Interview

BCX CHRO Hope Lukoto describes the journey of renewing the group’s culture

When Business Connexion was rebranded to BCX, the leadership team tried to create the BCX DNA.

Laressa Thavarin’s life purpose is gender equality in all walks of life

Making things better for generations to come is a personal and business quest, says Laressa.

Norma Teyise, Takealot’s head of DTI, talks about her niche in the HR space

Norma wanted to focus on something where she could truly make a mark.

Steffanuti head of HR, Natalina Singh discusses the importance of giving back

Natalina is a firm believer that what you put out into the world, you get back 10-fold.

Visionary Woman Leader: Nompumelelo Mokou says empowerment should not be limited to gender

The Dimension Data MD believes that the empowerment of both women and men should be addressed.

YES HR Executive Thato Mmaditla has faced the trifecta of workplace discrimination “isms”

Thato is a strong believer in the adage that age is nothing but a number.

Find the right team, says Neridha Moodley, head of People and Culture at SNG Grant Thornton

Neridha believes that good mentors show leadership, and the skills you don’t have can be learnt.

Visionary woman leader Emda Fourie explains what women can get right

Momentum Corporate’s Emda Fourie says women are uniquely placed to change the sector.

Dark Fibre Africa’s Portia Thokoane talks rethinking the HR role in a pandemic

Portia says it took some strategic thinking for HR to pivot and adapt through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Visionary Woman Leader: Skynamo CPO Sarah Rice describes how drama helps her win at HR

The newly minted CPO has found the old ways of doing things don’t necessarily work anymore.

Metropolitan Life’s Lyn Muzondo describes the process of fixing the organisation’s DNA

Lyn says allowing the wrong DNA to foster can lead to organisational deformities.

I am a fixer, says Antoinette Roberts, group HR executive at Blue Label Telecoms

Antoinette believes that understanding different aspects of the business are key to HR’s success.

SAP’s Genevieve Koolen believes people enable organisational success

The HR director reveals how a varied 30-year career prepared her for her current role.

Up-close and personal with Yum! Brands’ Cheryl Whitaker

Cheryl opens up about her job, her background and the superpower she wishes she could have.

Gcobisa Ntshona discusses how LexisNexis is promoting employee wellness

The exco has come up with a ‘go-slow week’ and a ‘pyjama day’ – and even exco joins in.

Google has piloted Focus Fridays to give employees periods of uninterrupted time to work

Avanthi Maharaj says Focus Fridays also help in practising better meeting hygiene.

Quit Genius allows employees to overcome their addictions 100 percent remotely

Quit Genius is the world's first digital clinic for treating nicotine, alcohol and opioid addictions.

SNG Grant Thornton’s Neridha Moodley discusses prioritising psychological safety for the return to work

Return-to-work must be underpinned by psychological safety, which is high on SNG Grant Thornton’s agenda.

Passion, work-ethic and resilience win PnP’s Thato Mxo an award

Thato says that winning this national award has given her the opportunity to transfer her skills.

EOH’s Malisha Awunor shares why showing vulnerability as a leader matters

Malisha believes that being vulnerable is a credible and authentic demonstration of your humanity.

Bryte SA’s Ncumisa Mtshali dissects the art of networking

The key is to not overthink it and to keep your old relationships warm, says Ncumisa.

Standard Chartered Bank‘s Sigrid Müller on hybrid workforces

Sigrid believes they could be the solution to many questions around the future of work.

‘HR found me’, says PPS Group Executive: HR Masenyane Molefe

Masenyane Molefe says nothing – not her studies nor the first 15 years of her career – pointed towards becoming an HR professional.

Blue Label Telecom Group HC Professional Services Executive Brigitte Chetty on being “The Olivia Pope of HR”

Asked how she landed the nickname, Brigitte says it all began when she was at Massmart.

Radisson Hotel Group’s Harpreet Singh on normalising remote working in SA

The group’s area senior HR director for the Middle East and Africa pens his thoughts on the new remote work era.

Microsoft SA HR director Jasmin Pillay on embracing the hybrid work model 

Jasmin says the company has put a huge focus on helping people feel connected when working remotely.

Discovery’s Steven Teasdale is a lifelong student of leadership

Steven realised at an early age that there wasn’t a much better feeling in the world than helping people grow.

Standard Bank chief people officer Sharon Taylor on belonging

Sharon says belonging is about being able to bring your true self to work and thrive.

EPPF head of HR Shyless Nkuna says servant leadership is paramount

If the global financial crisis was the mock exam, Covid-19 presented the real test for HR leaders, says Shyless.

Laura James to champion D&I as chair of renewable energy gender diversity group

The Globeleq senior HR manager believes there is synchronicity between renewable energy and D&I.

