Young Business Leader Award


Awarded to:


An individual who displays great potential in new or existing business or industry; who has been seen to recently stand out from their peers as a result of their personal effort.

The candidate has:

  • Exceptional talent
  • Rapid achievement
  • Achieved recognition or shown leadership
  • Been an inspiration to others in and outside of their industry


The judges will be looking for evidence of:

  • Challenges that they have faced and overcome
  • Hard work and determination that continues to drive their business on an upwards trajectory
  • An ability to become a significant contributor to their organisation and/or the wider business community



The candidate has:

  • Exceptional talent
  • Rapid achievement
  • Achieved recognition or shown leadership
  • Been an inspiration to others in and outside of their industry


The judges will be looking for evidence of:

  • Challenges that they have faced and overcome
  • Hard work and determination that continues to drive their business on an upwards trajectory
  • An ability to become a significant contributor to their organisation and/or the wider business community


Young Business Leader Award

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Nicolette Nadia Mashile

Nicolette Mashile is the founder of Financial Fitness Bunnies, a consumer financial education content agency, The Financial Bunny School and Foundation and Bunch of Winnaz, a community media planning and buying agency. The Financial Bunny school teaches children and adults about financial literacy and consumer financial education.

She holds several diplomas and degrees, and is currently completing her MBA thesis with a focus on factors influencing purchasing decisions of financial products and services. In 2023 Nicolette was appointed on the FSCA consumer advisory panel.

She is the co-founding Chairperson of Mikateko Property Investments, a SAIBPP Women's Forum committee member and former television broadcaster co-hosting SABC1's youth talk show Daily Thetha and SABC 2's Sanlam Moola Money family game show.

Nicolette is the best-selling author of What's Your Move and creator of the kids financial education series Coco the Money Bunny. She runs a YouTube channel, Financial Bunny, and is a developer of a financial literacy game board and mobile game application called Save or Spend. With a noticeable reach on social media of over a million followers across her social media channels, Nicolette leads critically youth affected socio-economic conversations.
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Farai Ian Muvuti

Farai Ian Muvuti serves as the Executive Director of Feenix Recruitment Group, a network recruitment startup under Muvuti Investments. With over a decade in recruitment, he connects professionals internationally, spanning junior to director level across diverse industries. As the publisher and founder of The Southern African Times, he co-founded the Africa Investment Leaders Forum and Awards. Farai's expertise extends to business development, operational activities, and successful recruitment in sectors like health, retail, finance, advertising, technology, and oil and gas.

Actively contributing to several boards, including the Africa Public Policy Research Institute and Africa Business Chamber of Commerce, he showcases leadership in Bestafoam, Platinum Vision LTD, and Elite Children's Foundation.

Beyond his business acumen, Farai is a passionate musician, leading the band Farai & The Forest Dawn. Engaging in political debates, he cherishes spending quality time with his five-year-old daughter, Angeline.
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Tebogo Aubrey Poopedi

A tragedy at age fourteen has made Mr TAP realize his greater purpose in life is to serve others and transform lives. "I lost my sight, but I gained my vision."

Tebogo Poopedi (more commonly known as Mr TAP) is South Africa's first blind rapper, founder and station manager of Skills Village Radio, radio presenter, author, musical entertainer, motivational speaker and advocate for persons with disabilities from Soweto in South Africa.

With support from organizations like Innovative Entrepreneurs, his family, and a strong belief in himself and those he inspires he has successfully beaten the odds and the stigma of being visually impaired.

Skills Village Radio is an online community radio station that he utilizes as a powerful medium to communicate with women, youth and persons with disabilities. Utilizing this platform to inspire others to tap into their purpose in life and to promote the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Mr TAP constantly builds relationships with strategic partners that are willing to open doors and offer opportunities for women, youth and persons with disabilities from low income earning communities.


Young Business Leader Award

Farai Ian Muvuti

Farai Ian Muvuti serves as the Executive Director of Feenix Recruitment Group, a network recruitment startup under Muvuti Investments. With over a decade in recruitment, he connects professionals internationally, spanning junior to director level across diverse industries. As the publisher and founder of The Southern African Times, he co-founded the Africa Investment Leaders Forum and Awards. Farai's expertise extends to business development, operational activities, and successful recruitment in sectors like health, retail, finance, advertising, technology, and oil and gas.

Actively contributing to several boards, including the Africa Public Policy Research Institute and Africa Business Chamber of Commerce, he showcases leadership in Bestafoam, Platinum Vision LTD, and Elite Children's Foundation.

Beyond his business acumen, Farai is a passionate musician, leading the band Farai & The Forest Dawn. Engaging in political debates, he cherishes spending quality time with his five-year-old daughter, Angeline.
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