Lelo N Africa™, Founder and Chair of W.O.W Africa Holdings, is preparing to bring together some of Africa’s influential entrepreneurs, business leaders and changemakers for the W.O.W Africa 100 Leadership Summit and Crystal Globe Awards.
Taking place on Saturday, 27 February 2027, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, the gathering will recognise 50 Extraordinary Women and 50 Rare Men whose leadership, business achievements and contributions are creating opportunities for others.
Under the theme “The Spotlight Is on You”, the event aims to create more than a platform for recognition. It seeks to encourage meaningful conversations, build relationships across industries and explore opportunities for collaboration among people who are actively shaping businesses and communities.
The programme will begin with the Leadership Summit from 16:00 to 17:30, followed by the Crystal Globe Awards and celebration from 18:00 until late. Guests are expected to attend in Green Elegance, the official dress code for the occasion.
Founded by Lelo N Africa™, W.O.W Africa, which stands for Workshops of Wealth, is a Pan-African leadership, enterprise and media platform built around the idea that wealth should create value beyond individual success. Through its convenings, recognition programmes and business-focused platforms, the initiative seeks to connect founders and leaders while encouraging the exchange of knowledge, resources and opportunities.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the initiative, Lelo N Africa™ explains that the intention was to address the need for stronger relationships among entrepreneurs.
“I established W.O.W Africa because I wanted to explore what it takes to build wealth that has value beyond one person’s lifetime. Access is at the heart of that. The gap I identified was the need for a space where founders could build meaningful, sustained relationships with other founders,” she says.
For Lelo, the value of bringing entrepreneurs together extends beyond networking. She believes that trust, shared knowledge and meaningful relationships can create opportunities for partnerships, market access and business growth. In turn, these developments can contribute to employment, skills development and stronger communities.
This thinking is reflected in W.O.W Africa’s four guiding pillars: Legacy, Connection, Access and Continental Impact. While each plays an important role, Lelo identifies access as particularly urgent for African entrepreneurs.
“There is an economic consequence to who has access to knowledge, markets, capital and the people who make decisions. A capable founder can have something valuable to offer and still struggle to reach the relationships that could help their enterprise grow,” she explains.
The recognition of 50 Rare Men also forms an important part of the programme. According to Lelo, the initiative seeks to celebrate men whose leadership creates opportunities for others, particularly through mentorship, accountability and the development of people.
“A rare man, in my view, is someone whose progress creates room for other people to progress. He understands that building a business, holding influence and employing people carry responsibilities that extend beyond his own ambitions,” she says.
Beyond the awards, the gathering is intended to create relationships that continue long after the event. Lelo hopes that conversations between participating leaders will lead to collaborations, stronger enterprises and opportunities that benefit people beyond the room.
Nominations are now open for founders and changemakers, with self-nominations also welcome. Event seating is available separately, with options starting at R950.
Companies and institutions can also participate through award sponsorships, Summit conversations, brand activations and media partnerships.
For nominations, reservations and further information, visit www.workshopsofwealth.com.
