As excitement builds for the 4th edition of the Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss Award 2018, we caught up with Monique Mass to speak about what this award means for businesswomen in South Africa and the search for SA’s pioneering woman redefining the world of business one decision at a time.
The Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss Award recognises inspiring SA businesswomen – in both corporate and entrepreneurial categories – and provides a platform for these natural leaders to connect, share and learn from each other.
Q: The Veuve Cliquot ELLE Boss Award is now in its 4th year. Please tell us about how the award has evolved? What have been some of the highlights of this powerful platform?
A: For South African businesswomen, Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss is the opportunity of a lifetime, during which candidates embark on a truly enriching business journey. Now in its fourth year, the Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss platform has grown from strength to strength, attracting an unprecedented calibre of South African businesswomen and judges. Whether candidates are self-nominated or nominated by a colleague or friend, each powerhouse businesswoman will meet inspiring people, expand her network to forge connections with women in positions of power across different industries and build her personal brand.
Some of the highlights of the Veuve Cliquot ELLE Boss Award for me are the people – it’s so inspiring to meet the incredibly talented businesswomen in this country and share their stories. I am proud of the exposure we are able to provide for women to catapult their careers and personally, I love the fact that this platform transcends borders to connect women globally, allowing them to network and exchange on an international scale.
Q: Madame Clicquot, the founder of Veuve Clicquot, was a visionary progressive woman of her time. How does Veuve Clicquot seek to inspire and elevate women in business locally and internationally who share her leadership qualities? How did previous winners embody her vision?
A: Madame Clicquot was a truly remarkable and progressive woman of her time in 18th Century France. When Madame Clicquot was widowed at just 27, in an era when women were excluded from the business world, she dared to assume the head of the company. Today, Veuve Clicquot Champagne is recognised and celebrated worldwide, to a large extent owing its success to her innate understanding of luxury. Madame Clicquot was one of the first to envisage the international success Champagne would have, exporting her products to far-flung markets. Driven and creative, she was always in search of new approaches to challenge the status quo and this year marks the 200 year anniversary of Veuve Clicquot Rosé, the first blended Rosé. Her character might be summarised in two words: audacious and intelligent.
In South Africa, the Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss Award is a platform to recognise and celebrate visionary women such as Madame Clicquot who are not afraid to take risks and prosper in even the most challenging circumstances. Indeed, the prestigious international Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award seeks to identify and celebrate outstanding women and honour their entrepreneurial spirit. Likewise, the Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss Award champions the success of South African businesswomen who share the same inspirational qualities as Madame Clicquot: an enterprising spirit, creativity, courage and determination.
Each year, an overall winner is named from two finalists in the entrepreneurial and corporate categories. Last year’s finalists, entrepreneur Amanda Dambuza of Uyandiswa and businesswoman Justine Cullinan of 5FM truly embodied the vision of Madame Clicquot. Their innate business acumen, progressive approach to tackling challenges and consistent drive to empower and uplift others are exactly the characteristics we look for in a Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss.
Q: Please name just some of the ways in which this year’s Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss Award may shape the paths of those choosing to participate as well as that of the winner?
A: ELLE and Veuve Clicquot want to challenge the status quo by recognising, rewarding and giving women the acknowledgement they deserve. This is a unique opportunity for South African women in business, not only to stand a chance to compete for the grand prize but to be exposed to a network of equally powerful women. Being at the top of one’s game can feel a little lonely. This challenge gives women a chance to draw inspiration from others, to exchange with like-minded women and grow tremendously.
All finalists will be recognised at a bespoke event hosted by ELLE South Africa and Veuve Clicquot in Johannesburg on the 18th of October 2018. In addition to the public recognition on the evening of the awards, the general press coverage, the winner will also receive one-on-one mentoring during a two-hour session with powerhouse business mogul Khanyi Dhlomo to ask personal, career and development questions. As well as features in ELLE South Africa (magazine and online /digital platforms), the winner will be flown to visit the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Maison and hosted by Veuve Clicquot in Reims, France, the home of Champagne. The trip will take place in 2019 and will include all flights, accommodation and a daily allowance.
The runner-up will receive a special Veuve Clicquot Experience, including a private dinner for her and five guests, to relax and unwind, to savour the recognition of her meaningful achievement to date as a Woman in Business (Terms & Conditions apply).
Four further runners-up will each receive a Magnum bottle of Veuve Clicquot.
ABOUT THE ELLE BOSS AWARD
The Veuve Clicquot ELLE Boss Award has been created to showcase entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, creativity and determination and the search is now on for one woman who is redefining the world of business one decision at a time.
Using this powerful platform, and for the fourth year, Veuve Clicquot and ELLE magazine set out to celebrate women who have been in business for at least three years – women already demonstrating clear signs of success, and/or, exceptional corporate managerial skills and a social conscience.
To enter or to nominate, please visit: http://www.elle.co.za/could-you-be-the-2018-veuve-clicquot-elle-boss