Margaret Hirsch, COO of the Hirsch Group and a champion for Women’s Empowerment, was recently conferred with the prestigious Global Inspirational Women Leadership Award and the United States Congressional Commendation Award by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD). The CELD is a leading human capacity, gender empowerment and development-based organisation that sees itself as a catalyst and thought leader in developing the theory and practice of leadership, social, educational and economic empowerment particularly in Africa.

As women we have to balance a lot - our work, our home, our husband’s, our children, our finances. We have to be courageous and have a sense of our own self worth and not allow people to take advantage of us. How often do we actually do this, just because we want to be liked? Too often.

The prestigious 9th IWEC - International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge and Awards event is currently taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, and one of South Africa’s most respected and successful women entrepreneurs is one of the invited guest speakers at the event. Margaret Hirsch, the co-founder and Chief Operations Executive of Hirschs, has been invited to speak about her work, her philosophy on women’s economic participation and upliftment, and her own entrepreneurial journey. She was joined by fellow South African entrepreneurs Shona McDonald from Shonaquip and Wendy Kemp from Accountability in Cape Town.

One of our truly inspirational Lionesses of Africa, Margaret Hirsch, the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of the Hirsch Group and a champion for womens empowerment, has received the award for the most Influential Woman In Wholesale and Retail for the African Continent. She was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award in her category in the Titans Most Influential Women in Business and Government awards ceremony that took place at the Gallagher Estates Convention Centre in Gauteng on 10 November. This is the 14th top business award won by Margaret over the last four years.