The Conscious Companies Awards had over the years encouraged and nurtured leadership to surrender to a new way of being to develop a much needed ethical, honourable and responsible way of doing business, at a time when true leadership around the globe is floundering and in a state of flux. The Awards to be held on 7 September in Johannesburg, trigger a chord in most business leaders who want to make a meaningful impact, define their companies and do things differently. Its drive to expand corporate consciousness where the leader guides his company to prosper, perform and pursue profits while placing a premium on people, purpose, performance, community, culture and the environment beyond the bottom line has gained enormous traction.
“No company or leader is perfect. As human beings, we are all flawed in one way or another, however, when an organisation, driven by a conscious, visionary leader, realises its purpose and aligns the technology of how to make a living with the psychology of how to live that would differentiate it as a Conscious Company”, says Brenda Kali, Founder and Chairperson of Conscious Companies.
The leaders who are the Top Ten Finalists of the Conscious Companies Awards 2023 are exceptional in that they have all differentiated themselves with their selfless actions, behaviour and courage to serve, uplift, transform and bring about a different quality of being in the world of business. We celebrate these leaders and hope that it would inspire others to engage with conscious leadership.
The winners will be announced by Prof. Mervyn King at a gala dinner on 7 September, and streamed live via the Conscious Companies YouTube channel.
The Top Ten Finalists in both the Business and NGO/NPC sectors are (alphabetical order):
Company Finalists:
BSG
Founder, Greg Reis, and Executive Chairman, Mteto Nyati, are a marriage made in heaven. They view leadership as awakening the senses to the realities of conscious co-existence. They firmly believe that to be a formidable force for change and inclusive prosperity lies both in purpose, people, culture and innovation. BSG is a business and technology consulting company renowned for innovation and progressive change for transforming business operations through insights, discovery and technology-enabled business change.
Busara Leadership Partners
Dudu Msomi, the Founder and CEO of Busara Leadership Partners believes that conscious leadership is about taking responsibility and accountability for what you do as much as for what you do not do. The company is a research-orientated strategic advisory and consulting company whose expertise is to facilitate the development and effectiveness of leaders to achieve their desired goals. Busara has trans-disciplinary skills and multi- sectorial experience that gives them the ability to strike the right balance.
Greenworx Cleaning Solutions
John Coetzee, CEO of Greenworx Cleaning Solutions is a unique social entreprener who is passionate about sustainability. He pioneered the concept of green cleaning in Africa specialising in bio-enzyme technology. “Clean your conscience” is the tagline of the country’s foremost co-accredited bio-technology and award winning sustainability product manufacturer in Africa. Striving to make the world a greener, cleaner, smarter place the company provides innovative, effective and high-quality products and solutions through a trusted network of distribution partners.
Sumitomo Rubber(SA)
Lubin Ozoux, CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA), is a dynamic visionary whose strong belief in doing the right thing is ingrained in his DNA, critical in an industry that has direct implications on people’s lives. SRSA manufactures Dunlop, a global tyre brand with a history going back over 130 years. He believes the key to exceling in industry and delivering consistent business results is derived from nurturing the talents of individuals and empowering them.
SYSPRO
Jaco Maritz, Group CEO of SYSPRO stands tall in his unerring sense of responsibility and accountability not only to the company but also to its people. One of the longest-standing privately owned vendors of ERP software in the world, Syspro is a leading 45 year old global Enterprise Resource Planning software provider specialising in key manufacturing and distribution industries. With a strong global presence the company is committed to creating environments where people, systems and processes work together.
NGO Finalists:
Hope SA Foundation
Hope SA is the brainchild of CEO, Namritha Sivsanker, who founded the organisation driven by her personal trauma. This set her on a journey to fight gender-based violence and support victims of abuse. Poverty alleviation, women abuse, disaster relief, animal welfare and skills development are some of its focus areas. The aim is to offer skills training and establish safe houses for women, children, and men who have been victims of abuse.
Ladles of Love
Daniele Diliberto, Founder of LADLES OF LOVE was inspired by ‘seva’ (service) to humanity where no one should go hungry began as a seed serving 70 homeless to over 38 million meals to people from all walks of life. Why they do what they do is to restore love, dignity and respect to those in need where over 70% of children live below the poverty line and over200,000 homeless people are left destitute.
Smile Foundation
Kim Robertson Smith, CEO of Smile Foundation, is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children with cranio-facial abnormalities. The organisation gives children from disadvantaged communities the hope of living a normal childhood by transforming those with facial abnormalities and severe burns with the best possible surgical and psychological care. Partnering with key academic hospitals, corrective surgery is made possible for children who would otherwise have no access to treatment.
Women’s Tech Connection
Andisa Liba, co-founder of Women’s Tech Connection, is a dynamic young woman whose contribution to the advancement of women in the technology arena in Africa is peerless. She spearheaded a dedicated learning and support community for the professional qualification and career development of women in technology designed to give access to opportunities. The organisations enables women technologists to thrive and become industry leaders so that they become the driving force that transforms the system.
Young Hearts Africa
Specialist heart surgeon, Dr. Wilhelm Lichtenberg, founder of Young Hearts Africa, turned vision into reality to save the lives of indigent children in need of corrective cardiac surgery in South Africa. Young hearts Africa is a life-line to over 13,000 indigent children annually facing possible death due to congenital heart disease. Popularly known as the singing surgeon, Dr Lichtenberg and his organisation leverage the power of music to create public awareness and raise much-needed funding for these vulnerable children.