Inspiration Zone:Wendy Yvonne Nomathemba Luhabe

Wendy Luhabe from South Africa Pioneering Social Entrepreneur, Chairman/Director of Companies, Author

From corporate employment to social entrepreneurship and the boardrooms: bridging the gap between women and the economy. Wendy has a portfolio of interests and has been a social entrepreneur since 1991 after 10 years in corporate marketing. Her first business was in Human Resources Development to bridge the gap between management and employees to optimise performance.

In 1994 Wendy pioneered the founding of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings which listed in 1999 on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange in the Investment Trust section (de-listed March 2003), an initiative that revolutionized the participation of women in the economic landscape of South Africa and the first women owned company to be listed.

In February 2002 Wendy launched a R120 million Private Equity Fund for women owned proprietary enterprises, another first for South Africa. She is the recipient of two Honorary Doctorates in Commerce. She is currently chairman of Vendome SA, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the International Marketing Council (IMC). She is on the board of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange, a Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Foundation for the leadership development of young people, a member of the Club of Rome in Europe, a Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg and on the board of the International Institute of Management Development in Switzerland.

Over the past 10 years Wendy has received international recognition from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland as a Global Leader for Tomorrow, the Osaka Junior Chamber in Japan as an Outstanding Young Person, Leadership in Practise by Unisa Business School in South Africa and Woman of Worth from the Jewish Achievers Awards in South Africa. She is featured regularly in various media (Sunday Times, Financial Mail) as one of South Africa's most powerful women and in 1999 was honoured as one of 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World. Since January 2000 she has been featured as one of the likely candidates for Presidency even though she has no political aspirations.

She is married to Mbhazima Shilowa, the last Premier of Gauteng Province and they have two sons and two grandchildren. Wendy has interests in writing, conversations, culture and metaphysics. She has lived overseas, has travelled extensively and wrote her first book "Defining Moments", to demonstrate that the world needs diversity to thrive and progress.

Wendy mentors and coaches anyone who asks her and readily shares her business experience of 28 years.

Read more:

www.wiphold.com

www.wpef.co.za