editorial watchlist of women to know.
The list and award recognises women whose work, thinking and leadership signal what the next decade will look like. Subscribe for the Next 30 Women list launch.
Latest on DW
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The Women Who Win at Work Don’t Leave Their Careers to Chance
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Career success rarely happens by accident. Building a career with intention through positioning, relationships and strategic decisions is what transforms professional movement into long-term momentum.
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SPECTACLE HUT: Hlamalani Baloyi on Building a 20+ branch optometry empire
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From her roots in Malamulele, Hlamalani has grown Spectacle Hut into a 20+ branch optometry business serving communities often overlooked by premium healthcare providers. Her patient, self-funded approach challenges how healthcare businesses scale in South Africa.
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Why Canva Is Betting On South Africa for Its African Expansion
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Canva’s move into South Africa signals a deeper commitment to the continent and a recognition of its growing creative and entrepreneurial power.
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Year 2: Director Woman strengthens its focus on women shaping Africa’s economic and business landscape.
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Director Woman enters Year 2 with a defined editorial mandate and a renewed commitment to documenting the women shaping Africa’s economic, corporate and innovative future.
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Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025 MTBPS: Stability Promised, Credibility Tested
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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) promises a tighter, more disciplined fiscal path, projecting debt to stabilise at 77.9% of GDP and introducing a lower inflation target of 3%. These are meaningful signals of intent. But with growth still subdued and service delivery under strain, the…
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TotalEnergies Startupper Challenge Winner Sebudisi Mafabatho Turns Plastic Into Roof Tiles
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South African entrepreneur Sebudisi Mafabatho turns plastic waste into durable roofing tiles, proving that ambition, sustainability, and technical expertise can go hand in hand. Her story is a blueprint for young women aiming to build businesses that make a real difference.
After 4 years, Director Woman is relaunching for Year 2 on 13 April 2026 → READ: DW Editor’s Year 2 Address
AT THE HELM
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Sne Ndlela: Designing Systems That Shape Sustainable, Competitive Organisations
Sustainable organisations are built through deliberate system design. Sne Ndlela’s leadership sits at the intersection of transformation, governance and enterprise strategy, where sustainability is treated not as obligation, but as a driver of competitiveness, resilience and long-term value.
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SPECTACLE HUT: Hlamalani Baloyi on Building a 20+ branch optometry empire
From her roots in Malamulele, Hlamalani has grown Spectacle Hut into a 20+ branch optometry business serving communities often overlooked by premium healthcare providers. Her patient, self-funded approach challenges how healthcare businesses scale in South Africa.
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TOPICALS: How Olamide Olowe Turned Skin Struggles into a $10M+ Beauty Empire
Olamide Olowe is, by all accounts, a culture architect. At the helm of Topicals and the newly formed CODB, she’s proving that building for Black and brown consumers isn’t a niche strategy, it’s the start of the future. In doing so, she invites us to rethink: when community is at the centre, innovation follows.
GOOD Finance Women is a webinar series focused on practical, informed conversations about money, markets, and economic decision-making.
It brings together women working across finance, policy and business.
media & marketing
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What the Ami Colé Founder’s Move Teaches Beauty Brands – and the Harsh Cost of Beauty Business in South Africa
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Kay Yarms Left Accounting to Build One of South Africa’s Most Influential Beauty Brands
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How REFY Rode the “Clean-Girl” Wave into a £100m Beauty Business
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What It Takes to Build a Scalable Haircare Brand in South Africa – According to Gail Mabalane
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DW THE PATH → Our new women’s career paths content series. Subscribe for NEW The Path articles
Featured Stories
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Bachuma Tom: Building Early Career Capital – Lessons From the Presidency, Finance and Property
Building a career is not about following a fixed path, but about accumulating the right exposure at the right time. Bachuma Tom’s early career reflects a deliberate approach to navigating complex institutions, developing analytical depth and positioning herself within systems that influence economic participation. Read →
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Noémi Muya: Building a Platform That Redefines Opportunity for Women in Law
For Noémi Muya, building For Women in Law has been an exercise in turning purpose into infrastructure. What began as a mentorship initiative has evolved into a structured platform that delivers professional development, community and visibility for women across the legal sector. By combining principled leadership with commercial sustainability, Muya is creating a model for… Read →
