The annual CITI Micro-Entrepreneurship Awards 2013 in collaboration with PlaNet Finance. were held yesterday, 24 October, at CITI Bank Auditorium in Sandown, Sandton. Margaret Hirsch was the guest speaker at this awards ceremony. We were welcomed by Donna Oosthuizen who is the Citi Country Officer, who gave a brief description of what is required to become a finalist and how the judging process is performed, followed by Vanashree Moodley , head of Citi Public Affairs.
Margaret Hirsch was introduced to the crowd and given a warm welcome. She firstly congratulated the young entrepreneurs for being nominated for the Citi Awards and for having the guts to go for their dreams and in so doing, improving themselves, as well as their communities.
Margaret spoke of her humble beginnings and how she has achieved the success she has by hard work, perseverence and never giving up. She emphasised this and made them understand that no matter where they came from, they too can reach great success in the same way she has if they continue on the road they are on and keep their dreams and goals in their minds at all times. She also explained that giving back to the community is an essential part of being a successful entrepreneur because what you give willingly, you will receive.
Margaret spoke about about the Girls with Dignity project which she undertook after winning Business Woman of the Year 2012 and how this has not only improved the lives of girls throughout the country, but also the satisfaction she has received from this, knowing that she has played a part in helping them become a success. She truly captured the attention of the audience from the very beginning and was thanked with a thunderous applause from everyone in the room.
The second guest speaker was Anna Phosa, owner of Dreamland Piggery. Anna started with two pigs in her farm and has grown at such a rapid pace that she now supplies the Pick n Pay chainstores, as well as various abbatoirs.
The aim of these awards is to eradicate poverty economic inclusion through supporting entrepreneur development. PlaNet Finance supports the Citi Foundation and hosts an annual industry event to celebrate the role of micro entrepreneurship (small businesses) in South Africa and to award exceptional micro entrepreneurs for excellence, innovation and growth. The Citi Micro-entrepreneurship Awards is a global program that occurs annually in more than 40 countries to celebrate the successes of micro-entrepreneurs.