Asha Patel, Head of Marketing at Google South Africa, and Bonang Mohale, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, will take the stage at the 16th annual National Business Awards on 15 November.
Patel, who has worked in marketing teams for top South African companies as well as Google UK, is passionate about Africa and the role that education has to play in driving development and growth on the continent.
“I’m extremely passionate about education and firmly believe that knowledge is power and access to information can find a way to change lives and future generations,” she says.
Topco Media is excited to have this dynamic woman, who was named as one of Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2014 and Google’s One Young World Ambassador in 2013, speaking at this year’s National Business Awards.
Bringing further prestige to the awards is Bonang Mohale, who has occupied leadership positions in various multinational companies, including Shell, OTIS and South African Airways.
While serving as managing director for OTIS, the world’s largest and oldest elevator manufacturer, Mohale steered the company to winning the Black Management Forum’s Progressive Company of the Year award. He has also been recognised by CEO Magazine as a ‘Titan Building the Nation’ for both South Africa and the SADC region.
Passionate about how corporates can guide South Africa to economic success, Mohale says: Business [Leadership South Africa] believes in this country’s future and wants to play its part in creating a South Africa of increasing prosperity for all. It is perfectly legitimate for business to use its voice loudly, as it has always been, and will always be, heavily invested in the continuance and success of this democracy. When business does well, society generally does well.”
Mohale has been a guest on numerous international TV, radio and magazine programmes. He travels regularly through the rest of Africa, Europe and the Americas to create and strengthen business ties.