The Businesswomen's Association of South Africa (BWASA), in conjunction with headline sponsor Sasol, has announced the winners of the 37th annual Businesswoman of the Year Awards.The winners were announced at a prestigious gala event on Thursday, which was attended by over 500 leaders in business and government at the Sandton Convention Centre. The awards recognise South African women who excel in various sectors of the economy and lead with integrity, excellence and humility.
BWASA National President, Farzanah Mall, says the calibre of people nominated in the various categories was strong, making it a challenging task for the judges to choose the winners. 'We believe that the women honoured today are exceptional leaders who epitomise the type of leadership we require to take this country forward.'
Entrepreneur category winner: Johanna Mukoki is Group CEO of Travel with Flair, which she co-founded 20 years ago with two partners. The business has grown from three employees and one office in Pretoria to more than 700 employees nationally. Past accolades include Most Influential Woman in Business and Government in Tourism; Ernst & Young Emerging World Entrepreneur of the Year and Africa's Most Influential Women in Business. In addition, she received an Exceptional Commitment Award from the ASATA Diners Club. She is the first African to serve on the Global Tourism Board - Association of Corporate Travel Executives - where she represents the Middle East and Africa.
Johanna is vice president of the ASATA Board and sits on the Salvation Army board where she assists with fundraising for their children shelters. She is a qualified chartered accountant with a BCom degree from Rhodes University.