Call to groom more black women… NEF CEO tells all

• Published: August 22
• Author: Admin

Ther’s is still a dire need for more black women to hold key positions in business.National Empowerment Fund Chief Executive Philisiwe Buthelezi says there’s still hope that the country is well positioned to grow more black women of substance in the business sector.

She spoke to Sowetan just a day after she received the award as Businesswoman of the Year,which was presented by the Business Women’s Association of South Africa in partnership with Nedbank.

Buthelezi is chair-person of construction company, Group Five and seats on the boards of Mvelaphanda Resources and Sanlam.She is the former head of the black economic empowerment unit in The Department on Trade and Industry and played a role in developing the government’s Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Strategy.She said it was important that women also participated in the manifestation of policies to support women on their various platforms.

“It is difficult to help someone who doed not have a goal of where they want to be in life” she said.

Buthelezi has worked for a French investment bank in London, was responsible for risk management control at the South African Reserve Bank and worked in the treasury division at Standard Bank Corporate and Merchant Bank. She holds among other qualifications, an MBA. She enjoys shopping and goes to the gym to strike a balance betwwen her work and her wellbeing.
Buthelezi believes she has been given an opportunity by many others and that a spirit of mentorship is important among women in business.