Sonya Lea Skipp: Winner – Women Leader in Employee Screening & Risk Management Solutions | International Women Awards 2026
- Great Companies
- Jul 11
- 4 min read
The 8th International Women Awards 2026 by Great Companies celebrates women leaders who are building trusted businesses, driving innovation, and creating meaningful impact within their industries.
Among this year’s distinguished winners is Sonya Lea Skipp, CEO of iFacts (Pty) Ltd, honored as Winner – Women Leader in Employee Screening & Risk Management Solutions.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sonya has played a pivotal role in building one of the country's most trusted employee screening and vetting organizations, helping businesses make informed hiring decisions while protecting their people, reputation, and operations through comprehensive verification and risk management solutions.
Company Overview
Leader: Sonya Lea Skipp
Business: iFacts (Pty) Ltd
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Founded: 2001
Category: Employee Screening & Risk Management Solutions
Industry: Employee Screening, Vetting & Compliance Services
Website: www.ifacts.co.za
Building Safer and More Trusted Workplaces
iFacts is a leading employee screening and background verification company that helps organizations reduce risk and make confident hiring decisions.
The company provides a comprehensive range of screening solutions, including:
Identity Verification
Criminal Record Checks
Employment Verification
Qualification Verification
Credit Checks
Reference Checks
Social Media Risk Assessments
Vendor Verification
Global Screening Solutions
Integrity and Behavioural Assessments
Through its extensive verification services, iFacts enables organizations to build trustworthy, ethical, and high-performing workforces while minimizing people-related risks.
Leadership Built on Integrity and Excellence
Sonya’s leadership journey is a powerful example of growth through dedication, expertise, and service excellence.
Having joined iFacts as a Client Liaison Manager, she steadily advanced through the organization by consistently delivering exceptional client service, operational excellence, and strategic leadership.
Today, as CEO, she oversees business operations, innovation initiatives, brand development, client relationships, and the continued growth of the company's screening platform.
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in:
Integrity
Accountability
Compliance
Service Excellence
Continuous Improvement
Innovation
Under her guidance, iFacts has strengthened its reputation as a trusted partner for organizations seeking reliable screening and vetting solutions.
More Than Background Checks
What differentiates iFacts is its commitment to delivering tailored, compliance-focused solutions rather than standardized screening packages.
The company understands that effective screening is not simply about verifying information.
It is about helping organizations:
Manage hiring risks
Protect their reputation
Strengthen compliance
Improve workforce quality
Make informed decisions
Key differentiators include:
Customized Screening Solutions
Strong Regulatory Compliance Expertise
Personalized Client Support
Fast Turnaround Times
Industry-Specific Screening Programs
Local Expertise with Global Reach
By combining advanced verification processes with deep knowledge of South African legislation and international screening standards, iFacts helps organizations navigate increasingly complex hiring environments with confidence.
Navigating a Highly Regulated Industry
One of the greatest challenges Sonya faced was establishing and maintaining trust in an industry where accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance are non-negotiable.
As regulations evolved, iFacts continuously adapted its systems, processes, and services to align with changing legal requirements and data protection standards.
Managing compliance while simultaneously driving business growth required:
Strategic Planning
Operational Excellence
Continuous Learning
Technological Adaptation
Customer-Centric Leadership
The company successfully navigated these challenges by maintaining a relentless focus on quality, ethics, and client satisfaction.
This commitment has enabled iFacts to remain a respected and trusted partner across multiple industries.
Empowering Businesses Through Confidence
At its core, iFacts helps organizations answer one critical question:
"Can we trust the people we hire?"
Through rigorous screening, verification, and risk assessment processes, the company empowers businesses to make informed hiring decisions that support long-term success.
Its services have become an essential component of modern recruitment, compliance, and risk management strategies for organizations seeking to build safer and more productive workplaces.
A Legacy of Trust and Innovation
Over more than two decades, iFacts has built a reputation for professionalism, accuracy, and responsiveness.
Under Sonya's leadership, the company continues to evolve by embracing technology, refining processes, and enhancing client experiences while maintaining the highest ethical standards.
Her ability to balance innovation with compliance has positioned iFacts as a leader in employee screening and verification services.
Advice for Women Entrepreneurs
Sonya shares valuable advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs:
Believe in your vision
Take action before everything feels perfect
Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow
Build a strong support network
Stay committed to continuous learning
Lead with integrity and purpose
She emphasizes:
Success is built through resilience, consistency, and the courage to keep moving forward even when the path is uncertain.
Her journey demonstrates that confidence grows through action, experience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
The Future
iFacts continues to focus on innovation, compliance, and client success.
Future priorities include:
Expanding advanced screening solutions
Strengthening technology-driven verification services
Enhancing global screening capabilities
Supporting organizations with evolving compliance requirements
Continuing to lead best practices in employee screening and risk management
The vision is clear:
To help organizations hire with confidence while creating safer, more trustworthy workplaces across South Africa and beyond.
Official Recognition
Sonya Lea Skipp has been honored as the Winner – Women Leader in Employee Screening & Risk Management Solutions at the 8th International Women Awards 2026 by Great Companies, recognizing her outstanding contribution to compliance-driven hiring, workforce risk management, and ethical business leadership.
About the Awards
The International Women Awards by Great Companies celebrates women leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are creating meaningful impact through leadership, excellence, innovation, and purpose-driven businesses across the globe.