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Gcobisa Cekiso-Mapuma: Consultant Associate Attorney @ KM Attorneys
Admitted attorney Gcobisa Cekiso-Mapuma shares how a career spanning environmental health, occupational safety and law evolved into a multidisciplinary path built around consulting, training and entrepreneurship. Her story reflects a growing movement of professionals redefining success by designing careers that integrate expertise, family life and purpose. Read →
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Nomathamsanqa Mfundisi: Tax Consultant @ Big Four
At 28, Nomathamsanqa Mfundisi has already built a multi dimensional career across accounting, business development, audit and tax within a Big Four environment. Guided by faith, curiosity and a commitment to growth, she is also the founder of Authentically Real, a platform dedicated to equipping young professionals with practical career insight, financial literacy and purpose… Read →
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Remoabetswe Mathobela: Export Analyst @ Volkswagen Group Africa
Export Analyst Remoabetswe Mathobela shares how a career in logistics evolved from freight forwarding foundations into managing complex Sub-Saharan Africa export operations. Her path reflects the discipline, adaptability and strategic thinking required to move vehicles and parts across borders while navigating the realities of global supply chains. Read →
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Nomaswazi Tshabalala: Data Risk Analyst @ Financial Services Institution
A career in data risk has been shaped by curiosity, courage and a willingness to evolve for Nomaswazi Tshabalala. As she balances a demanding role with postgraduate study in artificial intelligence, Tshabalala is not only building expertise at the intersection of data and innovation but also inspiring young professionals to embrace careers that are rarely… Read →
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Awunli Eghosasere: Director of Finance @ CONGOs, Founder HapiWify Solutions
After a five-year career pause, Awunli Eghosasere returned stronger than ever – Director of Finance @ CONGOs and founder of HapiWify Solutions, she empowers women through workshops, writing, and strategic leadership, showing how career pivots can become launchpads for influence and impact. Read →
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Flavia Motsisi: Why walking away from institutional power was the smartest business decision she made
An International Emmy-nominated producer and award-winning entrepreneur, Flavia Motsisi has moved from broadcast leadership into full ownership across media, fashion and youth mentorship. Her work offers practical insight into building values-driven businesses, redefining power and leading with conviction beyond institutional validation. Read →
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Ntombizodwa Hlatshwayo: Executive Support, People & Culture @ Standard Bank
Ntombizodwa Hlatshwayo is building accelerated exposure to executive leadership while completing her Master’s in Human Resources Management. Her path reflects a deliberate focus on depth, learning and long-term career readiness in HR. Read →
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Rethabile Joala: Digital Media Content Reporter @ CNBC Africa
Rethabile Joala works at the intersection of business journalism and human storytelling. Her path reflects a commitment to translating complex information into accessible, people-centred narratives across digital platforms. Read →
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SPECTACLE HUT: Hlamalani Baloyi on Building a 20+ branch optometry empire
From her roots in Malamulele, Hlamalani has grown Spectacle Hut into a 20+ branch optometry business serving communities often overlooked by premium healthcare providers. Her patient, self-funded approach challenges how healthcare businesses scale in South Africa. Read →
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NEWS BRIEFLY
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Why Canva Is Betting On South Africa for Its African Expansion
Canva’s move into South Africa signals a deeper commitment to the continent and a recognition of its growing creative and entrepreneurial power.
By
-
Year 2: Director Woman strengthens its focus on women shaping Africa’s economic and business landscape.
Director Woman enters Year 2 with a defined editorial mandate and a renewed commitment to documenting the women shaping Africa’s economic, corporate and innovative future.
By
-
TotalEnergies Startupper Challenge Winner Sebudisi Mafabatho Turns Plastic Into Roof Tiles
South African entrepreneur Sebudisi Mafabatho turns plastic waste into durable roofing tiles, proving that ambition, sustainability, and technical expertise can go hand in hand. Her…
By
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How UK Startup Plantmade’s Projected £11m Revenue Success Ended in Administration
Plantmade’s story reflects a hard truth in business – growth attracts attention, but profit secures longevity. The brand continues, yet its founder’s exit is a…
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Capitec and Stub Join Forces to Simplify Accounting for South African Entrepreneurs
Capitec Bank has teamed up with accounting software startup Stub, letting small business owners link personal and business accounts for real-time insights into cash flow,…
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The South African Engineer Turning Window Blinds into Solar Power Plants
Lisa Von Benecke, founder of LC Dynamics, is turning homes into clean energy hubs with her smart solar PV window blinds. Her story shows how…
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What It Takes to Build a Scalable Haircare Brand in South Africa – According to Gail Mabalane
Gail Mabalane turned personal experience into business strength with Ethnogenics. Her focus on premium, locally-owned hair care and strategic retail partnerships proves that the next…
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