At the 9th Annual Executive Women's Dinner at Focus Rooms, Modderfontein, Andisa Liba, CPO at Floatpays, moderated a fireside chat where leading executives shared their perspectives on women in C-suite leadership and driving meaningful change.
During a fireside chat at the 9th Annual Executive Women's Dinner, held at Focus Rooms conference and event venue, Modderfontein, moderator, chief people officer (CPO) at Floatpays Andisa Liba, Nomonde White-Ndlovu, Wired4Women chairperson and Sharoda Rapeti, independent non-executive director at Altron, shared their perspectives on the female experience in C-suite leadership and how to meaningfully effect change.
The conversation was spirited and sincere, with many valuable nuggets of wisdom. The ladies reflected on the power of womanhood and the importance of collaboration and allyship. The overarching theme of the conversation was on the importance of being intentional and advocating for others.
Nomonde shared the impact of being grateful and mindful of progress, she mentioned that whenever she is tempted to complain, she pauses to remember that so many women before her fought for her to have the right to choose a career. “I am my ancestors’ wildest dream,” she enthused.
Sharoda echoed that sentiment as she reflected on the power of Women’s Month and credited all the women who risked their lives to agitate for change, “May we never forget what they did. The impact that they made in our lives has such longevity and endurance,” she says.
As the focus of the evening was on ‘seismic leadership’, the ladies explored the ways that they have experienced major shifts in their lives and careers and how it has ultimately shaped their approach.
Sharoda considers the experience of working in a male-dominated field in a technical role as a very transformative process that propelled her resolve to hold onto her feminine power. “I like that I didn’t have to talk like them, adopt their mannerisms or feel like I had to act like them. I was measured on output,” she says. This aided her transition from being a technical specialist to mastering the boardroom without losing herself along the way.
Nomonde reflected on the weight of her responsibility and said her primary focus is to be able to be accountable, “I have no fear challenging something that I don’t think is right. It is not always about being popular, but it is actually about the principle. I have had to learn to argue the issue, and not the person,” she explained.
Conversation shifted to balancing the enormity of being a decision-maker while also being cognisant of what is happening on the ground, “Don’t compromise your values when you are within those ecosystems,” said Nomonde.
There was a strong understanding that being the first or only woman in the room was no longer acceptable as the status quo. Nomonde stressed the power of sticking together, “You need allies who will fight for you and with you. The truth is, a lot of decisions are made on the golf course and after-work drinks when we are not there. We need to stick together. If you don’t have people next to you also advocating for you, it just makes the battle bigger,” she explains.
Both Nomonde and Sharoda felt strongly about ensuring that we “bring the elevator down” and that others are empowered, “We have to get to a point where gender equality becomes real, but it requires us to be real. In every ecosystem, the lives of your mentees should be easier because you exist,” said Nomonde.
Nomonde especially warned against in-fighting: “When we are struggling for equality in corporate space, there isn’t sufficient time to squabble, there are so few of us to begin with, we can’t afford to argue amongst ourselves. We need to collaborate and create spaces for all of us to thrive,” she says.
Sharoda lamented the extent of the effect of uncertainty and volatility over the past few years and reminded leaders to develop traits that can navigate risk and unpredictability. “Leaders need to show up. It is not just about ticking boxes but knowing that a leader can take an organisation through growth and change,” she said.
Sharoda was very clear that lip-service was not going to be sufficient. “People have to adapt with agility. We need leaders who are visible and accessible; they need to stand up and communicate,” she said.
She also offered light-hearted advice for her descendants in the workplace. “I come from the Jurassic era,” she joked. “I can laugh at myself now for being so serious when I was younger. I was tortuous of myself and overly demanding, but I have learned late in life to be kind to myself.”
Nuggets of wisdom
Nomonde:
- Remember to be fair and unbiased in your hiring process
- Live the principles, not the buzzwords
- Do what is right, even when no one is looking
Sharoda:
- Find the distinctive difference in what you have to offer, be it knowledge or technique
- Don’t lose sight of the fact that you have earned your place
- Know what you want and don’t lose yourself in the journey
