The Bold Woman Award winner Morongwe ‘Mo’ Mokone and Refilwe Sebothoma the winner of the Bold Future Award. Picture: Supplied
Morongwe “Mo” Mokone and Refilwe Sebothoma, two pioneering entrepreneurs, have been named the winners of the 2024 Veuve Clicquot Awards.
The award was in the category of Bold Woman and Bold Future Awards, for their exceptional impact on innovation and sustainability.
The event, celebrated at The Forum in Johannesburg on earlier this month, highlights the vibrant and powerful landscape of female entrepreneurship in South Africa and showcases their resilience and strength to conquer substantial challenges.
The two categories aim to recognise and celebrate business women who have consistently achieved significant growth and innovation in their respective industries.
Mokone, the co-founder of Mo’s Crib, a home décor and design company specialising in practical handmade items crafted from recycled and sustainable materials, was honoured with the Bold Woman Award.
The award honours her innovative approach, relentless dedication, and steadfast commitment to sustainability and local job creation, resulting in a substantial impact on her community.
Asked by IOL about the significance of receiving the award and how it will inspire her to continue pushing boundaries, Mokone responded with a bright smile.
“Winning the 2024 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award is an incredible honour and a profound celebration of the challenges I have overcome, it signifies triumph over adversity and stands as a certificate of hope, reaffirming that I am on the right path,’’ she said.
She said the recognition signifies more than personal success and serves as proof of the resilience and determination required to succeed in the entrepreneurial world.
“This award means that my team leaders and I are on the right track, fulfilling our mission of creating a difference in our community and our environment while creating beautiful products and beautiful atmospheres in our clients' homes.
Refilwe Sebothoma is another trailblazing businesswoman whose unwavering commitment to women's empowerment and self-sufficiency has not only transformed her career but also impacted the lives of others.
Sebothoma, founder of Hakem Energies, a company that offers accessible and affordable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to marginalised communities, was bestowed with the Bold Future Award.
She expressed that winning the award provides validation and recognition for the exceptional work that she does.
“As for the work we do at Hakem Energies, it gives us the platform to amplify and accelerate the cause of combating energy poverty in the lives of those in marginalised communities.”
Sebothoma who was on cloud nine expressed that the award has inspired her to keep embracing boldness.
“I want to keep daring to go where people said we could never go, do the things that people said we could never do, and change the lives of ordinary people. Like I always say, one life, one family, and one community at a time,” she said.
IOL