"Chase your dream and give it everything you've got." - 2024 Santam Woman of the Future Award Recipient
Lilian Kistan of Tekwecomm shares how winning the award changed her life while Suzy Brokensha, Editor-in-Chief at FAIRLADY explains why these awards are important and how to nominate other businesses.
CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Suzy Brokensha, Editor-in-Chief at FAIRLADY and Lilian Kistan, Managing Director at Tekwecomm, on the winners of the 2024 Santam Women of the Future Awards.
Listen below:
The 10th annual Santam Women of the Future Awards in association with FAIRLADY and TRUELOVE offers the perfect platform to showcase businesses.
Over the past decade, the Santam Women of the Future Awards has showcased the success, innovation and resilience of South African women who dreamed big – changed the economy – and the future – of South Africa.
Lilian Kistan of Tekwecomm is the recipient of Santam's 2024 Woman of the Future Award.
Kistan made the bold decision to buy struggling telecommunications company Tekwecomm – and turned it into a success.
The company provides a variety of specialised services and products.
Kistan's vision fuelled the company’s growth and transformed it into a leading business known for responsiveness and customer satisfaction.
Kistan says the goal in her business is to bring out the best talents in the people she hires while fostering a culture that empowers women, growth and leadership.
"What I bring to the table is the ability to balance emotional intelligence with structural intelligence, and intelligence around the telecommunications sector..."
- Lilian Kistan, Managing Director - Tekwecomm
For advice for budding entrepreneurs, Kistan says...
"If you have a desire and dream within you to become an entrepreneur, chase it and give it everything you've got. And ultimately remember that it is your dream and the onus is on you to grow that baby into adulthood and to its full potential."
- Lilian Kistan, Managing Director - Tekwecomm
Brokensha says the awards are focused on business and women in business who uplift communities whilst doing so.
"Thanks to these awards, they are starting to make their mark and be recognised by everyone involved."
- Suzy Brokensha, Editor-in-Chief - FAIRLADY
Santam's other award categories include:
- Santam Social Entrepreneur: Candice Potgieter of The Unlimited Child
- Santam Rising Star: Zanele Njapha of The UnLearners
- Santam Readers’ Choice Award: Glynn Mashonga of Globescope
To enter yourself in any of these categories or someone else running an incredible business, add your nominations, here.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.