Tell me about your role as an independent non-executive director.
Central to my role is to support the company to achieve its transformation goals. By driving positive change within an organisation, it infiltrates the broader industry, and eventually the economy. I view transformation through the lens of “intentionality” or purpose. This goes beyond mere compliance with regulations to create a sustainable, representative and inclusive organisational culture.
How did you end up doing what you do?
I did my bachelor of education and honours at North-West University and the University of the Witwatersrand respectively. For the next eight years I studied and worked in the US, where I completed my master of science in education psychology at Eastern Illinois University.
I moved back to South Africa in 1994 and I practised as a registered psychologist for two years, focusing on education and child development.
I then met Prof Nick Binnedel, who recruited me to join him when he started a new business school — the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs). As a founding member of Gibs, I enjoyed leading a team that designed the postgraduate diploma in business administration programme.
How did you get into financial services from your work with Gibs?
The philosophy of Gibs is that it is a business school rooted in business principles and works with South African companies to make the country better. We were meeting CEOs and managers of companies to try to understand what the business school could offer them. Through these engagements I worked with Standard Bank as a client of Gibs. Three years later I joined the bank as an employee, and that was the beginning of my journey in financial services.
What would people find surprising about the work you do?
The work I do balances the hard and soft skills. The hard side of dealing with male-dominant environments or difficult people can easily be overcome by the softer skills I’ve learnt through time in coaching, managing and working with people. So it does surprise people that I don't have to lose myself or my soul to have my voice heard or bring my point across.
What qualities do you look for when recruiting?
The adage that says skills can always be learnt but you cannot teach attitude will always ring true. You are called for the interview if you have the necessary skills through formal qualifications, the environment you’ve worked in and the experiences you’ve had. The interview is therefore a conversation about understanding the individual’s attitude, their views about working with others and, ultimately, how life has shaped them. Today, an interview for recruitment is a two-way street with both the company and the individual being interviewed and checking for alignment — it’s no longer a one-way street.
What skills do successful leaders need?
I see a prevailing need for “soft” skills to be understood as “hard skills”. Skills such as adaptability, resilience and kindness have become increasingly important in navigating complex business environments. While data and numbers are key in ensuring organisational success, there is a new breed of leader who is more purpose-driven, leading beyond themselves as they develop and create future leaders.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
My late mother was a pure academic, a teacher and principal. I grew up watching her working her craft with poise, class and sheer hard work. She was a big influence in what I wanted to be, so naturally I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. Of all my siblings, I’m the one that resembles my mother most — and that is the extent of the influence she had.
What advice do you have for young people at the start of their careers?
I believe that young people are dealing with so many choices and distractions in their careers, more than we had to go through. I suggest developing and putting their own plan in place at an early age.
As a lifelong learner myself, my advice is to never stop learning formally and/or informally. Every person knows something; figure out what you know, what your passion is and keep working on it. Try learning different languages; you never know where in the world you may end up and it’ll come to great use. Get the basics right. Show respect to others and stay humble.
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