Maria Ramos wins MANEX Award

"Wits Business school is an institution that prides itself in sculpting global leaders in South Africa. We make sure we adhere to global rankings and subscribe to the notion that to be the best we have to surpass the expectations of the rest of the world. We develop students that can function in a multicultural, global society. We thrive on teaching our students to make better choices and the community emerging from this is one that is proud. It is not the level or difficulty of challenges you experience, it is what you do with these challenges that makes a difference," said Wendy Ngoma, head of Wits Business School.

First husband-and-wife winners

Ramos will add the MANEX award to her astonishing list of accolades. In 2009 she was named outstanding businesswoman of the year in the African Business Awards granted by the Commonwealth Business Council and African Business magazine. Furthermore, Forbes has placed Ramos as the world's ninth most influential businesswoman in 2010.

Ramos's husband, former Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel, won the same award in 2006, making this the first husband-and-wife partnership to have won the award.