WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Women professionals lead the way

Women are gradually making their leadership presence felt. Women are now resolved to break the traditional glass ceiling that barred them from entering leadership positions, even if they possessed the requisite skills and talent to occupy them. Business Events Industry has asked some of our business events women leaders for their insights and experiences on being a women leader today.

Organisers

Carol Weaving has drive and determination

Carol Weaving, managing director of RX Africa, has over 33 years of experience across several diverse industry sectors. Her expertise spans across marketing, exhibition management, events, conferences and venue and facility management. She was the first female chairperson of the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa [EXSA] and former founder and chairperson of the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO). Thanks to Ms Weaving’s continued passion, dedication and management, RX Africa is one of the largest and most successful exhibition management companies in Africa.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I have always had a passion for developing a concept and seeing that concept come to life in the form of a live event, whether it is a trade event and seeing real business being conducted or a consumer event and seeing the joy on the faces of the consumers. I worked my way up from the bottom, so I understand every component of what is required in our industry which I think really helps when leading a team. The most important element for a leader is to not only believe in yourself and have the drive and determination to make it happen but believe in your team and help them grow and succeed.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Times are changing, which is fantastic.

Although there is still a way to go, there definitely is a strong focus on transformation, and equal pay for women is becoming the norm.

In my career, I have been told, “Because you are a woman you will never go any further in this organisation.” So, I left and started my own business. I was also told, “You need to stay home and have babies as you will ever amount to anything,” by my guidance counselor at school. The fact was that I had an entrepreneurial spirit. No one would get away with saying this now, thank goodness.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

My way of destressing is to travel. I have been ticking off items on my bucket list for years and then to do something extreme such as skydiving, scuba diving, riding a motorbike, bungee and so on. You name it, I have done it. A trip to space would be nice. It is critical that you allow for ‘you’ time — whatever that is.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

I have so many, but establishing a business of strong, competent women will always be something I am proud of. I will go to war for my team and they, in turn, never let me down. From a business perspective, turning the Ticketpro Dome – which was a white elephant when I took it over 23 years ago – and establishing it into an extremely successful, well known and profitable venue… until Covid, of course.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

Now that equal rights and equal pay are becoming the norm and not the exception, women need to continue to prove themselves against their male counterparts. No excuses, just do what you do best, and you will be successful. Balancing work and family may be difficult, especially during a pandemic, but making sure that your partner shares in all home/children responsibilities is critical for all women.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Be brave, be bold, be determined. Do not let the prophets of doom make you second-guess yourself. Surround yourself with talent.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

This industry is not for the faint-hearted. Do not be afraid of late nights and having to work on weekends — then equally, work hard and play hard. Our industry is fun but very hard work. It’s one of the most stressful industries, but also the most rewarding.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Stigma from the past and some of the older generation that have not progressed with the times. This may be overcome, and you need to prove yourself, which may be exhausting. Then there is the work/life balance which may be overcome with the right partner.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Do not give up. Even when times are tough, look forward. Don’t look back unless there is a lesson to be found in looking back.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have never really had a mentor, to be honest. I have learnt what I know on the job and through blood, sweat and tears. I had to fight against a male dominated system, so that taught me resilience, confidence and that good, old fashioned hard work will help me succeed.

Nina Freysen-Pretorius is excited about reinventing

Nina Freysen-Pretorius has 25 years’ experience in the conference industry and established her own company, The Conference Company, in 1997 organising corporate events and conferences, which has evolved to specialise in national and international association conferences as well as association management.

Nina has had a long association with the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), firstly as a member then as patron member. Nina is also a board member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and is the immediate past-president of ICCA. Nina is also a member of the WPCO Alliance.

What has you most excited about the future?

Change. I love change and it’s the only constant. We need to adapt to change and embrace it. Some people hate change, but it may be exciting, new and fresh. I am looking forward to live events again, post the pandemic. Not that the pandemic is going away, but we will learn to live with it.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

We would like to assist companies build their business via our trade platforms as well as offering our consumers a great experience via our live events and consumer shows. In essence, bring back face-to-face contact with some fun.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

By nature, I am not a patient person and like things to happen and be arranged in advance and precisely. It is also important to me that things are done professionally, ethically and are not a last-minute rush or randomly thrown together, but that considerable thought and planning has been done in advance.

Working with associations who have volunteer leaders and a chairperson – that are professionals operating within the specific association sector of expertise – the time that they may contribute towards the association work is normally after hours and on weekends. With the demand on specific skills across all sectors ever increasing, this makes it challenging from the association, individual and our perspective as the consulting entity.

