The 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award ceremony, held in Johannesburg on 17 July, reaffirmed the champagne house’s long-standing commitment to championing female entrepreneurship and leadership in South Africa. Now in its fourth local edition, the award has evolved into a vital platform for identifying, supporting, and elevating women who are redefining business leadership in the country.
Curated under the legacy of Madame Clicquot, a pioneering 19th-century entrepreneur who took over her husband’s wine business at age 27 and transformed it into a global empire, the award is recognised as one of the first international prizes of its kind. Since its global launch in 1972, it has honoured more than 450 women across 27 countries.
The 2025 South African leg, launched in March and closed in May, attracted high-calibre applicants from across industries. The competition featured two categories: the Bold Woman Award, open to founders or CEOs who have led companies for at least five years and demonstrated transformational leadership, and the Bold Future Award, recognising rising entrepreneurs whose ventures have operated for one to three years and are already making significant contributions to their sectors.
A jury comprising senior business leaders and former laureates selected three finalists per category. These women were assessed based on three key criteria: entrepreneurial daring, innovation that reinvents traditional models, and an ethical, socially conscious approach to business.
In an exclusive evening ceremony attended by corporate executives, creatives, media, and government representatives, the winners were announced and inducted into Veuve Clicquot’s international community of Bold Women.
This global network offers visibility, resources, and collaboration opportunities across continents.
Nomndeni Mdakhi of Agenda Woman served as Master of Ceremonies. A vocal advocate for women’s narratives in business and culture, Mdakhi lent credibility and gravitas to a program that has become more than an award—it is a strategic intervention in South Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Shifting from Recognition to Structural Support
The Bold Woman Award is not designed as a once-off accolade. It forms part of Bold by Veuve Clicquot, a global initiative launched to build systems that actively support women in business. This includes the Bold Open Database, created in 2022, which provides an open-access registry of female entrepreneurs across the globe to increase visibility, networking, and investor access. It also includes the Bold Champion Award, launched in 2019, which recognises men who actively contribute to gender parity and inclusivity in business.
By emphasising continuity and collaboration, Veuve Clicquot’s initiative responds to what research has consistently shown: that women entrepreneurs are underfunded, underrepresented in leadership, and face systemic barriers in access to capital and mentorship.
The South African Context
In South Africa, where gender inequality continues to restrict economic participation, platforms like the Bold Woman Award serve both symbolic and practical functions. They bring attention to the achievements of female business leaders while simultaneously creating access points for growth, funding, and global integration.
By emphasising continuity and collaboration, Veuve Clicquot’s initiative responds to what research has consistently shown: that women entrepreneurs are underfunded, underrepresented in leadership, and face systemic barriers in access to capital and mentorship.
The South African Context
In South Africa, where gender inequality continues to restrict economic participation, platforms like the Bold Woman Award serve both symbolic and practical functions. They bring attention to the achievements of female business leaders while simultaneously creating access points for growth, funding, and global integration.
Over the years, the award has spotlighted founders in sectors as diverse as technology, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and creative industries, many of whom now mentor younger entrepreneurs or advise policy stakeholders.
Speaking on the sidelines of this year’s event, former winners emphasised the award’s role in opening boardroom doors and investor conversations that would otherwise remain inaccessible.
The 2025 winners now join a growing alumni network of Veuve Clicquot laureates who are tasked not only with advancing their own ventures but with building a legacy of mentorship and impact. Applications for the next edition of the award are expected to reopen in early 2026.
The Bold Woman Award continues to stand as a benchmark for excellence and resilience in business. More critically, it challenges institutions, investors, and governments to match the boldness of the women it celebrates.
About the Award
Established in 1972 globally and launched in South Africa in 2021, the award includes two categories: the Bold Woman Award and the Bold Future Award. Selection is based on entrepreneurial daring, innovation, and ethical leadership. It has honoured more than 450 laureates in 27 countries and continues to grow its impact in South Africa.For more information, visit: www.veuveclicquot.com