McDonald’s SA's Brigitte Da Gama says their culture is what gets them through tough times

It is also why Brigitte won awards for Transformation & Empowerment and Talent Management at the 2020 CHRO Awards.

Nestle's Athol Swanepoel's career began with a role as an overqualified letter sorter

Athol is fresh into his role as the HR director for East and Southern Africa at Nestlé.

Tiger Brands CHRO S'ne Magagula on finding new ways to unlock potential

In her two years at the FMCG giant, S'ne and her team have transformed Tiger's people agenda and talent development approach.

Autoboys CHRO Kyle Chetty has been working 16 hours a day for as long as he can remember

The 2020 Young CHRO of The Year tells the story of what one can achieve if they’re willing to work hard.

Weir Minerals’ Tshidi Anya is clear about what she wants from her career

Tshidi Anya has just joined Weir Minerals as the regional HR director: Africa and Middle East.

Nando’s SA chief people officer Lucia McMullan says their culture is their secret sauce

Lucia says their employer brand is, in some ways, not dissimilar from the company’s witty consumer brand.

Nametsegang Maruping on her role as group executive: human capital for Altron

CHRO SA caught up with her to find out more about her vision for the role.

Disebo Ramonyalioa “still in shock” at how the world of work has changed

Ntiyiso Consulting Group’s HC director took an eight-month sabbatical before joining the firm.

Tshepo Yvonne Mosadi describes Heineken SA as her first love

Now its HR director, she joined the beer maker before it was registered in South Africa.

Dimension Data CHRO Michaela Voller on why offices are here to stay

Michaela says there are very real benefits to the physical office that simply cannot be overlooked.

Former divisional executive Darryl Feldman shares his experience from Edcon’s collapse

After a rough few months, Darryl chooses not to wallow, but rather to find purpose in assisting others.

Derivco's Tracey Rowe shares her life-long passion for equestrian sport

Tracey says that in riding, as well as with HR, relationships are golden.

Mondelēz International’s Cebile Xulu remains a steadfast champion of D&I

Cebile is the co-chair of the Mondelez International sub-Sahara African D&I Council, which was instituted in October.

Standard Chartered Bank's Millicent Clarke on the need to lead the leaders

The Regional Head of HR for Africa Middle East (AME) says it's all about the 3 Cs.

Elsie Pule on driving Eskom's performance culture

Elsie has been with Eskom since 1995 bar a three-year stint at SARS.

Barloworld's Tantaswa Fubu talks about her journey with depression

Tantaswa's experiences led to her becoming the poster girl for mental wellness within the organisation

Lucky HR Indaba Network launch day winners announced!

Clement O’Reilly appointed chief people officer in Multichoice executive reshuffle

Former chief people officer Fhulufhelo Badugela is to become the regional director of MultiChoice Africa: Southern Region.

Derivco HR director Tracey Rowe’s voyage to discovering a global perspective

Tracey’s career has given her and her family the opportunity to discover the world.

Servest's Lungile Langa on HR’s role in driving ethical leadership

Lungile says HR can drive ethical behaviour by protecting whistleblowers.

Mars Africa’s Nerisha Charlton is never demoralised by adversity

Nerisha says she has always found the strength to overcome even the most strenuous of life’s challenges.

Google HR Cluster Head for SSA Avanthi Maharaj on leading with compassion

Avanthi says joining Google was a dream come true.

Jaguar Land Rover SA's Tanya Ramlagan's career has been a pursuit of purpose and balance

It was only after 18 years into her career that Tanya took her first HR role.

EOH's Malisha Awunor on how to help employees acclimate to remote working

Malisha says employees have adjusted to remote working far better than was expected.

KFC's Cheryl Whitaker says Covid-19 has enabled a mindset shift

Cheryl says the pandemic has impacted their head office differently from their restaurants.

Altron's Dolores Mashishi on building the workplace of the future

In an upcoming webinar, Dolores will explain why implementing Workday is key to continuing Altron's remarkable turnaround strategy.

JSE HR director Donald Khumalo explains new gender-neutral parental leave policy

This move represents yet another step towards a more progressive JSE, says Donald.

MTN CHRO Paul Norman shares lessons from his 26 years at the company

The 2019 CHRO of the Year talks about how he's been able to stay at the top of his game for such a long time without ever feeling the need to switch companies.

Igniting human potential is everything to Tiger Brands CHRO S'ne Magagula

"In my view, human resources is about connecting the art of possibility, individual and team potential with organisational performance. It is how innovation comes to life and that's what inspires me the most about leading change in an organisation like Tiger," says S'ne.

