Women in business going places

MENTORING and commercial exposure are some of the benefits winners and finalists of the Businesswomen's Association (BWA) Regional Business Achiever awards receive.

For example this year six women were selected by the Nelson Mandela Bay branch of the BWA to participate in the Abafazi incubation programme.

Abafazi aims to empower this group of women to make a difference in South Africa as entrepreneurs and to take advantage of business opportunities.

Tradelane Training and Development owner Betsy Ings, a former BWA chairwoman, facilitates the programme, which is run by Coca-Cola Fortune. The project, which started in September, consists of three phases: growth assessment, strategy development and structured coaching.

The BWA group members are:

• Nelson Mandela Metropole Community Chest CEO Beulah Lumkwana;
• Health Plate CEO Natasha Willis;
• Reach for a Dream Foundation branch manager Inge Human;
• Stars in Transition business owner Marina Doms;
• Media Workshop owner Denise Roodt;
• Stanley-on-Bain business partner of commercial property Ana de Beer.

The winners of next year's awards can also look forward to the possibility of enriching their business acumen through programmes like Abafazi.