On the 9th of August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Day, a day dedicated to honouring the incredible contributions of women across the nation. At Bidvest Prestige, this day holds special significance, as we proudly boast a workforce of around 23,000 staff members, with over 70% being women. Our company is proud to empower women with more women than men in top, senior, and middle management positions. Being a predominantly female company, we regard Women’s Day very highly and recognise the power and potential of the women who drive our success.
In honour of Women’s Day and Women’s Month, Thabile Ngidi, Bidvest Prestige’s Chief Financial Officer, shared her insights on the importance of investing in women and fostering a culture of women empowerment at Bidvest Prestige. Thabile reflected on the International Women’s Day slogan from March this year, “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”.
“At Bidvest Prestige, investing in women is a priority,” Thabile said. “It’s vital that we as women look out for and empower each other. Surround yourself with women who say your name in the right places, acknowledge your success, and give valuable feedback. We must stop putting each other down and instead make a conscious effort to pull others up the ladder with us.”
Thabile is intentional about empowering her team and creating succession plans. She believes that every woman must be prepared and ready to step into roles above them when needed. Through gentle coaching and mentorship, Thabile ensures that the women around her are ready to rise to the occasion when opportunities come knocking.
“We earn our seat at the table, not in competition with men, but alongside them.” Thabile praised the senior management at Bidvest Prestige for their support in providing women with opportunities to succeed while recognising the importance of their roles outside of work. Thabile is grateful for leaders who have supported her and given her confidence; she believes that is what women need to succeed.
Bidvest Prestige supports a healthy work-life balance and respects family values, which plays an important role in empowering women in the workplace.
Our CEO, Mohammed Moolla, has often expressed his admiration for the women at Bidvest Prestige. He recently stated, “I take my hat off to the strong women I am surrounded by!” His sentiment echoes the respect and appreciation the company has for the women who contribute so much to our organisation. Thabile noted that Mohammed (Bidvest Prestige CEO) is the one who pushes her to ensure she has a good work-life balance. Thabile emphasised that, at Bidvest Prestige, “Women are not treated differently, but they are also not expected to act differently.”
“Women must take care of their mental and physical health; pour into yourself and apply boundaries to yourself.” Thabile’s advice to women aiming to climb the corporate ladder and enhance their careers is to “Starve your distractions, feed your focus.” This mantra is a reminder of the importance of dedication and consistency in achieving professional goals.
Thabile believes that women have too many balls to juggle and this is expected and imposed by society. “Sometimes I believe we have to drop some of the balls to be able to be well-balanced and happy women. We have to make a decision to prioritise what is critically important to us as well.”
As we celebrate Women’s Day, we reflect on the remarkable achievements of the women at Bidvest Prestige. We are committed to continuing our investment in their growth and success, ensuring that they are empowered to lead, inspire, and make a difference. Together, we will accelerate progress and build a future where women and men thrive side by side.