Over the last two years, Margaret has been the recipient of a variety of awards to acknowledge her contribution to the business world in South Africa, from the BWASA Business Woman of the Year (Entrepreneur) award in 2012 to SANLAM’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship in 2013.  This year she was a nominee in the Standard Bank sponsored Business Woman of the Year (Topco) Awards.

“Winning these awards has been wonderful â€" both for Hirsch’s and for me personally, and I would like to see this happening to other women in business.” Margaret explained when she decided to launch the Margaret Hirsch Business Woman of the Year Award in each area in which Hirsch’s operates throughout South Africa.  â€œAs women, we tend not to be assertive enough. There are so many fantastic women out there who are not coming forward to be acknowledged for their contribution to the business world, and I would like to encourage them to come forward and enter the competition or nominate a friend or business owner who they would like to be recognized for this award and if you think you are a successful business woman don’t be too shy to enter yourself!” she said.

Margaret announced that Sky Carboni was the first finalist to be chosen. At any given time during the day, one is likely to find her under the bonnet of a car or even under the car as she is considered to be the only credited female motor vehicle assessor in KZN, with 13 years of panel beating under her belt. Sky has extensive hands on knowledge and is CEO and owner of PRO- Auto Assessing.  Sky introduced her company to insurance companies and brokers by phoning, emailing and literally knocking on doors. These days she is one of the preferred providers for companies such a Holland Compendium, Reid Raetzer, CC& A Insurance Brokers and TIB. Sky is not only a hard worker but a wife and a mother as well!