Dina Soukop, CEO of Soukop Property Group, was delighted to receive a Certificate of Excellence at the 13th Annual Standard Bank’s Top Woman in Business and Government Awards.
A delighted Dina Soukop was recognised once again for her achievements in property and women’s empowerment at the Standard Bank Awards at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on 18 August. Reserved for a senior female executive who has demonstrated exceptional performance within the property sector and demonstrated admirable leadership, business acumen and strategic foresight, Dina said it was most humbling to be recognised.
Born in Rome and brought up in South Africa, property has always been part of Dina’s life. With a father who was a builder and developer, Dina studied law at UKZN before working as a conveyancer in Durban for about 7 years. After that she threw herself into the world of real estate, joining RMS Syfrets, opening Soukop and Associates, joining forces with Pam Golding Properties, and in 2007, at the age of 60, opening, with husband Fred, Soukop Property Group with Head Offices in Durban’s Florida Road.
“I am proud that, at 60, I started a brand new business venture, and prouder still that 9 years later, we can boast 13 branches and franchises, 350 staff members and expansion still very much on the horizon,” comments Dina.
“I am also proud of my staff, and can boast office and sales staff who have been with me for over 20 years. In 2009 our offices were razed to the ground by fire (nearly all our records, files, contacts, books, awards and certificates were lost) yet my entire staff simply packed up and worked in a makeshift space until the building had been restored.”
While each staff member is important to the Soukop Property Group, Dina has empowered many female staff over my time in the property world, and many female agents, who started with her, now have brands of their own, or are recognised property personalities in their own right. Similarly, many of the Soukop past and current managers are women, each trained and empowered to run her own branch or franchise.
“Over the past 38 years, I’ve seen incredible changes both in the local property market and in the country as a whole, and I must say it excites me,” adds Dina. “Regardless of the highs and lows in market conditions, I see phenomenal growth around us, and remain convinced of the fabulous investment value of property and delighted by the power of the rising black buyer. We have so little to be negative about! Not only is our country a joy to those who live in it, with incredible offerings and amenities, but we also have so much to share, with pride, with the rest of the world.”
For more information, please contact: Dina Soukop | dinasoukop@soukop.co.za | 031 312 0312 | www.soukop.co.za