30 March 2004
Inspirational Women at Work has been identified by the International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) as an important vehicle to showcase - to South Africans and the rest of the world - that South African women are key brand ambassadors who are motivating other women to succeed in their lives.
The book, and its Afrikaans version, Inspirerende Vroue aan die Werk, focuses on the new face of leadership in the country - on the empowerment of women in business and the role that women can play in making South African business globally competitive.
International Marketing Council CEO Yvonne Johnston believes that South African women make a vital contribution towards nation building.
"It is their tenacity, caring strength, and determination to succeed in raising families, delivering in their professions and being committed to success that make this country better in many ways", Johnston said.
"Inspirational Women at Work is an extraordinary new book that will inspire, inform, motivate, empower and make a difference to South African women."
The book consists of 12 chapters, with subjects ranging from leadership in business to social responsibility, health, entrepreneurship, perseverance and image management.
It tells the stories of 52 dynamic South African women - their lives, the challenges they faced in life and business, and how they are making a difference in the lives of other women and to South Africa as a whole. The publication aims to:
- Inspire, motivate, empower and inform South African women.
- Help make a positive difference to the lives of women in South Africa.
- Give a voice to the achieving women and role models of the country.
- Celebrate achievement and inspire others to act.
- Show how other women, too, can make a difference in their own work environment and in the country.
Among these are National Treasury Director-General and incoming Transnet CEO Maria Ramos; World Bank human development MD Mamphela Rampele; former anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman; firebrand politician Patricia de Lille; TV personality Felicia Mabuza-Suttle; SA Tourism CEO Cheryl Carolus; singers Miriam Makeba and Yvonne Chaka-Chaka; IMC Chairperson Wendy Luhabe; Johnnic Telecommunications Executive Director Irene Charnley; Pam Golding Properties Chairperson Pam Golding; and Mmakau Mining CEO Bridgitte Radebe.
Oprah Winfrey writes the main foreword to the book, with supporting forewords by Graca Machel, Albertina Sisulu, Irene Charnley and Yvonne Johnston.
The publication is endorsed by the IMC, the South African Institute of Management, the Business Women's Association and Proudly South African.
Inspirational Women at Work is edited by Lisel Erasmus-Kritzinger, the author of four business communication books, supported by an editorial team comprising Kaamini Reddy (International Marketing Council), Sinnah Ramakhula (National Economic Education Trust), Annemarie Mostert (Rotary International), Marinda Bastiaans (Department of Education), Angela Bruwer (Absa Group) and Lindiwe Sadza (International Women's Forum).
All the contributors to the book have agreed to donate their fees to the Miriam Makeba Home for Girls - a place of safety for girls between the ages of 11 and 18 - and all proceeds from sales of the publication will be put towards women's empowerment projects.
