Rhodes’ Professor Lynette Louw was chosen as one of four finalists in the Education and Training category for SA’s Most Influential Women in Business and in Government 2010 (MIW). The grueling selection process started in April this year with over 700 nominations and three different judging panels, each boasting an assortment of expertise and credentials.
Prof Louw was anonymously nominated by someone who felt she made a difference in the lives of others and at the same time is making a positive difference in the competitive world in the public and private sectors. “The fact that I don’t know who nominated me has made the experience very special,” admitted Prof Louw, “I feel honoured, overwhelmed, humbled and grateful.”
The 2010 theme for MIW is “Passion and Attitude is the Key to 2010 and beyond” and the awards recognise the “profound and exceptional contributions these women have made in their various sectors”. The selection process included a thorough assessment of each candidate’s human capital development, development of the awareness of the industry she is in, her contribution towards the success of profitability or sustainability, her promotion of best practice and last but not least, her level of social responsibility.
Louw, as Head of the Rhodes Management Department, is a Professor in Management and is appointed in the Raymond Ackerman Chair of Business Administration. Since she was not familiar with the process or the award she didn’t realise the extent of it. “After being nominated I had to submit a detailed document describing my own characteristics, values and achievements,” she said. All the submissions went through a validation process and then to a first panel of judges.
“As a semi-finalist we were sent through a second panel of judges. This judging panel chose their finalists and each of these finalists had to complete a final filmed interview. The final judging panel used the written submissions and the unedited filmed interviews to select the finalists,” she noted.
When asked what advice she had for any young and upcoming MIW Prof Louw said, “Always be true to yourself – know your capabilities and use them wisely. When opportunity presents itself you need to be committed and dedicated to the task. Even though it may take many hours of hard work, never lose your passion and your love for helping and uplifting those around you.”
What impressed Prof Louw the most about the entire process was the humbleness of all those involved. She also noted that, “You can teach knowledge and skills but you can’t teach attitude and passion. And for me seeing so much passion and such humbleness from the organisers right through to the final winner was an inspiration on its own.”
When asked who her biggest mentor is she answered, without hesitation, that her parents were her biggest mentors. “They taught me values such as honesty, integrity, commitment and dedication. All my studies were done part-time which is the result of them teaching me discipline and character,” she concluded.
As a mature student she crossed the paths of many inspirational professors who took the time to help her. She hopes to be able to do the same for her own students because the personal care she was given helped her get where she is today.