WIMBIZ is a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) formed in 2002 by thirteen women and one man to improve the success rate of female entrepreneurs and increase the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organizations.

WIMBIZ has an overriding vision “to be the catalyst that elevates the profile of women in management and business.” Our vision is borne out of a desire to assist women manage the manifold challenges they face in the workplace and in so doing enable them fulfill their potential and be meaningful contributors to economic development. This vision is aimed at improving the success rate of female entrepreneurs and increasing the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organisations.

To date, we have done this primarily through organising foras and events where women can meet to discuss these issues with other women and men, proffer solutions and leave better informed and equipped to tackle these challenges successfully. It is well-known that despite the equal intake of women and men at the entry level of most organisations, very few women make it to the top. The glass ceiling is a reality. Whilst organisations may not actively discriminate against women, they also do not adequately understand or address the challenges that women in the workforce face. The resultant effect is the loss of a critical highly skilled portion of the workforce.

There are challenges particular to women which prevent them from attaining leadership positions. Women, therefore, need support and encouragement to rise up to the task to overcoming these challenges in order to become successful whether as career women in corporate organisations or as entrepreneurs. WIMBIZ was formed to encourage and facilitate the interaction between women corporate executives and entrepreneurs.

WIMBIZ OBJECTIVES remain….

1. To educate and challenge women to maximize their potentials and rise up to the inevitable work life challenges that they will face
2. To elevate the attraction and retention of women in the workplace to a business issue as well as a social and gender-related issue
3. To create a platform/opportunities for networking and building value-added business relationships
4. To build a sustainable support infrastructure for mentoring, career and business guidance and facilitation
5. To improve the success rate of female entrepreneurs and increase the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organisations