The 11th annual Santam Women of the Future Awards, in association with FAIRLADY and TRUELOVE magazines, concluded on a high note on Friday, 3 October, at The Venue at the Houghton Hotel. Hosted by radio personality Khutso Theledi, the ceremony gathered a distinguished audience of business leaders, creatives, and changemakers who came together to celebrate the women shaping South Africa’s entrepreneurial future.
The event brimmed with inspiration and elegance. Guests such as Nonkululeko Gobodo, Catherine Constantinides, Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, Judi Nwokedi, Sonia Booth, and former Miss South Africas Ndavi Nokeri and Tatum Keshwar joined in applauding a new class of women visionaries, each one proving that purpose and perseverance can coexist beautifully in business.
At Tinar, we’ve had the privilege of profiling each of these remarkable winners in their respective fields. What unites them all, beyond their industries and achievements is a shared commitment to progress, courage, and community.
Honouring the 2025 Winners
This year’s winners embody the spirit of innovation and resilience that the Santam Women of the Future Awards have championed for over a decade.
- Woman of the Future: Shannon Dougall, SKIN functional
Shannon Dougall turned personal struggle into scientific discovery, launching a skincare brand built on transparency, education, and efficacy. Her company, SKIN functional, has become a trusted name for results-driven skincare, earning her the 2025 Woman of the Future Award. “Winning,” Dougall said, “highlights that anything is possible with hard work and determination.” - Social Entrepreneur and Readers’ Choice: Caroline Peters, The Callas Foundation
A survivor turned advocate, Caroline Peters channels her lived experience into a mission-driven organisation that empowers women and mentors boys toward gender equity. The Callas Foundation has redefined community-based feminist work, addressing gender-based violence, justice, and food insecurity. Her dual win Social Entrepreneur and Readers’ Choice is both recognition and rallying cry. - Rising Star: Xolile Mabuza, Tendalo Trading
From recovery to reinvention, Xolile Mabuza transformed adversity into artistry. After surviving a stroke, she built Tendalo Trading, a sustainable fashion brand turning discarded rubber into statement bags. With a new factory and e-commerce expansion underway, her win as Rising Star mirrors her own words: “It solidifies my foundation for growth, giving other young women something to look at, stand on and use to believe in their own dreams.” - Santam Icon Award: Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe, Quadcare
For the first time, Santam introduced the Icon Award, honouring a previous winner whose influence has extended far beyond her own enterprise. The 2025 recipient, Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe, continues to revolutionise accessible healthcare through Quadcare, while advocating for equity and inclusion in medical spaces.
An Awards Programme that Has Become a Movement
Judged by an esteemed panel including Professor Thuli Madonsela, Norah Sehunoe, Dawn Nathan-Jones, Boitumelo Ntsoane, Suzy Brokensha, and Mbali Soga, this year’s selection process underscored the high calibre of South Africa’s women entrepreneurs. The diversity of expertise, from social justice to corporate leadership, ensured that every conversation in the judging room went deeper than metrics; it centered on impact, integrity, and sustainability.
For over a decade, Santam has refined the language of empowerment through this programme. Its insight into the first 1,000 days of business, the most vulnerable period for any start-up has helped shape how women-led enterprises are nurtured and sustained in South Africa. As Norah Sehunoe, Acting COO of Santam, shared:
“We are deeply committed to shaping a future where women are not only present in leadership spaces but thriving, too. These awards serve as both a celebration and a catalyst, encouraging women of all backgrounds to pursue leadership with confidence and purpose.”
A Testament to Vision and Tenacity
Year after year, the Santam Women of the Future Awards remind us that women are not simply participating in South Africa’s economic story — they are writing it. From science and sustainability to social justice and self-reinvention, the 2025 winners expand what leadership can look like.
As FAIRLADY Editor-in-Chief Suzy Brokensha noted, “These are women who have created phenomenally successful businesses in a very volatile economy. To succeed, you need vision and focus and, more than anything, huge courage. I think our winners are extraordinary.”
And TRUELOVE Editor-in-Chief Mbali Soga echoed that sentiment:
“The 2025 finalists set a new benchmark, proving that success is not only measured in business growth but also in innovation, social impact and the ability to uplift communities.”
A Toast to the Future
This year’s ceremony was a living reminder of what’s possible when women lead with intention. Tinar proudly congratulates all the winners, finalists, judges, and organisers for another exceptional year of storytelling and impact.
As the applause fades and new ambitions rise, we celebrate not only the women who stood on stage but the countless others inspired to start, rebuild, or scale their own dreams.
May Santam, FAIRLADY, and TRUELOVE continue to champion this vital work, nurturing the next generation of founders and visionaries. Here’s to the women of the future and to many more years of recognising them.