I have had to learn to be patient, be prepared and always anticipate to plan accordingly. It has also taught me to truly value the wonderful clients we have and to assist them in making contributions in their respective sectors. Over the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period, I have also learnt how blessed we are to have such a dedicated, committed, and skilled team. They have managed to migrate from doing in-person to virtual conferencing, at times making it seem easy!

I have also learnt to be grateful and appreciate the opportunities we have had, the incredible clients, suppliers, and staff that I work with every day.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Whilst many women have taken up incredible leadership positions around the world in many different organisations, with different skills and abilities, my sense is that we are still faced with the same prejudices that woman before us have had. We are always judged by our outer appearances first and not the contribution that we may make with the abilities and skillsets that we have.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

What work/life balance?

As a mother, wife and employer or consultant – I think that woman just get on with the job at hand. How and when it gets done – has become immaterial. The work-from-home scenario, in many ways, has proven to be beneficial to many women who need to take care of their children whilst earning a living.

It has really become an act of juggling many responsibilities. The unfortunate part is that – compared to our male counterparts – there is very little time left for woman to have me-time. This is a concern, as one must recharge those batteries and feed the soul! My one non-negotiable is reading the Sunday papers with a coffee – sometime on Sunday!

What are the highlights and challenges in your career?

Becoming a mom whilst having to run a business. I am sure that many working moms will relate to how challenging these two roles are at times. One never feels as if you are doing either one justice! However, as children become less dependent on you as a parent, the systems and procedures put into place for your business, allow you to appreciate that the stress and hard work is worth it.

Being elected as the ICCA president was also one of the highlights of my career, whilst a tremendous challenge due to the management changes within ICCA which also had to be addressed. It taught me that one must believe in yourself and keep pushing, as that is the only way in which you will release what you may achieve.

Having the right people and support at your side, taking people into your confidence to address challenges and to collaboratively find solutions and a way forward, has been a valuable lesson learnt.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Personally, I don’t consider myself a ‘leader’ per se. I am just me, Nina. You don’t get up in the morning and say, “Today, I am going to become a leader!” It simply does not work like that. To me it is more that others may potentially perceive you as a leader due to your actions, engagements, dedication, and the support that you offer. Also, there are different leaders for different situations and times. You cannot lead on a matter or group if you are not qualified and speak from an informed position. People are quick to percieve if you are insincere and taking on a matter for personal reasons only.

To be a leader, it does not mean that you must be the loudest or the most informed, but rather a combination of the ability to listen, understand and appreciate the challenge at hand and find a solution which is reasonable and fair to all parties.

The success of any project is also not about one person but rather about a team of people adding their talents to ensure a well-rounded final product is achieved.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

My suggestion to young women who would like to become involved in the hospitality sector, is to consider completing some sort of tertiary education qualification. Whilst the ‘final product’ – after many months or years of work looks very attractive – the reality is that one must have good financial management and understanding, and good legal appreciation as contracting and statutory regulations are part and parcel of managing events and working with suppliers and clients.

Furthermore, a strong administrative skillset is non-negotiable, whatever sector of the supply chain of hospitality, tourism, and business events you fall into. You have to be well organised, able to work according to a project plan and have the ability to adjust and adapt as the project evolves.

The success of any project is also not about one person but rather about a team of people adding their talents to ensure a well-rounded final product is achieved. Interpersonal skills, staff management and general human resource knowledge will also be valuable to have. I would even suggest that psychology is a subject which may come in handy!

The better equipped you are with any of the aforementioned educational courses or degrees, the better you will be prepared for project management work.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned, to date, in your career?

“Just when you think you have all the answers – they change all the questions.”

You are never too old to learn, you have to be adaptable and be prepared to learn from those younger and older – as knowledge and skills come in all shapes and sizes!

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I don’t have any one individual woman whom I admire – but rather many different women who have made different contributions, based on their circumstances and abilities. Many of the associations that I work with have woman as the chairperson or president of the association. They have, over the years, all taught me many valuable lessons. There is always some special skill or quality that they have that one may learn from.

When one thinks of iconic leaders over the ages, such as Lady Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Mother Theresa, Thuli Madonsela – I shudder to think of all the prejudice and challenges that they would have faced being leaders.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

The world has been turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic. My hope is that after all the loss, sadness, and hardship many people around the world have had to face, that perhaps there is some sort of silver lining. My wish is that we are able to do things in a more environmentally friendly manner, spend more time with our families, appreciate our blessings and what we do have and make the most of that.

