Meet the 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award Winners And The Legacies They Are Shaping
This year, the Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot marks its fifth year in South Africa with the announcement of Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa and Pretty Kubyane as the 2026 Bold Woman Award and Bold Future Award winners, respectively. The winners were unveiled at a celebratory gathering at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 15 July. Now in its 54th year globally, the Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot honours visionary women who, in the spirit of Madame Clicquot, lead with courage, innovation and a commitment to empowering others.
Established in 1972 to mark the Maison’s 200th anniversary, the Bold Woman Award has since evolved into a global tribute to women across 27 countries who are reshaping the future of business. As the first and longest-running international award of its kind, its impact is wide reaching. Applauding their leadership and tenacity, the Bold Woman Award provides entrepreneurs like Lindiwe and Pretty a platform and access to an inspiring global community who are building decade-defining legacies.
2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award Winner
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa, Founder of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads
Today, Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa leads Africa’s first large-scale sanitary pad manufacturing facility owned and operated entirely by women. From humble beginnings in a home kitchen, Lindiwe Sanitary Pads (LSP) has grown into a 4,000sqm factory in Centurion, producing 800 SABS-compliant pads every minute. But when she first sought investment, she was told she would not succeed. “Lindiwe does not have manufacturing experience and does not fit the profile,” one major investor remarked. 10 years later, her business stands as a powerful rebuttal to that judgement. By backing herself when others would not, she transformed doubt into opportunity and built a business that reflects the boldness and audacity at the heart of her entrepreneurial journey.
She is building what she once described, before she had even begun, as “the birth of an empire,” transforming an industry historically built around women, yet rarely owned by them. Under Lindiwe’s leadership, the business now employs 36 full-time and 93 peak-season staff members in a state-of-the-art factory, the majority of whom are women from previously disadvantaged communities.
The company has expanded into 11 countries through a partnership with Young Women of Africa (YWoA), empowering female entrepreneurs to launch and own their own sanitary pad brands, gaining access to economic independence. The business has also supplied more than 100,000 schoolgirls with free sanitary products in 2026 alone.
Lindiwe’s journey is one of exceptional resilience and conviction. Growing up in Limpopo, she had her daughter young whilst studying at university in Pretoria, but never let circumstances dictate her future. During one of the company’s most difficult periods – empty bank account, angry suppliers, a team relying on her – she managed to secure R27 million in funding without collateral after inviting executives to her factory and presenting her vision directly.
“When everyone else suffocates us, we go to other women for oxygen,” said jury member, Happy Ralinala, during Lindiwe’s 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award adjudication session. “Lindiwe embodies that spirit. She has transformed doubt into opportunity and, in doing so, created a business that empowers other women and expands what is possible for those who follow.”
2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award Winner
Pretty Kubyane, Co-founder & Tech Lead of eFama App
Pretty Kubyane’s journey to becoming the award-winning tech entrepreneur she is today has been shaped by extraordinary personal and professional perseverance. As Co-founder and Tech Lead of eFama App, she is transforming agricultural supply chains across Africa through technology, AI and data-driven infrastructure.
Raised in a farming family and shaped by early experiences in her father’s workshop, Pretty Kubyane developed an appreciation for both community and problem-solving from a young age. Since 2023, eFama has connected thousands of farmers and buyers across South Africa through a digital marketplace that enables more informed production decisions based on market demand. Alongside her husband Shadrack Kubyane, she has built eFama into a platform that supports over 40,000 farmers, has secured millions in funding, and is backed by some of the biggest organisations in the world, including Google, Meta and Amazon.
Adversity, coupled with an unwavering belief in her own worth, shaped Pretty’s path. Investors were sceptical that a woman without a formal engineering degree could lead a high-stakes AgriTech business, but undeterred, Pretty dedicated hundreds of hours to mastering the intricacies of coding, cloud architecture, cybersecurity and AI. More than 40 global certifications and multiple awards later, she is steadily building what she hopes will become the continent’s largest food ecosystem. For Pretty, boldness is “the audacity to be a technical powerhouse, a devoted wife, and a present mother simultaneously, ensuring my daughter knows that being a ‘beautiful, strong leader’ is her natural birthright at any table.” Years of perseverance have turned that belief into her lived reality.
“I am deeply moved by how you have been able to marry your upbringing, the work ethic you gained and the business that you have built now,” said jury member Amanda Dambuza during Pretty’s 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award adjudication session. “You are a social entrepreneur who uses technology to solve a problem.”
As Lindiwe and Pretty join Veuve Clicquot’s international community of Bold women, they become part of a legacy shaped by generations of pioneers who have chosen to challenge convention and create opportunities for others. Their journey to Reims marks the beginning of a new chapter; one that connects them to a global network of female entrepreneurs and ensures the spirit of Madame Clicquot continues to inspire those who will follow.
Hosted by MC Nomndeni Mdakhi, the award ceremony celebrated the growing legacy of the Bold Woman Award in South Africa. Acclaimed poet and author Lebo Mashile delivered a specially commissioned spoken-word performance honouring the women whose courage and conviction are shaping industries and creating opportunities for others. Returning to the stage, Retang Phaahla, founder of Setšong Tea Crafters and the 2025 Bold Woman Award laureate, reflected on the ripple effect of the recognition. “Winning the Bold Woman Award has amplified not just my voice, but the voices of the rural communities I build with,” she shared. “It affirms that African stories belong on the global stage. I carry it forward as a responsibility to support grassroots enterprises and help elevate community impact businesses – because boldness is about building with others and ensuring growth is shared.” Her reflections captured the spirit of a community built on ambition and the belief that progress is most powerful when it is shared.
“More than two centuries after Madame Clicquot shaped the future of our Maison, her spirit lives on through women like Lindiwe and Pretty. Their businesses are creating opportunity and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. It is a privilege to welcome them into the global Bold community and celebrate the legacies they are building,” said Thomas Mulliez, President and CEO of Veuve Clicquot, who attended the Bold Woman Award ceremony in South Africa.
The Bold Open Data Base by Veuve Clicquot continues to extend its impact beyond the awards themselves. The free global platform brings together thousands of women entrepreneurs, making it easier to discover, connect with and champion women-led businesses around the world. Designed to unlock new opportunities and foster meaningful collaboration, the initiative reflects Veuve Clicquot’s belief that boldness thrives in community. Female entrepreneurs are invited to become part of this growing network by registering at www.boldopendatabase.com/en.
