Group CEO Award | July 2013

Sophia van Wyk wins the Group CEO Award for performance excellence in July 2013 Art may not be part of Telkom’s core business but it clearly adds value to the company. For Sophia van Wyk, curator of the Telkom Art Collection, this is the significance of her Group CEO award. “It is recognition that what I do is important for Telkom,” says Sophia, who is a member of the Brand team at Consumer Services and Retail. “Art inspires and motivates people, and contributes to profiling Telkom as a socially responsible citizen that supports and conserves South Africa’s heritage.”

Under Sophia’s skilful curatorship, art at Telkom has blossomed. A photographic competition for employees, art therapy workshops for vulnerable children, lunch-time talks for employees by top local artists … these are some of the exciting ideas that have taken shape in her hands. Her biggest achievement to date, though, has probably been launching and running the Telkom Art Space – the company’s very own art gallery. Located on the ground floor of Telkom Tower North in Pretoria, the Art Space has transformed an unused, uninteresting part of the building into a place filled with light, colour and texture. The Art Space regularly hosts exhibitions of some of Telkom’s – and South Africa’s – best art, and Sophia is passionate about encouraging employees to visit it. “Art really does inspire innovation and creativity,” she says.

“Winning a Group CEO award is a very big incentive to excel,” Sophia says. “It is very important for Telkom to recognise employees and the experience has been amazing. For me as an art curator at a corporate company, it was a delightful surprise and I want to thank my *Managing Director, my Executive and my Senior Manager for recognising me and developing my potential.”

* Sophia is referring to Manelisa Mavuso, Managing Director of Consumer Services and Retail, Joy Khaole, Executive: Brand and Sponsorship, and Hannelie van Tonder, Senior Manager: Brand

Telkom Leading Light Awards | 2012

Sophia van Wyk won Telkom Leading Light Awards for the management of the art exhibition openings at the Telkom Art Space (2012) and the ‘Take Your Pic’ photographic competition (2011).