Tell me about the work you do.
As executive director at UWSA, I run the organisation with an overarching role of looking after the executive decision-making, in partnership with volunteer board members.
UWSA supports education, health and financial stability through a range of programmes geared towards promoting youth success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects for high school and TVET college students, bursary programmes to assist high-performing, financially incapacitated students, and an urban agricultural programme that trains previously unemployed youth to become farmers on plots of land granted by the City of Joburg.
I also run a coaching and leadership wellness organisation, which is focused on leadership and personal development, EQ (emotional quotient) and mindfulness training.
Tell me about the journey that brought you to where you are today.
My journey began as a nurse - I've always loved medicine and wanted to be in a nurturing and care-giving career.
My first leadership role was at age 26, when I ran a 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), having studied intensive care and midwifery after completing nursing. I later obtained a degree in health science education and community health, an MBA and a media communication diploma.
When I turned 40, I decided I needed a career change. I joined the newly opened marketing department at the group of hospitals I worked for. In 2003, the hospital group wanted to honour the late Walter Sisulu by starting a foundation or philanthropic organisation that catered for children with heart conditions. They approached me because of my NICU experience, and that is how the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Foundation started, and I became the CEO.
After nine years at the foundation, I resigned, and was later approached by the former donors of the foundation in 2013 asking if I would be interested in setting up a South African chapter of United Way Worldwide.
Instead of retiring, you are helping NGOs find their way through the pandemic. What are some of the ways you have helped NGOs?
To create sustainable change, NGOs need to realise the importance of working with other nonprofits, government authorities, businesses and, most importantly, members of the communities they serve. In addition to collaborating with various partners to make an impact, NGOs must also work alongside community members and leaders on the ground, to deepen that impact and create meaningful, sustainable improvement.
I use my experience and skills to bring this collaborative model to life to ensure that NGOs move from operating as a charity, where the money comes in and work is done in vulnerable communities but no deep, sustainable impact is created.
What advice would you give to other people close to retirement?
Age is just a number. I believe in the power of energy and that we all have the power of choice. We can choose how we want to show up, but we need to pay attention to indicators of optimum health. We need to lead holistic lifestyles looking after our health, wellbeing and stress levels.
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