On 21 June, 2019, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was awarded with the LionHeart at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, an award given to those who have used their position as well as working with brands and the advertising community to make a positive impact to the world. The award is on its 6th year, having only been introduced in 2014.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka has been championing rights for women and youth ever since she was just a young woman. She has devoted herself to fighting issues of human rights, equality, and social justice, and she is affiliated with organizations that are devoted to education, women empowerment, and gender equality.
She worked closely with the late Nelson Mandela as his Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, and later on as his Minister of Minerals and Energy. She also became the first woman who became the Deputy President of South Africa. She has a diverse set of experience, having worked as a teacher and for the government and the private sector.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka is currently the United Nations’ Under-Secretary-General and U.N. Women’s Executive Director.
Speaking in response to the announcement of the award, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka said, “It is an honour to be nominated for this Award on behalf of UN Women and The Unstereotype Alliance. I look forward to what we will do next through this partnership to change the way the world looks at itself and disrupt the social norms that are holding us back. We are thrilled to be working with the advertising community to bring about positive change by influencing the way that both women and men are represented.”
