< Back Cindy Norcott

< Back Kirsty Fonzari

The popular Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards are now in their sixteenth year of existence. As business plays a crucial role in the growth of Africa, Standard Bank has been the proud sponsor of this event for several years. The Awards recognise companies and organisations that integrate responsible business practice into their operations, resulting in a positive impact on the economy, community, and workplace, creating a better life for all in KZN. Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards Price Duration Free consultancy 30 minutes Application < Back About the memberships and subscriptions Key Annual Events KZN Top Business is proud to host several key annual events that are highlights of the business calendar. The popular Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards are now in their sixteenth year of existence. As business plays a crucial role in the growth of Africa, Standard Bank has been the proud sponsor of this event for several years. The Awards recognise companies and organisations that integrate responsible business practice into their operations, resulting in a positive impact on the economy, community, and workplace, creating a better life for all in KZN. Let's connect Grant Adlam Now can you imagine the power of the KZN Masterclass We linked this back to been a KZN Top Business Gurus, to been a specialist. Now make use of KZN Top Business Press room The content The webinar The YouTube The blog The articles The network of our Business Community Set up an appointment and let's expanded on the KZN Masterclass and it and how ultimately how this all links back to dynamics of the KZN Top Business & Leaders Portfolio

If you’re connected with your inner voice, you will be fine. Trust that voice more < Back Dawn Dunn Rugby Commentator and Businesswoman Dawn Dunn has worn many caps over the years and is a powerhouse of a businesswoman. She is a well-known and loved rugby personality who over the last eight years has interacted with many of the rugby fraternity. Her technical knowledge, together with her eclectic, vivacious nature brings a fresh take on the rugby commentator. In addition, Dawn has successfully run events, marketing campaigns and a PR business since 2003 and is responsible for innovative events around South Africa. With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has diversified into the online space proving that there are always opportunities in any situation. Consequently, Dawn has branched into broadcasting, webinars, photography, and story writing. An incredible story Dawn’s story is an incredible one. She is a previously disadvantaged black female who grew up during apartheid in a township. “We only got electricity when I was eight years old, and I didn’t have to read by candlelight any more. I only found out that toilets weren’t outside in a long drop, when we got a ‘proper’ house. I didn’t know that we were deprived in any way because I was a happy child.” Significantly, the support of her family has ensured she has not allowed herself to be limited in her career choices. Dawn explains, “I do think that your childhood plays a big part in your person, in your personality and in your strengths. I have always been a bit of a round in a square or a square in a round and I really had a lot of support from my father and a bit later assistance from my sister and the rest of the family. I was always that girl who did things differently. Having the family’s acceptance and acknowledgement, even though half the time they didn’t know what I was talking about was really wonderful. I think that came through especially when I was a bit older, and I was challenging the norms. It was really wonderful to have that background, that grounding and that certainty of self.” Dawn commented that she has always found business to be easy especially as she has worked with incredible people who have had vision. “We have been able to work together to really produce beautiful work that has inspired me.” On the rugby side, Dawn has found the challenges to be more multi-layered. Men found having a female voice in a male dominated environment very challenging. She explains that there was a bit of controlling involved as far as that was concerned and which she does not do well, so she pushed back. “I haven’t grown up with rugby or business in my life, so I believe that you can break the mould. I think that it is important not to judge the person by the outer cover. A lot of people thought I was blond with big boobs,” she explains. Finding your voice “For me the biggest challenge was that at some point I did lose my voice and when you are surrounded by quite a bit of negativity, especially by the boys you love, you do tend to retreat. I think that it is important to every day reconnect with who you are. Reconnect with what is it that you want to do and sometimes it means removing yourself from the situation, finding the quiet place inside you so that you can be authentic again, be strong again, and find your voice again.” It is not uncommon for women in business to be challenged on the business level and for them to lose their voices because they are trying to be flexible and trying to adjust to the demands of the situation. Dawn feels that her one piece of advice to other women would be to find your voice. “And if you do lose your voice because you will; life happens – it is important to go back to your default button and start again. Be kind to yourself, it’s important to always find that happy voice inside you that makes you joyful and makes you want to get up and do what you love. If you’re connected with your inner voice, you will be fine. Trust that voice more.” Future goals Dawn says that turning fifty this year has been amazing for her. Her birthday has given her clarity of vision, which has caused her to shift her goals slightly and she has fresh energy. One of her recent projects is her ongoing podcasts with co-host Lauren Terras, which feature the achievements of women in sports. She explains, “I want to focus a lot more on story telling with women in sport. I really find them completely inspirational. For me doing the podcasts around the Olympians, focusing on ladies in sport was a game changer because the story telling involved, inspired and energised me and created a beautiful new baby.” In addition, Dawn would like to travel a lot more in sport and be able to tell the stories of the Olympians and of our ‘beautiful’ Springbok players. She added that the initiative is about making us as South Africans remember just how incredible we are, as well as bridging the gap between the sportsperson and the public. Dawn would also like to see women in business supporting each other more for business execution on all levels. She concludes, “Let’s look at changing the narrative from a gender-based violence perspective, from a business perspective and from a women’s perspective. I do hope that in my way I can inspire little girls to dream bigger, to want more and to try and get more.”

KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence This is a great place to add a tagline. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

< Back Stacey Norman Drive Host on East Coast Radio Stacey Norman, a drive host on East Coast Radio, KZN’s number one hit music station, has been captivating audiences for over 20 years. With a career that began in her teenage years, she has grown into a figure that embodies the essence of KwaZulu-Natal. Stacey’s entry into the world of radio is one of those serendipitous moments that shaped her career. She recalls, “I won a talent competition at KFM when I was 15, but I didn’t want to participate. My mother did it behind my back, so she is single-handedly responsible for everything that I’ve done and reminds me every chance she gets.” She added, “I was raised to be on stage. There’s nothing that I’ve ever done where my dad hasn’t been right there with a video camera.” Starting off with weekend overnight shifts, Stacey quickly climbed the ranks at KFM. “I did weekend overnights for two weeks, then weekend evenings, and eventually daytime,” she explains. “I was the youngest person they ever had on daytime radio.” With years spent honing her craft, Stacey’s presence soon extended beyond Cape Town when Primedia simulcasted her show to 94.7 in Johannesburg. Her journey took her across the country, from the streets of Cape Town to Johannesburg, where she expanded her media footprint with television appearances and hosting gigs. But despite her achievements, Stacey’s biggest career pivot came when East Coast Radio reached out, offering her the chance to return to radio. She became the first female drive host at East Coast Radio in 2020. A UNIQUE VOICE Stacey quickly discovered a unique connection with her audience. “I feel like KZN was waiting for me,” she shares. “There are so many women in this province who are loud, vivacious, and unapologetically themselves. And they needed some kind of representation. I see myself in these women, and I think they see themselves in me. It feels like I’ve come home.” Her approach to radio is anything but traditional. Stacey has managed to break the mould of the stereotypical radio host, offering a space for real, unfiltered interaction with her listeners. Rather than adopting the usual formal tone of a presenter, Stacey created an experience where the audience felt like co-hosts in the conversation. “I want to make sure they feel like they’re part of the show, not just passive listeners. I want the audience to feel like they’re talking to me, not at me,” she says. “When you see me in the street or at Woolworths, I want you to feel like you can walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, girl!’ and I’ll be right there with you, ‘Hey, girl!’” Over the years, Stacey has not only carved a successful career but also navigated the challenges that come with being a woman in the male-dominated radio industry. She acknowledges the obstacles, explaining, “Female presenters have historically been sidelined to sidekick roles, giggling in the background. It wasn’t common for women to host prime time slots, let alone a drive show.” Yet, against these odds, Stacey has found her place at the forefront of the industry. She has spent her life chasing excellence, as such her journey has been marked by determination and a refusal to be put in a box. “The fact that I’m still here is remarkable,” she reflects. However, Stacey’s success wasn’t without its personal challenges. “Navigating who Stacey is versus who Stacey Norman is has been a huge transition,” she admits. “I created this persona, this perfect version of myself who was always on and never had a bad day. But behind the scenes, I struggled with insecurities like everyone else.” In a bid to be more relatable to her audience, Stacey took on challenges that exposed her true self. One of the most notable moments was when she publicly attempted to get her driver’s license live on air. “I didn’t want to do it, but I thought, if I’m scared, then there must be others who are too. Let’s do it together,” she says, recounting how she included listeners in the process. “We had women join me on the journey, and they also passed their driver’s tests with me. It was all about showing that vulnerability and connecting with my listeners on a real level.” WORDS OF WISDOM Stacey offers valuable advice for young women looking to follow in her footsteps. “It’s difficult, and you have to accept that,” she says. “It’s not all glitz and glam. It takes a lot of work, and you have to dig deep every day. You can’t just show up; you have to be present and deliver.” She encourages women to push through the insecurities and challenges that will inevitably come their way and importantly to surround themselves with people that support them. “The most important thing is to stay true to yourself,” Stacey advises. “Find your signature, and don’t try to be someone you’re not. Because if you start with a fake accent or a fake personality, you might have to keep that going for 20 to 30 years. Radio is an incredibly beautiful medium, but it takes time and respect. If you’re looking for fame, go somewhere else. But if you want to make an impact and create something meaningful, this is where you belong. Stacey’s dream is clear: to be the best at what she does. “For me, the pinnacle of a radio presenter’s career is to host a breakfast show, and that’s where I want to be,” she says. “I’ve done it all, but I want to continue to grow and challenge myself. It’s about finding the balance between ambition and presence.” Away from the microphone, she finds solace in running. “I’m deeply introverted, so quiet time is important and that’s what running is for me. It’s my sacred time. I don’t want a running buddy. I just want to listen to some Taylor Swift or a podcast, mind my business and carry on. Previous Next

00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 < Back Gayle Adlam Editor-in-Chief Gayle is the driving force behind the editorial content that defines KZN Top Business. With a strong commitment to storytelling and regional development, she leads initiatives like the KZN Top Business Women collection, helping to elevate the profiles of industry leaders and innovators across the province. Through her work, she continues to foster a network that connects successful professionals and promotes a culture of excellence in KwaZulu-Natal. Previous Next