Inspiring Woman of the Month

Nomahlubi Simamane was named Top Businesswoman of the Year at the 2009 National Business Awards. The accolade is a recognition of Simamane’s leadership which has seen Zanusi Brand Solutions (established in 2001 and a 100% black owned enterprise) register an annual compounded average revenue growth in excess of 30% over the past five years.

This has been achieved through brand building strategies and activating plans for a variety of blue chip companies and state-owned entities (including the likes of the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), Liberty Life Properties, the Film and Publication Board, and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund).

Nomahlubi is the founding member of ZANUSI Brand Solutions. She completed an 18 month stint with BLGK Bates, a South African Top 20 through-the-line communications company as Managing Director.  In addition to extensive local and international marketing experience (17 years in South Africa, Kenya and the USA), Nomahlubi has an excellent track record of building brands within Unilever and British American Tobacco where she was the Marketing Director.  

Zanusi Brand Solutions is also increasing its presence throughout the continent by opening offices in Nairobi, Kenya. The company is making its mark working with clients like Zain, a heavyweight player in the telecommunications industry as well as the East African Breweries Limited.

Nomahlubi, a dynamic businesswoman and renowned branding guru, says she’s especially pleased to have received the Topco Media honour because it shows that SMEs can operate in the same terrain as big corporates, given the right passion, skills, integrity and commitment. Simamane started Zanusi from scratch nearly a decade ago and the company continues to grow and expand its footprint globally.

Nomahlubi has also played an active role in the Association of Marketers in South Africa including judging Advertising for the prestigious Loeries Awards.

She has served on several Boards including being the vice-chairperson of the Association of Advertising Agencies (AAA), a non-executive director of Primedia Face2Face, Cashbuild, Foschini Group as well as a member of the AAA Executive Operations Committee, ASA’s Advertising Properties Committee and the Advisory Committee for UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) Advertising and Communication Initiative.

She was recently invited to the United Nations deliberations on “Promoting investment and sustainable development in Africa with the objective of eradicating poverty”.

She has written numerous articles and has delivered several papers, the latest titled: “Reaching the African consumer – lessons for European brands” presented at the European Association of Communications (EACA) in October 2000.  

Nomahlubi  has four children - three boys and a girl - ranging from ages of 19 - 26 years old.

Her message to Inspiringwomen subscribers: “I hope that it provides inspiration to all SME players out there to show that what matters most is not how big, or even how small you are, but the level of professionalism and commitment to worldclass delivery that you bring to any project .”

Nomahlubi we salute you!