The HR executive advises young professionals to take up space and show up.
Njabulo Mashigo, executive director HR at Vodacom SA says winning the CHRO of the Year Award is a reflection of the two decades of her career.
Njabulo, who was the biggest winner at this year’s CHRO Awards, also took home the Transformation & Empowerment and HR & Technology Awards.
“Winning the CHRO Award means a lot to me: it means recognition of the last 20 years of my career. It means that I’m seen as an excellent professional. I think hopefully one to actually uphold the standards and really what we’re striving for as a fraternity.”
Njabulo says HR excellence means that one is showing up fully, taking up their place at the table and being a custodian of the people agenda.
“I would say even unapologetically, it means that the people strategies you have talk to the realities of what the business is facing, and also look into the future of where the organisation is going.”
Speaking about featuring in CHRO magazine, Njabulo says it is a lifetime achievement for her. “I’ve seen many leaders that I admire and respect on the cover. It’s been a magazine that I follow for inspiration, and I feel excited.”
Njabulo’s message to young HR professionals who want to achieve the same success that she has, is to keep on showing up and showing up means different things. “I think one is taking our profession very seriously. It’s taking our seat at the table. It’s recognising that every day we are actually building up towards these career successes. So the work might not feel like it’s being seen or recognised, but it all adds up and all experiences matter,” she says.
