In a compelling panel discussion at the 9th Annual Executive Women’s Event, top female executives explored innovation, diversity and the nuanced experiences of women in corporate leadership, highlighting seismic leadership and its transformative impact.
In an insightful panel discussion during the 9th Annual Executive Women’s event, 2023 CHRO of the Year Sharon Taylor joined Dr Denisha Jairam-Owthar, CIO at the Council of Medical Schemes and Aneshree Naidoo, CFO at Webber Wentzel as they shared their triumphs and challenges in the C-suite.
The impact of innovation and diversity were the key drivers of conversation, as well as the nuances of the female experience in the corporate space. There was a very participatory energy in the air as audience members leapt to their feet to share in the conversation and contribute their own powerful testimonies as executives, mothers and women in business.
Spearheaded by CFO Enterprises content producer Jacqueline Maphala, the conversation began by outlining the complex nature of the journey for women in the workplace: “Women leaders have to find ways to navigate things with agility, reshape structures and drive innovation. We need to unpack how women make an impact through their leadership, how they show up and, most importantly, how they make their presence felt,” she said.
This propelled vibrant and honest dialogue around these complexities, particularly around the power of collaboration and inclusion. “I am proud of the team that I have built in the 10 years of being in this role. I couldn’t have won that award without their sustained effort. The legacy that you leave behind is important,” Sharon, who is also the chief people and culture officer at Standard Bank said.
She also mentioned that her industry is still having to prove themselves due to the business of “people” sometimes not being taken seriously, “The truth is that an organisation’s future is really steeped in people. It is what sets you apart. The impact you make on people is so important. Anyone in the HR profession, gets most of their kick out of seeing the value that they are adding,” she explains. This requires seismic leadership to ensure that the industry is taking up meaningful space.
With “Seismic Leadership” being the theme of the evening, Denisha reflected on the literal nature of making an impact and believes that something seismic can be felt forever, “It means a change. We can’t go backwards, we need to move forward for the better. Innovation, for me, is very cognitive. It is quick, it is reshaping and it is rethinking,” she added.
Aneshree emphasised that impact can also be seen in the final details and does not always have to be data-driven, “Even though impact is super important it does not show up in the numbers only, but in the sustainability aspect,” she explained. Her stance is focused on the knock-on effect of exponential impact: “Exponential means doing one small thing that touches one person, who then touches another person. It is about the art of replication to create seismic impact,” she said.
Moving forward is something that is very familiar to all the panellists as they have all innovated in their careers in some way. Even in the midst of resistance, their success was largely from sheer grit and driving excellence.
Sharon shared that their professional accomplishments as a team weren’t necessitated by the potential of accolades, but by doing what was best for the business in principle, “We did not see what we have done as super special, but when we talk to people out there in the industry, locally and internationally, we understand that we have achieved some things that other people in the world have not necessarily achieved,” she explained. These are the markers of naturally adding value, and reaping the rewards later.
Denisha relishes creating impact but noted that it requires support, “You have to go in knowing that it is going to be uncomfortable and requires courage,” she said. She believes innovation also lies in inclusion, and encourages continued participation across varying genders, experiences and ethnicities to truly foster diversity of thought.
It is also about understanding people and business, she said: “I love leaving a place knowing that the place will be fundamentally changed because of you and your seismic contribution.”.
The overall sentiment was that collaboration, diversity and intentional support will continue to drive sustainable innovation, “The sustainable aspect of seismic impact is at the forefront of all my decisions. We can’t think of anything in silos anymore; it all needs to be infused,” said Aneshree.
