Standard Bank Top Women Conference 2026: Turning women-led potential into economic growth

^{The Standard Bank Top Women Conference returns on 8–9 September 2026, bringing together women leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and changemakers for two days focused on turning opportunity into meaningful economic participation.}

^{Under the theme “Her Power. Africa’s Future. Amplifying Women-Led Growth”, this year’s programme moves beyond celebrating women’s achievements to examine what is needed to build stronger pathways into leadership, entrepreneurship, employment and sustainable business growth.}

^{Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank South Africa, says women-led businesses have a critical role to play in shaping the continent's economic future.}

^{"Women-led businesses are contributing to South Africa's economy and helping to shape its future. By amplifying the growth of women-led businesses, we unlock innovation, create jobs and strengthen the resilience of our economies. Yet, for women to move from representation to meaningful economic influence, we need to create greater access to finance, markets, networks, technology and opportunities to lead and scale their businesses."}

^{Cooper adds that the conference provides an opportunity to move from conversation to action.}

^{For Standard Bank, the conference is an important extension of its commitment to helping businesses move from possibility to sustainable growth. As women-led businesses expand, create jobs, enter new markets and build stronger value chains, their impact reaches far beyond the individual entrepreneur. That is where real growth begins.}

^{From access to action}

^{A defining thread across this year’s conference is the need to move from representation to participation - and from participation to influence.}

^{Day one opens with a Standard Bank address from Simone Cooper, Head: Business and Commercial Banking South Africa, Standard Bank Group, before turning to conversations on girls’ education, women-led business communities, strategic networking and the systems needed to remove barriers to women’s advancement.}

^{The programme places particular emphasis on the power of networks. One session explores how women can turn relationships into referrals, partnerships, cross-border opportunities and sponsorship, while another looks at how networking can translate into tangible business and career growth.}

^{This focus is reinforced through PitchPower Networking, where entrepreneurs will deliver rapid two-minute pitches to peers, potential partners and investors – converting networking into a practical platform for business exposure and opportunity.}

^{Building businesses that can scale}

^{The programme also tackles the realities behind business growth.}

^{Sessions will explore how women-led businesses can use technology and data to improve performance, reach new customers and expand into regional and cross-border markets. Standard Bank’s Rebone Mahlangu, Operations Head, Business & Commercial Banking, joins a panel examining how digital tools can move from being operational enablers to drivers of competitiveness and scale.}

^{Other discussions will look at what growth actually costs founders, how entrepreneurs can strengthen financial and operational resilience, and how women-owned businesses can compete for larger procurement opportunities and build the systems required to deliver at scale.}

^{Standard Bank experts will also contribute to conversations on risk, sustainability and long-term growth.}

^{Preparing women for the economy of the future}

^{Day two turns towards the future of work and leadership.}

^{Among the major themes are the transition from education into employment, opportunities in STEM, digital and green sectors, and the impact of artificial intelligence on women’s entry-level work. Nothando Magagula, Head: Artificial Intelligence at Standard Bank, will join a discussion on how organisations can embrace AI while ensuring technological progress expands rather than narrows women’s access to employment.}

^{The programme will also examine inclusive leadership, safer workplaces, women in sport, Africa’s creative economy and the importance of deliberately developing the next generation of women leaders.}

^{The EmpowHER journey reaches its finale}

^{One of the conference highlights will be the EmpowHER Pitching Den grand finale, where the three regional winners will compete for the Top Women EmpowHER Entrepreneur of the Year Award.}

^{The finalists are Lesego Seloane of Ronewa Creations, representing Cape Town; Kiki Sepuru of Afrique360 Solutions, representing KwaZulu-Natal; and Refilwe Moreno Barahona of Tsogomath, representing Gauteng.}

^{Their participation brings the regional EmpowHER journey full circle – from developing ideas and networks to taking the stage at one of South Africa’s leading platforms for women in business.}

^{Because amplifying women-led growth is ultimately about more than recognition. It is about creating the connections, capabilities and opportunities that enable women to build businesses, lead organisations, create employment and shape the future economy.}

^{Join the Standard Bank Top Women Conference on 8–9 September 2026 and be part of the conversations, connections and opportunities shaping where real growth begins.}