Top Women Business Unusual Podcast

Ever wondered what’s different about successful people? Business, policy and society are interwoven… and the future always allows us to see things differently. What sort of life do we really want? A disrupter is always looking at things from a different perspective. Let’s take a journey away from short termism and start looking at a better future. Meet the interesting people empowering women in Africa – and the way we work, think and live.

Monthly English South Africa Business · Business

37 Episodes

1 – 20

Building safer communities: Honourable Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane

Honourable Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane is a passionate advocate for eradicating gender-based violence and caring for victims. Honourable Nkosi-Malobane is a seasoned lawmaker who goes beyond her primary mandate in order to actively address one of the biggest challenges that South African society faces. One of the initiatives she has driven is…

22 Mar 2022 45 min

“Strong women have the chance to make the change they need in the mining industry”

“Strong women have the chance to make the change they need in the mining industry” - Impala Platinum (Implats) leading women weigh in The mining industry has long been one of South Africa's largest sectors, but women are still a minority in its workforce. Impala Platinum (Implats) is one of…

12 Oct 2021 52 min

“Digital Training Empowers Women” - Meet Mariana Santos, founder of Chicas Poderosas

Mariana Santos from Lisbon wants to change the world, and is working on it right now. She founded Chicas Poderosas, a non-profit organisation that aims to bring more women into technology. The organisation was founded in Latin America, back in 2013 while she was an ICFJ fellow. Chicas Poderosas is…

28 Sep 2021 53 min

Are you experiencing Tangible Value Impact through Tech? – meet Mushfiqoh Samodien, Director at Aspire Solutions

Business Director at Aspire Solutions, Mushfiqoh Samodien, is celebrated for her passion for South African businesses, out-the-box thinking, and her incredible keynote speaking capabilities. As the recipient of the 2020 Standard Bank Top Women Award, in the ‘Top Woman in Tech’ category, Mushfiqoh continues to aim higher in her field…

21 Sep 2021 42 min

Is your content making an impact? Aisha Baker, “The Accidental Entrepreneur”

Founder and Owner of Baked Online, Aisha Baker-Parnell is an award-winning digital content creator and entrepreneur with a flair for all things beauty, fashion and lifestyle. One of South Africa’s most beloved style icons and businesswomen, Aisha is a remarkable example of the results that can come from utilising social…

13 Sep 2021 48 min

“The liberation of women needs to be a global movement!”– Sodfa Daaji, Campaign Coordinator Nala Feminist Collective

Having faced tradegy as a teenage girl, today Sodfa Daaji is a remarkable Women's Rights Advocate, who is passionate about Feminist Jurisprudence. Currently, Sodfa is the Campaign Coordinator for the Nala Feminist Collective – guided by the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto targeting the political, digital and offline spaces -…

7 Sep 2021 42 min

Rolene Strauss inspires women in SA: “Self-confidence is key to personal growth”

Rolene Strauss’s life, since winning Miss SA and being crowned Miss World in 2014, has been one of total transformation. A leading woman in many spheres, Rolene’s initial passion was Medicine, which she studied before getting married and becoming a mother. For Rolene, family comes first, thus, she understands the…

14 Jun 2021 39 min

Together we build it - Extremely Together Hajer Sharief

Together we build it - Extremely Together Hajer Sharief on democracy and youth empowerment Hajer Sharief, co-founder of the Together We Build it NGO in Libya and an Extremely Together Young Leader of the Kofi Annan Foundation, is known for playing a key role in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. An…

18 May 2021 41 min

Women Need More Access! - Dr. Vera Songwe highlights economic harmony & gender peace goals

Born in Kenya, Dr. Vera Songwe is a highly regarded economist and banking executive, with a long history of providing policy advice on development and a wealth of experience in delivering development results for Africa, as well as a demonstrated strong and clear strategic vision for the continent. Vera took…

18 May 2021 47 min

‘We are human after all’ - Prof Shirley Zinn discusses growth, generosity & how to live a purposeful life

