[Johannesburg, 07 November 2022] Trade Intelligence is pleased to announce that it has been nominated as a finalist in the Standard Bank Top Women Awards in the category of Top Gender-Empowered Organisation: Retail and E-Commerce. Managing Director, Natasha Smith, has also been selected as a finalist in the ‘Top Women Young Achiever’ category, which recognises women executives aged 40 and younger with excellent business acumen who are passionate about building their company, creating employment and contributing to the economy. 

The Standard Bank Top Women Awards are Africa's most acclaimed business awards for women and celebrate individuals and organisations who make a meaningful contribution to gender empowerment in South Africa. The ‘Top Gender-Empowered Company in Retail and E-Commerce Award’ specifically recognises companies of retail and e-commerce brands, e-commerce platforms and retail publications that “make the world a better place”.  

Established in 2004 by founding partner, Maryla Masojada, Trade Intelligence has a proud history of providing opportunities for young women starting their careers in the FMCG industry, not only in terms of employment but also support learning and development through graduate programmes, mentoring and guidance by other women in the business. “Trade Intelligence has been critical in helping me find my career path,” says Trade Intelligence Retail Analyst, Thobeka Magubane, who joined the business three years ago as client services administrator. “As a business it continues to nurture and equip me with the necessary skills, tools and resources I need. The business has positively transformed my life in a short space of time – that is something I will always be grateful for.” It was in this way that during her leadership at Trade Intelligence, Masojada surrounded herself with competent and passionate women, who laid the foundations for the business’ success.  

In 2019, Masojada sold the business to Smollan, a global retail solutions business, which had already been a stakeholder in Trade Intelligence for several years. Smollan held a firm belief in the impact that the business could have in the retail industry going forward and made the decision to appoint Natasha Smith as Managing Director of Trade Intelligence, who this year is a finalist in the ‘Top Women Young Achiever’ category of the Standard Bank Top Women Awards. 

Natasha inherited a business which had endured a number of difficult years. She quickly assessed the situation and articulated a clear strategy to revitalise the organisation – one that aimed to provide hope, inspiration and security for the team, and a vision for a prosperous future. 

The success of any strategy is largely determined by the clarity in articulation and onboarding of the team. Natasha understood this perfectly and therefore created a strategy that was clear and easy to understand by the team across all levels. It was called the “The 5-in-5 Ambition” i.e. grow the business to five times its size in five years. It was a “big, bold ambition”, but Natasha immediately started leading from the front, and thanks to her balanced mix of care and drive, Trade Intelligence has become a robust and sustainable business that is well on its way to achieving its goal. 

Not only is Natasha an astute businesswoman, but her willingness to listen to her team and bring them with her on a journey of both personal and business growth has garnered her the respect of the team at Trade Intelligence, which has an 87% female staff complement. Her goal, and that of the business, is to continue to build skills and invest in the personal development of the team, with a focus on women empowerment, to provide upward mobility not only in the Trade Intelligence business but in the Smollan Global business too. 

“Retail is a male-dominated industry,” says Smith. “When it comes to the empowerment of women, our vision at Trade Intelligence is to provide a platform for women to have a voice in the industry, providing them with every opportunity to showcase their expertise and contribution in an uplifting way.”  

Trade Intelligence would like to take this opportunity to thank all its business partners and stakeholders, and importantly its loyal subscribers and clients, who have played such a significant role in making it the business it is today.  

The Standard Bank Top Women Awards winners will be announced at a gala event taking place on Thursday, 10 November 2022 in Johannesburg.  

-Ends 

Media Contact 

Annomi Kriel 

annomi@tradeintelligence.co.za 

tel: +27 [0] 31 303 2803 | cell: +27 [0] 82 940 0641  

About Trade Intelligence 

Trade Intelligence is South Africa’s leading source of consumer goods retail research, insights and training solutions, focusing on the industry’s corporate and independent retailers and wholesalers. We are the trusted voice of the sectors in which we operate, aggregating information to amplify knowledge, grow capability, and enable collaboration that drives profitable trading relationships and sustainable sector growth.