Veuve Cliquout 2025 Bold Woman Award
Veuve Clicquot launches its 2025 Bold Woman Award, with a panel of judges ready to review an inspiring group of women. Each nominee reflects the boldness, innovation, and resilience that define this prestigious honour. For over 50 years, the award has honoured remarkable entrepreneurs who have shaped the future of business and driven impactful change. At the same time, they’ve remained true to Madame Clicquot’s pioneering spirit.
Introducing the judging panel:
1. Amanda Dambuza, Founder & CEO of Uyandiswa Group
Amanda Dambuza, founder and CEO of Uyandiswa Group, brings extensive experience in IT and financial services. Having held senior roles in all four major South African banks, including Barclays Africa, Amanda’s journey reflects determination and innovation. She also founded Vastly Sage in 2020 to mentor and connect businesswomen, championing the growth of women in enterprise.
As a long-serving jury member, Amanda is encouraged to see more women starting and growing successful businesses every year.“The benefits women and their families gain from entrepreneurship far outweigh the risks,” giving more women the confidence to start their businesses. Amanda has emphasised that the Bold Woman Award helps create a global community where people share knowledge and work together to solve challenges. “Challenges often aren’t unique, and through this, tools and resources are shared for the benefit of all entrepreneurs.”
When asked what she thinks will set this year’s candidates apart and what she’s looking out for, Amanda shared: “The winners of last year’s awards were incredibly inspiring, and I look forward to more of the same. This year, I hope to see more women from traditionally male-dominated industries enter the awards so that we can acknowledge their efforts in changing the business landscape. It’s crucial that women know there is a community rooting for them, especially when they feel alone.”
2. Aimee Kellen, regional marketing director, Moët Hennessy Middle East and Africa
As the Regional Marketing Director for Moët Hennessy Middle East & Africa, Aimee Kellen brings 17 years of experience in brand strategy and luxury brand marketing. Over the years, she has managed iconic names like Hennessy, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon. Today, she leads impactful programmes that support women in business through the Bold by Veuve Clicquot initiative. In this way, she remains dedicated to empowering women in business.
Aimee believes female leaders have a clear impact, inspiring both their peers and future professionals. “Many in my organisation draw courage from women in leadership,” she shares. This year, she’s looking for candidates who succeed in business and also make a positive difference by helping others, promoting sustainability, or driving innovation.
Her bold mantra is: “Connect and collaborate to create. Everything is richer when built with collective intelligence, shared insights, and passion.”
3. Happy Ralinala, director of Palesa Mbali Group
As director of Palesa Mbali Group, Happy Ralinala has a strong background in banking and leadership coaching. She was the Managing Executive of Business Banking at Barclays Africa Group and also led the Private and Wealth Banking teams. With expertise in business strategy and financial services, she now serves as a board member, advisor, coach, and mentor. She has seen how women-led businesses are changing the business world by focusing on purpose and sustainability.
As a long-time judge for the Bold Woman Award, Happy has seen a powerful change in the business world, with women-led businesses growing stronger, bigger, and more influential. “Women are not just building businesses; they’re leading with purpose and sustainability,” she shares. “What was once a fight for a seat at the table is now a movement of women creating their own tables and inviting others in.” Although challenges like limited funding, visibility, and access to mentorship remain, Happy respects how women overcome obstacles and succeed. She believes platforms like the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award are important for celebrating and highlighting their success.
Happy’s explanation of the impact of women in business, and why it’s important to her and other women, is: “Women-led businesses drive innovation, create jobs, and shape society through inclusive practices. Supporting female entrepreneurs isn’t just about equity—it’s about unlocking potential that benefits entire economies. My mantra, ‘Even eagles need a push,’ speaks to how success often emerges from adversity. By supporting women, we help them recognise their strength and soar to new heights.”
3. Morongwe Mokone, Co-Founder of Mo’s Crib
Morongwe “Mo” Mokone, co-founder of Mo’s Crib, shows great creativity and business skill. Her company makes beautiful handmade homeware from recycled materials, sold in big stores worldwide.
Mo employs over 300 people, mostly women, and has seen firsthand how much women contribute to business. . “As a women-led business, we’ve experienced how diverse perspectives drive innovation, resilience, and growth,” she shares. “Women bring unique problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence that enhance decision-making and foster inclusivity.” Mo believes women in business lead to balanced growth and more inclusive products. “Women also reinvest in their communities, creating a ripple effect… Challenges will come—funding struggles, industry biases, or work-life balance—but your ability to pivot, persist, and innovate will set you apart.”
Mo’s Mantra is: “My mantra is something I learned from my late mom: ‘Here am I.’ No matter the challenge at hand, even when I sometimes feel I am not qualified enough, tall enough, or well-spoken enough, I should always show up for myself and remind myself that I am here!”
4. Erik Kruger, international keynote speaker, author, & leadership development specialist
Erik Kruger is a global speaker, author, and podcast host who speaks about ‘how to handle change.’ He guides leaders on how to use challenges as opportunities. He also recognises the growing influence of women in business. “More women in leadership leads to better decisions, stronger cultures, and more resilient businesses,” he says. “The real shift happens when female leadership is seen as essential, not different.” While recognising progress, Erik emphasizes the need for systemic change. “It’s not about women needing more confidence—it’s about creating space. Confidence isn’t the issue—access is,” he explains. “Women need seats at the table, real investment, and leadership structures that break outdated norms.”
Erik believes this year’s candidates will distinguish themselves in unique ways. He shares what he’ll be paying close attention to: “Reinvention. It’s one thing to succeed when things are stable, but in the last few years, stability has been a myth. The leaders who stand out won’t just be the ones who worked hard—they’ll be the ones who rewrote the rules, adapted on the fly, and turned challenges into momentum. I’m looking for people who didn’t just weather the storm but figured out how to use it to their advantage.”
5. Timothy Maurice Webster, International Keynote Speaker, author and neuroleadership specialist
Timothy Maurice Webster is a bestselling author, podcast host, and leadership writer. He specialises in behavioural psychology and neuroscience, and advises leaders in over 40 countries on how to build influence and strong personal brands using creative strategies.
Timothy is happy to see more women entrepreneurs entering fields like cyber-security, mining, energy, and agriculture. He hopes this growth continues in other industries, as he believes women make a strong impact in business, especially in top leadership roles. “I see women balancing what I term the Q-Suite: IQ, which everyone knows; EQ, Emotional Intelligence; SQ, Spiritual Intelligence; CQ, Cultural Intelligence; and PBQ, which comes from my work—Personal Brand Intelligence,” says Timothy. “Women manage all these, not just focusing on one, and this contributes to a business’s bottom line and long-term sustainability.”
His mantra is: “Bold beauty is born in the heart of purpose.”
Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award: a legacy of courage and innovation
In 1805, Madame Clicquot took over the business after her husband died, at a time when women couldn’t even work or have bank accounts. She went on to change the champagne industry. To honour her, Veuve Clicquot created the Bold Woman Award in 1972, and later added the Bold Future Award in 2014. For over 50 years, more than 450 women in 27 countries have been recognised for building or growing businesses. Since 2019, the awards have been part of a global programme called Bold by Veuve Clicquot, which aims to inspire and include more people through worldwide conversations.
Please drink responsibly.
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