I am excited about reinventing how we do business and host conferences and meetings. Having the opportunity to do things better, more cost effectively and inclusively is a positive, whilst at the same time saving our planet.

Denise Kemp is excited about the future of the industry

Denise Kemp, owner of Eastern Sun Events, established the company in 1997. Its core focus is medical association conferences, national and international.

How has your life experience moulded you in to the leader that you are today?

I was let down by someone I was in business with once and that has made me a much stronger person. I stopped worrying what other people thought and I found this to be very liberating.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

In some cultures in our country the women play a subservient role to men and I think that they battle to overcome this in the workplace, especially in instances where they have male staff underneath them.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I battle with this. Even when I’m on holiday with my family, I still attend client Zoom meetings and answer emails. So this might answer your question — not very well!

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

My involvement in SAACI over many years, from branch chair to national chair has been a highlight. Travelling overseas for international conference bids and winning them against strong competition from other countries has been another highlight.

Probably Covid has been our biggest challenge as we had all conferences for an 18 month period cancelled in one week. But, within six weeks, we were ready to carry out full online conferences, including exhibitions — not only Zoom meetings or webinars. There continues to be challenges persuading delegates to attend international conferences in SA, with crime and corruption. And now, with Covid and the slow vaccine rollout, this has compounded it.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I think that the world has changed so much with respect to Covid that it has been mentioned that jobs will open which we never knew existed before. How do women prepare for this future? What do they study? And will they feel like they are on the right path?

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Believe in yourself. You will achieve whatever you want to with determination, guts and by hanging in there and not giving up. A can-do attitude. Always be scrupulously honest so that you may sleep at night.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

It is a tough, demanding, but a very exciting and addictive industry to be part of. Determine what you want to achieve and do everything that will take you along that path. Ask yourself: “Will this next step take me towards my goal?” and, if it doesn’t, then don’t do it.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Being taken seriously and not allowing themselves to be talked down to. Fortunately there is very little of this in our industry.

What is the most important lesson, to date, that you’ve learned in your career?

Surround yourself with staff members who have the same principles as you do and then give them the freedom to do the job their way. Your way is not necessarily the best way.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Angela Merkel: I believe she has done so much for Germany and she is regarded as the de facto leader of the EU and the most influential women in the world. When she first came to power, she was known as the new Margaret Thatcher, who was another great leader I admire.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have always had specific people with whom I discuss business and/or personal issues. They play different roles in my life and some of these people are: my external accountant, my financial adviser, my GM at work and two specific friends. At one stage I had a professional business coach, but we parted ways when I realised that we were no longer on the same path.

What has you most excited about the future?

I am very excited about the future of our industry. It is so different and no one knows exactly what will end up being the norm. It is scary, financially, for most of us, but it also challenges us to do things differently.

What what would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to change the financial model of my business to meet the needs of our clients and ourselves in the new world we find ourselves in.

Finding your work life blend

Devi Paulsen-Abbott, vice president of dmg events, has a career of over twenty years in media and events. “It includes a tenure at Spintelligent, where I was lucky enough to be part of the executive team who concluded the acquisition of Spintelligent by Clarion Events. Five years after co-founding Hypenica, I drove the sale of its transport and built environment portfolios to dmg events, where I now serve as vice president.”

Devi currently serves on the 2021/22 board of AAXO as vice chair.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I so appreciate the amazing opportunities which I have been afforded over the years, which has allowed me to visit 39 countries, (27 of these in Africa). Travelling has taught me several lessons and skills that have certainly influenced my leadership approach. For example, being resilient, not sweating the small stuff, staying humble, the importance of planning and time management, taking risks, being curious, flexible and communicating clearly all the time.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

To be honest, most of my challenges are in my own head. So many of the obstacles early on in my career were brought on by my self-doubt and I think that women often don’t have the confidence to believe that their voice is valid so they don’t ‘take up their space’. Building your ‘worthiness muscle’ is so important, but it takes flexing and finessing.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

In my opinion, both men and women are continuously challenged with balancing their career and personal life – our lives and jobs have become incredibly demanding.

I stopped putting pressure on myself to achieve this mystical goal, after reading a study and article by Ariana Huffington, suggesting that if we were to change the terminology from ‘work-life balance’ to ‘work-life blend’ — we will ease the juggling act of work and family time.

