The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award returned for its fourth year in South Africa, crowning Retang Phaahla and Dr Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi as the 2025 Bold Woman Award and Bold Future Award winners, respectively. The announcement was made at an elegant gathering at The Forum, Hyde Park, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, 16 July.
Now in its 53rd year worldwide, the Bold Woman Award pays homage to visionary women who, in the spirit of Madame Clicquot, embody courage, innovation, and a dedication to uplifting others. Established in 1972 to celebrate the maison’s bicentenary, the award has grown into a global celebration of female leadership across 27 countries, recognising those shaping the future of business.
More than just an accolade, it fosters a powerful network of trailblazing entrepreneurs. Each year’s winners join an illustrious sisterhood of bold leaders — and now, Retang and Dr Phindile take their rightful place among them.
Dr Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi: Pioneering a Sustainable Future
Dr Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi, Founder and CEO of Hazile Group, has been honoured with the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award for her groundbreaking work in climate-smart development. Through hydroponic farming, water remediation, and renewable energy, she is tackling South Africa’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.
Hazile Group, a multidisciplinary, Black woman-led enterprise, operates at the intersection of agriculture, clean water, and green energy, driving Africa’s green economy through regenerative practices. Its initiatives — spanning rural development, empowerment, and environmental innovation — directly support United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Climate Action.
“I’m a woman with a vision to transform South Africa’s food and water status,” says Dr Phindile.
In Conversation with Dr Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi
YLA: How do you define “boldness” in your work, particularly as a Black woman leading in sustainability?
Dr Phindile: Boldness is choosing to build systems that don’t yet exist — while remaining visible, values-driven, and uncompromising in impact. As a Black woman in sustainability, it means occupying spaces — boardrooms, innovation labs, the field — where we’ve historically been excluded. It’s leading not just with vision, but with deep community intent, ensuring our solutions are both climate-smart and people-first.
YLA: Hazile Group operates in male-dominated sectors. What barriers have you faced, and how have you turned them into opportunities?
Dr Phindile: The challenges are undeniable: being underestimated in technical spaces, securing funding, and accessing networks, particularly for rural and women-led innovation. But I’ve transformed those barriers into blueprints. Where I wasn’t given a seat at the table, I built my own. We’ve just launched the Eco-Farm Pod, made from recycled materials, training youth and women in informal settlements. True innovation doesn’t need permission — only purpose.
YLA: You aim to revolutionise South Africa’s food and water systems. What does that vision look like, and how close are we?
Dr Phindile: Transformation means women and youth running their own agri-enterprises, even in townships. Imagine DIY hydroponic tunnels in community gardens and portable water purification units reaching households without clean water. We’re piloting the Eco-Farm Pod and developing self-contained water purification systems. While we’re not there yet, the momentum is undeniable — each project proves an inclusive, regenerative future is possible.
YLA: How do you blend high-tech innovation with indigenous knowledge?
Dr Phindile: We merge accessible technology with time-tested indigenous wisdom. Our water purification units use UV and biosand filtration — low-energy solutions that function without formal infrastructure. For clients with resources, we offer solar-powered pumps and smart irrigation. At the same time, we incorporate traditional practices like companion planting and seasonal rhythms. It’s about designing with intention — honouring our roots while addressing modern challenges.
YLA: Share a setback that became a defining lesson.
Dr Phindile: During COVID, we lost clients, momentum, and temporarily shut down. That painful pause forced us to rethink. We pivoted from selling produce to developing agri-tech, training communities, and integrating water and renewable energy solutions. Resilience isn’t about bouncing back — it’s evolving forward. That lesson now defines how I lead.
Inspiring Testaments to Courage and Innovation
As Veuve Clicquot continues to champion fearless female leadership, Dr Phindile and Retang stand as inspiring testaments to the power of bold vision — proving that with courage and innovation, transformative change is within reach.