PPC's Phindokuhle Mohlala says their Change Ambassadors have been a godsend

Phindo introduced Change Ambassadors to ease turbulence in times of transition and uncertainty.

Samela Holdings CEO Bongani Hlophe was drawn to HR by its political wonder

Bongani pivoted from a career in law when his political heart strings were pulled.

Leading HR in a law firm is no child's play, says Webber Wentzel HR director Rachel Masuku

Rachel says credibility is the most important trait that one needs to have in a law firm.  

Jade Peter's HR journey came full circle upon joining Belgotex as the executive HR director 

Jade's first HR job was at Belgotex where she now sits on the executive committee.

A little vulnerability can go a long way, says Unilever's global employer brand manager Hyren Peterson

Hyren's LinkedIn post, in which he admits to making many mistakes in his career, went viral. 

Netstar head of human capital Pamela Xaba's career has been a serendipitous journey of self-discovery

Like so many of her peers, Pamela found herself in the profession as if it was driven by fate.

Aurecon chief people officer Dean Naidoo sees the silver lining behind lockdown

Dean reflects on lockdown in the context of former president Nelson Mandela's imprisonment. 

How Decision Inc's Tarryn Swemmer was plunged into the deep-end of HR leadership

Tarryn had a Masters in Chemistry and zero HR experience when she became an HR leader.

Standard Bank head of human capital Sharon Taylor has mastered introverted leadership

Sharon's 29-year stint means she has shaped the people philosophies that define the bank today.

Unilever's Mechell Chetty on setting big, hairy, audacious goals

The story behind Mechell's decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Verna Robson's rise from Eldos to Sun International

HR boss Verna Robson's determination and solution-oriented approach to life got her to where she is. 

5 career-building tips from Standard Bank's Sharon Taylor

Here's some advice for graduates from one of the top winners at last year's inaugural CHRO Awards.

Servest HR director Lungile Langa reached many of life's milestones sooner than most

Some would say she sped through life but, for her, it was all pretty normal.

McDonald's SA's Brigitte Da Gama is driven by her yearning to see people grow

She has a profound sense of responsibility to help people realise their full potential.

Nestlé's Tania Hector is a huge champion of flexible working 

She crafted the flexibility policy for Nestlé's South Africa office five years ago.

Mondelez International HR director Cebile Xulu coaches unemployed grads in her spare time

She started a work-readiness programme with three strangers that she met on Twitter.

From classroom to boardroom:  Meet Tamara Parker, CEO of Mercer South Africa

Never one to shy away from making bold changes, Tamara welcomes new adventures.

Discovery SA's Trevor Kunda on the current state and future of L&D

Trevor says South Africa's entire learning and development ecosystem is outdated.

Talking motorbikes and tattoos with Mercedes Benz SA's Abey Kgotle and his wife Nthabe

Following Abey's experience at Lonmin, the pair found healing on a pair of Harley Davidsons.

Shirley Zinn and Ndivhu Nepfumbada on leading your CEO

They share experiences on what it takes to lead the leader of your organisation.

Hellmann's Marlize Kriel's lessons from a 10-year journey through the Middle East

Wherever she went, Marlize's motto was always to 'add value, make a difference and leave a legacy.'

Discovery SA's Tswelo Kodisang on the parallels between running and being an HR leader

Tswelo runs marathons as a way to explore new cities around the world.

Estée Lauder South Africa HR Director Devni Naidoo on perfecting people practices in the beauty industry

Devni took a step into the new world of prestige beauty after 20 years in the banking industry.

Deborah Fuller on making Nedbank's high-performance culture more agile

Having calculated every move in her career, she is now focussed on implementing the banking group's People 2020 strategy.

Donald Khumalo on transformation, the power of competition and 'The JSE Way'

Donald was mentored by some of the country's foremost business leaders.

ABSA's Sthembiso Phakathi on making line managers take ownership of people practices

He says changing mindsets was the toughest challenge after shifting to Workday

ENSafrica's Lebitso Mokgatle on finding the HR sweet spot 

She says society's culture of immediate gratification has had negative consequences on human behaviour.

SA sitting on a skills bomb, says Syspro CHRO Terence Moolman

Terence began his working life as a till operator at Woolworths.

Investec's Lesley-Anne Gatter reveals rationale behind new flexible leave and dress code policy

Investec staff can take flexible leave days and choose how to dress.

Unilever Africa's Mechell Chetty on the pursuit and power of purpose

For her, it is the key to unlocking human potential in order to drive meaningful business success.

Mercedes Benz SA's Abey Kgotle on the experiences that shaped his career

From his first HR job at Naschem to a tumultuous period at Lonmin's Marikana mine, Abey reflects on the roles that moulded him.

