Wendy Luhabe
Encyclopedia
Wendy Luhabe is a South African entrepreneur. After working for 10 years for corporations internationally she decided to dedicate her life to empower African women in business.
in South Africa
and grew up in the old Benoni location.
She graduated in Arts from the University of Fort Hare (1977) and in Commerce from the University of Lesotho (1981). After 10 years of national and international corporate experience with f.e. BMW
she founded "Bridging the Gap" in 1991, a consulting firm working on both sides corporate equation: On the one hand to prepare young black South Africans to enter the world of work, on the other hand to support South African companies how to integrate them into their corporate business.
Most Wendy is known for her vision in founding the Women Investment Holdings Holdings in 1993: initiating the participation of women in the economic landscape of South Africa. She launched the first fund to provide capital to women-owned business in South Africa with an R120 million private equite fund.
She was awarded as one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World and Global Leader of Tomorrow of the World Economics Forum inaugurated as a Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg in 2006.
She is married to the premier of Gauteng
, Mbhazima Shilowa
, they have 2 sons and a grandson.
Life and Business
Wendy Yvonne Nomathemba Luhabe was born May 29, 1957 in Daveyton, GautengGauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and grew up in the old Benoni location.
She graduated in Arts from the University of Fort Hare (1977) and in Commerce from the University of Lesotho (1981). After 10 years of national and international corporate experience with f.e. BMW
she founded "Bridging the Gap" in 1991, a consulting firm working on both sides corporate equation: On the one hand to prepare young black South Africans to enter the world of work, on the other hand to support South African companies how to integrate them into their corporate business.
Most Wendy is known for her vision in founding the Women Investment Holdings Holdings in 1993: initiating the participation of women in the economic landscape of South Africa. She launched the first fund to provide capital to women-owned business in South Africa with an R120 million private equite fund.
She was awarded as one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World and Global Leader of Tomorrow of the World Economics Forum inaugurated as a Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg in 2006.
She is married to the premier of Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
, Mbhazima Shilowa
Mbhazima Shilowa
Mbhazima Samuel Shilowa is a South African politician. A former Premier of Gauteng province while a member of the African National Congress, Shilowa left the party to help form the opposition Congress of the People, with whom he is the Deputy President...
, they have 2 sons and a grandson.
Literature
- Wendy Luhabe: Defining moments. University of Kwazulu Natal Press, 2002, ISBN 978-1869140205