You've done the work. Now claim your space on stage.

She's the first one in and the last one to log off. She closed the deal, mentored the new hire, and fixed the problem no one else noticed. Then she went home for a second shift. Too often, hers is also the name that doesn't make it onto the slide.

This year, that changes. Entries are now open for the 2026 Standard Bank Top Women Awards, and the message to South Africa's women in business is simple: it's your turn to be recognised.

For many women, recognition doesn't keep pace with contribution. Credit goes to the loudest voice in the room, and promotions stall. Achievements get quietly downplayed, sometimes by women themselves. "I was just doing my job" is a sentence too many accomplished women use to shrug off their own success.

For 23 years, the Standard Bank Top Women Awards have given those women a stage. The awards also honour the organisations building workplaces where women can thrive, and the men who stand beside them as champions of gender empowerment.

More than a trophy

Finalists join a platform that has generated more than R115m in PR value. That exposure puts their names and brands in front of the audiences that shape careers and business growth.

The entry process is also a chance to pause and take stock. It helps individuals see how far they've come, and helps organisations benchmark their progress on gender inclusion. Finalists and winners also step into a powerful network of decision-makers across the private and public sectors, which opens doors to partnerships, mentorship and new opportunities.

Categories for every kind of trailblazer

This year's awards span individual and organisational categories, recognising achievements over the past 18 months. Some highlights include:

• Top Women Young Achiever, for the rising stars already making their mark
  
• Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year, for the women building businesses from the ground up
  
• Top Women Leader in STEM, for the women breaking ground in science, technology, engineering and maths
  
• Haley Fletcher Top Women Business Leader of the Year, the flagship honour for an outstanding leader
  
• Top Women Business in Construction, Infrastructure, Resources & Mining, for organisations opening doors in traditionally male-dominated industries
  
• Top Women Business of the Year, for the organisation leading the way in empowering women

Your name. Your award. Your time to shine on 3 December.

Winners will be announced at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards ceremony at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, on 3 December 2026.

Enter early and get more. Submit your entry by 30 September 2026 to receive a complimentary promo code.

Final call: Second-round entries close on 30 October 2026.

Enter now: https://get.topbusinesswomen.co.za/sbtop-women-awards-/

You've put in the hours. You've earned the recognition. Claim your space on stage.