TransUnion's Ndivhu Nepfumbada says building relationships with business leaders is key

It has been a mantra that has held her in good stead throughout her career.

Aurecon's People Leader Dean Naidoo found his purpose in Africa

Strong business acumen widens the influence and impact HR leaders can make, says Dean.

You need to have your CEO's ear, says Pioneer Foods group HR executive Nandipha Ngumbela

Nandi says this is crucial to aligning the people agenda with the organisational strategy.

Engagement is a vehicle for driving culture, says Cell C's Juliet Mhango

But there is no one-size-fits-all approach to employee engagement.

Sasol Executive Charlotte Mokoena on leading through service to others

As a former teacher and nurse, service to others has been a common thread throughout her career.

Without trust you have nothing, says Virgin Mobile's Michelle Ribeiro

Michelle tried some interesting tactics to win the trust of employees. 

Pearson's Alice Bhebhe says teaching runs in her blood

Alice was involved in driving L&D for SA's first democratically elected parliamentarians.

BAT's Candice Watson on the underrepresentation of females in leadership

Candice's doctoral thesis will explore the ongoing lack of females in decision-making positions.

Don't just listen, act on feedback from employees, says Oracle's Queen Mokonoto

A lot of Queen's success has come from understanding that employee engagement impacts business performance.

Q& A with Paramount Group HR Director Martie Baumgardt

Martie's career journey has been tough, but at the centre of it all is empathy.

Q&A with Takeda HR Director Shirley Joscelyne

We speak to Shirley about why she made the change from marketing to HR so late in her career.

Engen's Chwayita Mareka on role models and the gift of feedback

The oil giant's General Manager for HR tells the story of how she found her passion.

Samsung's Africa head of HR Bess Skosana has a talent for turning things around  

Throughout her career, Bess been involved in massive HR projects that were crucial to the success of the businesses she represented.

Mondelez International's Cebile Xulu tells the truth about transformation

The company's HR Director for South & Central East Africa gives an account of why she believes SA still has a long way to go before achieving true transformation. 

Pernod Ricard's Andre Muller led a charmed life before joining the company

Andre lived on a Kibbutz and ran the affairs of celebrity singer/songwriter Sting's private home.

Old Mutual's Celiwe Ross on the importance of focusing on adding value 

It's an approach that has held her in good stead since the very beginning of her professional career.

Pernod Ricard's Shireen Maharaj says young professionals need to be more deliberate in their actions if they are to succeed

Shireen says young professionals need to be willing to constantly reassess their ambitions and capabilities to keep pace with the constant change in the workplace.

Clicks Group's HR director Bertina Engelbrecht on how they got their ESOP right

The company's employee share ownership programme has transformed its talent attraction and retention efforts.

Media24's Shelagh Goodwin on challenging the status quo

She says making tough calls, courage, and creativity are key to changing a broken system.

Take a chance on people, says Alexander Forbes Group CHRO Christian Schaub

One year into his new role, Christian shares his thoughts on his move from the US to South Africa and a more daring approach to talent management.

Sappi's Fergus Marupen comes from humble beginnings 

Like Sappi itself, the story of its HR group head Fergus Marupen is one of deep roots, local seedlings and a steady progression to international success.

TFG's Senta Morley on the value of early engagement

She says that, as soon as people have been engaged, they start talking to each other and preparing for change.

Adams and Adams HR director Marge Mantjie on rolling out HR in Africa

There's no magic pill that you can give to people to make them adopt any given corporate culture, says Marge. 

BAT's Leslie Rance on leveraging global scale and technology

Leslie talks about the latest evolution of their HR model, the implementation of the company's integrated systems platform on SAP and the impact on their businesses.

Dimension Data's Michaela Voller on bots and other applications of HR tech

She says the HR profession is going through a tech-based evolution similar to what happened in the sales industry years ago.

It's about having connected employees, says Deloitte's Andre Vermeulen

Andre explains that there are different applications of HR tech depending on industry and employee profile.

Get to know your people on a personal level, says Four Seasons HR Director Nokuthula Kamwendo

Nokuthula explains the importance of connecting with employees emotionally.

Put people first, says Capitec CHRO Nathan Motjuwadi

Nathan feels fortunate to have worked in companies that place high value on their people.

Discovery's Trevor Kunda on grooming the leaders of the future 

Trevor believes more effort should be put into developing leaders capable of weathering these trying and uncertain times.

Our role is to facilitate partnerships for mutual growth and value, says Clientele's Tshepisho Tabane

Tshepisho's varied experience has held her in good stead and is what she believes has given her an edge as an HR professional.