When René Botha, regional investment manager at Business Partners Limited, reflects on her career spanning over two decades, she sees remarkable transformation in the role and recognition of women, not only in the company, but across South Africa’s broader business landscape.
For one thing, there were no female operational senior managers at Business Partners Limited back in 2005, until René broke new ground by becoming the first. Two decades later, the company has made notable progress, with more women in senior and middle management positions.
This upward trend is also mirrored in Business Partners Limited’s lending activity to entrepreneurs. In 2010, 31,5 percent of the total value of transactions disbursed were to female entrepreneurs. Fast forward to 2025 and the figure has risen to 43,6 percent.
René believes that the same improvement in empowering women is not only limited to Business Partners Limited but taking place across many sectors in South Africa.
But does this mean the hurdles to women’s entry into the mainstream economy have disappeared?
Not quite, says René. Many challenges persist. Women have always carried the brunt of majority of the childcare and housekeeping responsibilities, even as full-time workers. Deep rooted gender stereotypes still influence perceptions of certain jobs, roles like doctors are often seen as male, while nurses are viewed as female.
In entrepreneurship women traditionally focused on generating income to support their families, while men sought wealth creation. When it comes to accessing business finance, women entrepreneurs always face disadvantages due to having fewer assets against which to lend, stemming from their exclusion from markets and business networks. Additionally, the scarcity female role models in business continues to be a hurdle for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
While these inhibitors have gradually eased, they are all still very much part of the business environment, says René. They are culturally embedded, interrelated and mutually reinforcing, implying that meaningful transformation will likely continue in a gradual form of a virtuous circle of progress rather than a single quick fix.
As more female entrepreneurial role models emerge, the confidence and aspirations of young women increase to enter traditionally male-dominated industries and to pursue entrepreneurship. This shift slowly changes the composition of workplaces, business networks and markets, challenges long standing gender stereotypes, strengthens financial foundations and opens up access to finance for more women owned businesses.
René shares that her own experience as a regional investment manager has shown her how women empowerment has a snowball effect. Although her job is not to lend to female business owners specifically, it was inevitable that she was able to reach and nurture more female entrepreneurs, simply because her networks were different.
René believes that commemorations like Women’s Month play an important part in driving positive change. It creates an opportunity for society to reflect on how much progress has been made in advancing gender equality and acknowledge the journey that still lies ahead. These observances celebrate the achievements of female role models and inspires younger generations of women to broaden their career choices.
It reminds society of why freedom of choice, equal opportunity and diversity are essential pillars of human progress.
Equality fosters mutual respect and dignity, without which society cannot thrive. In the case of gender equality, it unleashes half of the population, deepening talent pools and markets, and, as research shows, contributes to more innovative and profitable workplaces, says René.
Women’s Month is also an opportunity to reflect on the fact that progress is not guaranteed, backsliding is possible. But a society that regularly honours and celebrates the achievements of women is bound to keep moving forward toward greater equality and shared prosperity.
Note: Celebrate your business by entering the Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® awards to stand a chance to win R2 million in prizes. The closing date is 28 August 2025. Enter at www.eoy.co.za
About the Author: BPL Admin
