On 7 December 2025, the Miss Global South Africa stage lit up with brilliance, ambition, and the unmistakable energy of women determined to make a difference. Yet beyond the crowns, evening gowns, and dazzling performances, this year’s event marked something far more meaningful: a renewed celebration of purpose-driven leadership. At the centre of this narrative stood Maryke Kruger, Chief Executive Officer of CoreSync, who not only represented one of the evening’s key sponsors but served as a distinguished judge, bringing with her an inspiring philosophy that blends business excellence with real-world impact.
Miss Global South Africa has long held the reputation of being more than a beauty competition. It is a platform for leadership, advocacy, and empowerment. Contestants are not evaluated solely on presentation, but on their character, ambition, and their ability to influence meaningful change. That ethos aligns deeply with CoreSync’s own values, and with Maryke’s journey as an entrepreneur and woman in business, making her presence on the judging panel both fitting and transformative.
A Platform for Purpose: Miss Global South Africa’s Meaningful Mission
In today’s world, where young women are increasingly taking ownership of their futures, Miss Global South Africa stands as a platform that nurtures that potential. The competition encourages participants to step beyond traditional expectations and embrace roles of influence, whether in business, community upliftment, social advocacy, or entrepreneurship.
It is a celebration of diversity, ambition, and resilience. Contestants spend months developing leadership capabilities, refining communication skills, engaging in community initiatives, and building confidence that extends far beyond the stage. The pageant’s mission closely mirrors the qualities required to thrive in modern society: courage, authenticity, adaptability, and empathy.
For CoreSync, a company built on empowering businesses with clarity, insight and connected cloud technology, supporting such a platform felt instinctive. “Empowerment is not a slogan,” Maryke often notes. “It’s a responsibility. When we invest in people, we create impact that extends far beyond a single moment.”
Her participation as a judge was not just symbolic, it was a personal commitment to seeing women rise.
Leading with Vision, Courage, and Heart
When Maryke stepped into the role of CEO at CoreSync, the #1 Sage Intacct Partner across Africa and the Middle East, she brought with her more than a decade of leadership in the financial technology sector. Known for her strategic clarity, relentless drive, and exceptional ability to build high-performing teams, she has become one of the region’s most influential voices in cloud finance transformation.
Her leadership philosophy is deeply human:
Success is built on people, purpose, and passion.
Colleagues describe her as someone who listens as intently as she leads; who balances performance with compassion; and who ensures that innovation is not just about technology, but about elevating the people who use it. Under her guidance, CoreSync has entered a new era, expanding into new regions, strengthening partnerships, and delivering solutions that bring transparency, efficiency, and confidence to organisations navigating growth.
But perhaps what sets Maryke apart most is her commitment to uplifting others. To her, leadership is not a title, it is a platform to create opportunities.
Representation Matters: A Woman in Business Changing the Narrative
The presence of a woman CEO on the judging panel of a national competition sends a powerful message. It challenges outdated stereotypes and reinforces a truth the world is finally beginning to embrace: women belong in every room where decisions are made, on the stage, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.
Maryke’s involvement highlights the importance of representation, especially in industries like technology and finance that have historically been male-dominated.
Her visibility matters.
Her leadership matters.
Her impact matters.
In her own journey, Maryke has consistently broken barriers, often quietly, always purposefully. She embodies both strength and kindness, ambition and humility. This balance makes her not only a powerful leader but a relatable role model for young women aspiring to build meaningful careers and businesses.
By sponsoring the event and actively participating as a judge, she demonstrated that leadership extends beyond corporate strategy, it is also about showing up, investing in people, and honouring the responsibility of shaping future leaders.
Beyond the Crown: Creating Opportunities That Change Lives
One of the defining hallmarks of Maryke Kruger’s leadership is her belief that meaningful impact requires meaningful investment. This philosophy was on full display in the weeks leading up to Miss Global South Africa.
Long before she took her place behind the judge’s desk, Maryke dedicated nearly a full week out of her demanding schedule to travel with the finalists to a private game lodge. This was not a ceremonial appearance, it was a commitment. She immersed herself in their world, taking the time to understand who these young women were, where they came from, and what they stood for.
Away from the spotlight, amidst early-morning game drives and fireside conversations, Maryke led discussions on purpose, character, leadership, and personal impact. She coached the finalists on defining their message, understanding their “why,” and showing up authentically in every space they enter. Many contestants described the experience as transformational, a rare opportunity to be mentored by a woman who embodies what many aspire to become: strong, strategic, grounded, and deeply human.
By the time the finalists returned to the city, Maryke knew them not by contestant numbers but by their dreams, their fears, their values, and their vision for change.
This made her contribution on stage all the more meaningful. When she awarded a cash prize to the newly crowned Miss Global South Africa and announced two fully paid, three-month internships at CoreSync, it was not a symbolic gesture, it was an informed investment in potential she had personally witnessed.
The internships offer much more than work experience. They are immersive leadership journeys, where the chosen finalists will be mentored by Maryke herself and CoreSync’s senior management team. They will gain exposure to cloud finance transformation, strategy execution, operations, and purpose-driven leadership, all within a company culture built on empowerment.
In Maryke’s words:
“Beauty may open doors, but purpose keeps them open. Our role is to give women the tools, confidence, and opportunity to step through them.”
Through this hands-on engagement, CoreSync is not just supporting Miss Global SA, it is actively shaping the next generation of women leaders.
Celebrating the Winner: A New Era with Chanel Rautenbach
When Chanel Rautenbach was crowned Miss Global South Africa 2025, the room erupted in applause, and with good reason. Chanel represents the essence of what the competition stands for: confidence, poise, integrity, and the determination to uplift others.
Her commitment to social impact, her articulate advocacy, and her unwavering dedication to growth set her apart. “South Africa is in brilliant hands,” Maryke said during the ceremony, and the sentiment could not be more true. Chanel’s reign promises a year of inspiration, influence, and purposeful action.
A Shared Mission: Empowerment, Leadership, and Legacy
CoreSync’s involvement in Miss Global South Africa reflects more than brand alignment; it demonstrates a shared mission to empower women, foster leadership, and build a future where young women see themselves not just as contestants, but as CEOs, entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers.
Events like Miss Global SA matter because they create space for women to be seen, heard, celebrated, and supported. Leaders like Maryke matter because they turn inspiration into action.
As CoreSync continues to expand its footprint as a cloud technology leader, the company remains anchored to a purpose that transcends systems and software: to create environments where people, and especially women, can thrive.
Maryke’s presence on the Miss Global SA stage was more than a moment. It was a message:
When women lift women, extraordinary things happen.