Awards
Appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre national dumérite (Knight of the French national Order of Merit), November 2020
Appointed, by the decision rendered by the President of the French Republic on 20 November 2020, as Knight of the French National Order of Merit in recognition of the close links Lesley fostered between Wits University’s Tshimologong Precinct, the Embassy of France in South Africa and the French cultural Institute in South Africa (IFAS), establishing major partnerships with key players in the French cultural industries.
Selected onto the inaugural class of the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program, 2018
This programme will provide emerging African leaders from a range of backgrounds with the skills they need to create change. Through plenary sessions, problem-solving workshops, technical trainings, and leadership development, this working group will aim to find ways to create and solve African-specific issues.
2011 Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans
2011: Selected to Mail & Guardian Top 200 list of Young South Africans
Every year, the Mail & Guardian scours the country to find noteworthy and newsworthy young South Africans to profile in its annual 200 Young South Africans publication.
See: http://200ysa.mg.co.za/2011/lesley-donna-williams
Recipient of the InspiringFifty SA 2018 Award
Inspiring Fifty is a Dutch based non-profit organisation that showcases inspiring female role models in the technology industry in the Netherlands, France, Europe and the Nordics. Built on the core philosophy ”If she can see it, she can be it”, Inspiring Fifty annually awards the 50 most inspiring women in the technology sector with the aim of providing a platform that brings more visibility to the achievements of women in the innovation and technology sector.
Recipient of the Emzingo LeaderShift Award, April 2017
Emzingo views LeaderSHIFT as the lens through which an individual views personal leadership and embraces long-term responsible leadership by committing to working always in the right PLACE: Purpose-driven, Long-term focus, Authentic & Values-Based, Collaborative, Embraces change, uncertainty, and ambiguity
Recipient of the 2015 Unashamedly Ethical Award, Business Category
The event is aimed at honouring men, women and organisations who have exhibited excellent character and a commitment to ethical behaviour in a way that has positively impacted the lives of people around them or the communities within which they live or operate.
BP, 2041 Antarctic Exhibition
2009: Selected as one of sixty international participants on a BP-2041 Antarctica Expedition focusing on climate change.
The mission of 2041 is to build personal leadership skills among people who choose to embrace the challenge of sustaining all forms of life – in their families, communities, organizations and the planet.