Born and raised in the Cape Flats area, Professor Shirley faced many challenges, but defied all odds, obtaining an M.Ed from the University of the Western Cape, and eventually completing a PhD at Harvard University. She successfully transitioned into the HR space, working as the Group Executive for HR at…

19 Apr 2021 1 hr 06 min

Visualising success and security: a talk on cybertech and youth empowerment with Anna Collard

Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa, stepped into the Cyber Security and Tech space merely by ‘coincidence’, as she puts it. If anything, she is the perfect example of the saying ‘If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will…

18 Feb 2021 50 min

Andrea Böhmert Co-Managing Partner at Knife Capital

Co-Managing Partner at Knife Capital, Cape Town, Andrea Böhmert, is passionate about planning how to strategically and successfully scale businesses, and meeting the entrepreneurs responsible for building them. She is actively involved in numerous initiatives aiming to accelerate the African entrepreneurial ecosystem, and is a member of The Institute of…

30 Nov 2020 1 hr 01 min

How organisations can better manage emerging cultural transitions - Jasmin Pillay

Jasmin Pillay talks on how organisations can better manage emerging cultural transitions alongside spontaneous digital disruption HR Director of Microsoft South Africa, Jasmin Pillay, is a strong advocate for taking a programmatic approach to cultivating organisations that are seeking out and amplifying the potential of their individual employees. She believes…

16 Nov 2020 59 min

Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer at MTN unpacks her journey and her vision

Fasten your seat belts! This is a powerful conversation! Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer at MTN unpacks her journey and her vision Last week Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher spoke to award-winning Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer at MTN, Yolanda Cuba. Since winning the Top Empowerment Business Woman of…

9 Nov 2020 1 hr 10 min

Transforming Lives and Communities - Dr Snowy Khoza

In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, speaks to multiple award winner Dr Snowy Khoza, Group CEO of Bigen Africa and renowned for driving business growth in the infrastructure development sector. Born into a family which suffered extreme hardship, Dr Khoza has become one of…

13 Oct 2020 58 min

Leanne Manas on the secrets of being a successful journalist and the importance of being heard

Originally shy and introverted, Leanne Manas found a voice and a dream. As one of South Africa’s most prominent journalists and news anchors, she certainly found her way. What sets Leanne apart from many others who do what she does is her steadfast belief in what she’s there to do…

18 Sep 2020 41 min

The importance of staying in your lane with Becky Motumo

In this week’s Top Women podcast, Topco Media Director, Karla Fletcher, sits down with Becky Motumo − Sports Talent & Brand Manager for Caster Semenya and Carol Tshabalala. Becky is also a radio personality and fitness model who believes whole-heartedly in empowering young South African girls and pointing them in…

14 Sep 2020 33 min

The benefits of being audacious and taking risks with Tara Fela-Durotoye

Tara Fela-Durotoye is an entrepreneurial powerhouse. But more than that, she is real. As a beauty entrepreneur, lawyer and founder of House of Tara, she has received multiple national and international awards for her contribution to the industry and active role in entrepreneurship and empowerment among women. Although Tara is…

7 Sep 2020 1 hour

Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute’s Jayshree Naidoo on entrepreneurship and choosing your own path

In this week’s Topco Business Unusual podcast, Karla Fletcher sits down with Jayshree Naidoo − CEO of YiEDi. According to Jayshree the output of entrepreneurship is innovation. In terms of entrepreneurship, Jayshree knows what she’s talking about. As a technical expert in helping entrepreneurs, Jayshree and her company focus on…

24 Aug 2020 1 hr 05 min

Janine Ahlers on looking inwards and addressing the misconceptions around coaching

When it comes to coaching − both personal and professional − there is often a massive misconception around how it’s done and what the goal is. What generally comes to mind is sitting down with someone and being given a set of instructions on how to do things. For this…

24 Aug 2020 1 hr 07 min