PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
Lilongwe, March 8, 2021 – Standard Bank Plc is today proud to announce launch a month-long series of interactive online seminars for Women Entrepreneurs and Thought Leaders in commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD).
The series—to run from March 8, March 17, March 24 and March 31, 2021—will see the best pitch winning a package of K10 million in business recapitalization.
Announcing the initiative, Head Marketing and Communications Thoko Unyolo said the series dubbed ‘Women on the Rise – Business Master Class Series’, will attract 30 small and medium business owners in all sectors and aims to discuss performance-enhancing practices, personal development and unique insights surrounding women in business.
She said participants will gain insight on how to build and store business resilience and immunity in times of economic downturns due to pandemics such as Covid-19.
“The seminars will help accelerate development of women entrepreneurs in the country especially now when business performance has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While we bring to light numerous experiences women in business encounter, it is also a great opportunity to inspire business resilience during times of uncertainty and underline our commitment of driving the growth of our home Malawi,” said Unyolo.
She said the seminars have attracted high-profile speakers from Malawi and Kenya. These include Dr. Patricia Murugami, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough Leadership Transformation; Harrison Kalua, Managing Partner and Lead Consultant at Rose Harris Investments & Consulting & Former Chief Executive of Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union, and Estelle Nuka the Founder and Managing Consultant of EWN Consulting & Training. There will also be representation from mHub, Malawi’s first technology and innovation hub.
The Standard Bank Marketing Head said the seminars will give women entrepreneurs a realistic chance to drink from the gourd of in-depth knowledge and experience of world-class business mentors and thought leaders.
“Through this initiative, Standard Bank plc hopes to empower Malawian women to reassert their role in business and society,” she said.
The IWD which falls on March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also echoing a call to action for accelerating gender balance.
This year the day will be observed under the theme #ChooseToChallenge. A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. The webinar series, however, will be held under the theme, ‘#ChooseToChallenge Women on the Rise – Empowering women and leading them on the path to greatness.’
During the seminar, a panel of judges will pick the winner of the K10 million capital to be invested in the chosen business sector.
Standard Bank is a champion of #HeForShe, a solidarity movement for the advancement of gender equality.
ENDS
For inquiries, contact; Thoko Unyolo – Head, Marketing & Communications Cell: +265888748307; Email: Thoko.Unyolo@standardbank.co.mw
About Standard Bank PLC (Malawi)
Standard Bank PLC is part of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets.
Standard Bank Group reported total assets R2.3 trillion (about USD163 billion) at 31 December 2019, while its market capitalisation was R277 billion (USD20 billion).
The group has direct, on-the-ground representation in 20 African countries and in 5 global financial centers. Standard Bank Group has more than 1 100 branches and 9 000 ATMs in Africa, making it one of the largest banking networks on the continent. It provides global connections backed by deep insights into the countries where it operates.
Standard Bank Plc provides the full spectrum of financial services. Its Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) division serves a wide range of requirements for banking, finance, trading, investment, risk management and advisory services. Corporate & Investment Banking delivers this comprehensive range of products and services relating to: investment banking; global markets; and global transactional products and services.
Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking expertise is focused on industry sectors that are most relevant to emerging markets. It has strong offerings in mining and metals; oil, gas and renewables; power and infrastructure; agribusiness; telecommunications and media; and financial institutions.
Standard Bank PLC Personal and Business Banking unit (PBB) offers banking and other financial services to individuals and small-to-medium enterprises. PBB serves the increasing need among Africa’s small business and individual customers for banking products that can meet their shifting expectations and growing wealth.
For further information, go to www.standardbank.co.mw
