Woman in Business of the Year

Woman in Business of the Year WINNER 2013: Sharon Constancon

Sharon Constancon has been nominated for Woman in Business of the Year in the South African Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2013. Read her profile and vote for her here.

Woman in Business of the Year

sharon constanconName: Sharon Constancon

High School: Rustenberg Girls High and Hyde Park High
Tertiary Education:

  • Chartered Secretary ICSA UK and SA
  • Wits Business School – MBA
  • IoD UK Chartered Director

Qualifications: ACIS / MBA / CDir
Lives In: North Dean, Buckinghamshire UK
Companies: Genius Methods Ltd and Valufin Ltd
Title: CEO in each case
Duration of time within your company: 4 Years
Professional Membership held:

  • I am an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and a Member of the Institute of Directors for whom I carry out pro bono interviewing of prospective Chartered Directors. My application for Fellow status of both bodies is in progress.
  • I am an Alumni Member of Wits Business School.
  • I am an approved person under Financial Conduct Authority in the UK and a Key Representative under the Financial Services Board in SA.
  • I am a member of the Winmark NED Group.

Previous positions held (key roles):

  • CEO of ComplySoft Limited (Current)
  • NED of Buckinghamshire Building Society (Current)
  • Director of Valufin (Pty) Limited in South Africa (Current)
  • MD of Constancon Currencies (Pty) Limited (1988 to 1989)
  • Chief Dealer — Societe Generale (1982 to 1987)
  • Head Office Accountant — Blue Circle ( 1980 to 1982)

What are your main achievements in the category you are being nominated for?

Starting new concept businesses in immature markets focusing on technology to support service. I have always been self funded. My first key achievement was as MD of Constancon Currencies in SA, which I grew quickly from concept to a fully fledged forex outsourced company and built it up to list within 10 years in the late 90’s. I was finalist SA Business Women Awards and runner up Nedbank Entrepreneur of the Year. Current achievement being a key governance market player and in two years built a penetration into the FTSE 350.

What makes you most proud about your business?

My pride is self funded, technology designed products to support innovative service solutions which deliver a sustainable business model which is greater than the individual or the hours. In a relatively short few years Genius Methods is recognised as one of the top 5 independent board governance companies with penetration in the FTSE 350. Valufin is breaking new ground providing forex outsourcing and the next project to see the light of day in early 2014 will be a hosted corporate treasurer focused forex accounting and risk management software solution.

Community Involvement: I did pro bono Governance and Risk work for a standards charity, Skills at Work, Member – Board of Examiners & Chartered Director interviewer for the IoD and adjudicated and mentored annually for 3 years tertiary education youth projects. I braai a few hundred boerewors rolls annually at the local fete. Walk marathons and ultra marathons to raise funds for recognised charities that have meaning to me or to support the education of specific children in South Africa. I have sponsored the education of over 10 specific children; the current child is 14 and against all odds is progressing well.

Directorship / Leadership positions: First female senior manager in the Sanlam Group and first female Chief Dealer in SA. An Executive Director for a JSE listed company. For a number of years I was Finance Manager for Karen Zoid, rock musician in SA. Currently CEO of Genius Methods (Governance) and Valufin (Forex) and Director of Valufin SA. I am a NED for a financial services firm in the UK, Buckinghamshire Building Society, and Chairman of the Conduct and Culture Committee.
Recent Awards: Non recently – not applied

Favourite Business Quotes:

  • “You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that’s assault, not leadership.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • “Leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.” – Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge
  • “Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.” – Albert Einstein
  • “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player

Mentors:

  • Margaret Thatcher, dynamite in small package, driven and with clear views. The Queen Mother, ordinary person yet so special.
  • The Queen, the most amazing women of current time, shrewd, focused, hardworking, human, family oriented — a woman of unbelievable wisdom.
  • Dr Neville Bain, the late Chairman of the IoD, intelligent, human and natural leader.
  • Prof Steve Myint, the mentor to amazing business people of all ages — he asks the difficult questions.
  • My Chairman, Alan Hindley, who has given me no place to hide, yet always there as a friend.
  • My brother, Mike Butler — no nonsense best friend.

How to vote for Sharon:

To increase this nominee’s chances of winning, please post a comment below. Each comment posted in response to the CV/bio of your chosen nominee, which is connected to a unique, legitimate e-mail address and IP address, will be counted as a vote. Comments made by the public will contribute to 30% of the total vote.

Entry, voting, participation and judging of the South African Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2013 are governed by the Rules and Regulations.