MARGARET HIRSCH, Chief Operations Executive of the Hirsch Group and a champion for women’s empowerment, received the award for the most Influential Woman In Wholesale and Retail for the African Continent, and was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award in her category in the Titans Most Influential Women in Business and Government awards ceremony that took place at the Gallagher Estates Convention Centre in Gauteng recently. This is the 14th top business award won by Margaret over the last 4 Years.
Dr. Richard Maponya, Chairman of the Maponya Group, won the award for the Titans Most Influential Man in Wholesale and Retail for the Continent – and he was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award in the same category.
The Awards ceremony was hosted by CEO Global. Regional events were held in eight countries throughout the African Continent, leading up to the Continental Gala Dinner, where the winners for the whole Continent were announced.
Commenting on the calibre of the finalists at the Awards Evening, Chief Executive Officer of CEO Global, Annelize Wepener said “We have amazing talent on this continent. The women selected as our finalists have overcome profound leadership challenges and are united in effecting change, and creating opportunities for those around them.”
Margaret inspires aspiring business women to never give up on their dreams – something that she has never done. Having won so many awards herself, she has seen the effect it has had on her company – and herself personally. “I would like to see this happening to other women in business.” Margaret explained when she decided to launch the ‘Margaret Hirsch Woman in Business of the Year Award’ in each area in which Hirsch’s operates throughout South Africa. “As women, we tend not to be assertive enough. There are so many fantastic women out there who are not coming forward to be acknowledged for their contribution to the business world, and I would like to encourage them to enter the competition or nominate a friend or business owner who they would like to be recognized for this award and if you think you are a successful business woman don’t be too shy to enter yourself!” Margaret explained.
She regularly visits school girls throughout South Africa to tell them about the Girls with Dignity project, initiated by Sue Barnes in KZN. “Many South Africans have no idea that there is a large percentage of the school going population that only attends school for three weeks out of every month, because they have their periods and cannot afford the necessary sanitary protection to cope.” She explained. Margaret is determined to help these girls. Travelling to many rural areas she does talks and tells them that in life they will always have a choice, they can choose to stay at home or choose to go to school and eventually be successful in life. Margaret hands out panty packs to the girls, each pack contains 1 panty and 3 sanitary pads. “The average school attendance has now increased from 40% to 80%, better attendance, better self-esteem” Margaret said.
Later this week she will be travelling to Istanbul in Turkey for an International Entrepreneurial challenge, where she will be representing the Cape Chamber of Commerce. She will be joined by two other Cape Town Business Women, Shona McDonald who runs a company making wheelchairs for children and Wendy Kemp, the owner of a Credit Control company. The three women were nominated and received awards from the Chamber in recognition for their pioneering work in business.
The International Entrepreneurial Challenge for women was initiated by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and takes place in a different Capital city around the globe every year. The competition will be judged by the Challenges previous winners.
AWARDS WON BY MARGARET.
- South Africa’s Most Influential Woman in Business and Government in the retail and wholesale sector in 2011 – in an annual competition run by the CEO Magazine.
- Business Woman’s Association of South Africa (BWASA)’s Business Woman of the Year (Entrepreneur) 2012. This competition started 34 years ago (co-incidentally when the Hirsch’s opened their first branch)
- Lady ROCCI (Roodepoort Chamber of Commerce) Gold Award for Business Woman of the Year, 2012. – For her achievements as business woman and entrepreneur.
- In 2013 she received the Business Excellence Award from the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative and Captains of Industry Forum. The Ekurhuleni Business Initiative (EBI).
- Business Excellence Award was presented to Margaret for her positive attitude towards economic Development.
- In August 2013 at the 10th ANNUAL Top Women Awards evening – held to recognize outstanding leadership from organizations that have shaped women’s roles within the private and public sector in South Africa, Hirsch’s were the proud recipients of two of these awards. Best Women Empowered Community Programme and the Entrepreneur of 2013 Award which was won by Margaret.
- On September 4th Margaret received the SANLAM 2013 Life Time Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship. “This award serves as recognition for those entrepreneurs who have continually contributed towards the development and growth of South African entrepreneurship,” said Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
- In 2014, Margaret was given the great honour of being selected to be inducted into the Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame (2014) for countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
- Nominee for Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government 2015
- Country Winner in Wholesale and Retail sector of CEO Global’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government Award.
- Lifetime Achiever in Wholesale and Retail sector of CEO Global’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government Award.
- Regional Winner in Wholesale and Retail sector of CEO Global’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government Award.
Margaret Hirsch has become a sought after motivational speaker and is a champion of women’s Empowerment