Work-life blend means that all the things you have to do matter; it means that you may simultaneously meet the obligations of your ‘professional-self’ and ‘personalself’ without sacrificing one side for the other. Being able to blend work and home life moves the focus to outcomes and achievement rather than the time that we do something.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

Highlight: My very first event hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1999. It was such an amazing experience, and the memories remain with me.

Challenge: Covid-19 has been my biggest challenge to date. Not only have 2020 and 2021 been physically and financially tough, but managing the emotional toll of watching so many industry peers lose jobs, or their businesses has been extremely emotionally taxing.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe the two challenges that Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha are going to face are:

• Intergenerational inclusivity and collaboration: with so many different generations in a business these days, it’s very easy to stereotype various age groups, all of whom have a lot to offer, but different drivers and ways of working. Being able to embrace, recognise and then collaborate all norms and inclusivity is a vital skill for future leaders.

• Not having career-patience. We all have to put in our time and learn the lessons which we need for success.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

The first thing to remember about leadership is that it is not about rank or title. It’s about action and responsibility. This means that anyone and everyone may be a leader, as a result of the actions that you take and the example that you make.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

• Progress is better than perfection: The world has changed so much, and exhibitions and events are going to look a little different. This means that your prescribed career ambitions may not take the exact path you had envisaged. Be open to this and know that not every job needs to address all your passions. Use every job as an opportunity to learn something new and keep an open mind.

• Drive your own goals: You don’t have to beat out all your peers to win.

• Champion other women: As the ‘shine theory’ suggests, when you help another woman rise, we all shine. We are lucky in South Africa to have so many fantastic and inspiring female role-models in our industry, who are incredibly supportive of each other.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

The fear of failure overshadows the motivation to take risks: The wisdom of learning from failure is irrefutable. It fosters innovation and creativity, drives resilience and reveals who you may trust. Nobody likes to fail but I find that women (myself included), tend to judge their mistakes and failure particularly harshly.

This not only discourages them, but puts them under immense pressure. In this new world we are entering, we should embrace failure a lot more, given the very unchartered waters we are navigating through — we are bound to be making a lot of mistakes!

What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career, to date?

In chaos, there is opportunity: Most of my opportunities have come from moments where I was able to make a difference in a difficult situation and find opportunities from the challenges.

Be confident, yet humble: remain humble, and always accept that you will not always be the one who knows the most.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

• Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand: She epitomises the concept of work/life blending. Ms Ardern may present herself to be a strong leader, yet remains positive and kind.

• Graca Machel: I admire that she has used her profile to make a difference and to be an agent of change, particularly through the Graca Machel Trust, which promotes peace, justice and human rights.

• Phuti Mahanyele, chief executive officer, NASPERS: I admire her motivation and she is a testimony that all women should be fearless leaders. I appreciate her lessons on how we should never take time for granted, but be more deliberate with the little moments which we have, particularly with those you love.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have been very lucky to have had phenomenal mentors. These men and women served as a support system and have provided me with encouragement to take risks. They have also been the biggest cheerleaders who have believed in me.

I have found that having mentors from outside the industry has also been very valuable. Learning from other experiences has been a big driver of innovation in the businesses that I have been involved in.

What has you most excited about the future?

• Exhibition evolution: as a result of this pandemic, our industry has been turned on its head and, although there were many tragic casualties, the disruption has also created space for entrepreneurs in the exhibitions business globally and in Africa. I am excited to see the emergence of several new and interesting ways in which exhibitions are going to be hosted, skillsets that will arise to fulfil these and the new businesses and offerings that will materialise as a result. As Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

• Harnessing the power of Africa’s youth: 65 per cent of the total population of Africa is between the ages of 18 and 35, with a median age of 20, Africa is the most youthful continent on the planet. In addition, more than half of the world’s top-10 growing economies are in Africa. The seeds of great prosperity for the continent lie in the passion, talent and skillsets of our youth who have grown up in an era of innovation and disruption. This tremendous asset will influence innovations that will, without a doubt, have significant political, social, and economic global influence.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

Besides hosting an in person/live exhibition? 2021 has been a year of transition and, for many, 2020 felt like we were just continuously grinding through the present. As we rebound and reopen, I want to ensure that the hard lessons learned, work which our team did in 2020 to support our customers and some of our reimagined and developed offerings continue to shape the future for dmg events South Africa and, of course, our local industry. The marketplaces we create are key economic enablers and will continue to play a key role in the recovery of our sectorial and macro economies.

Associations

The world is your oyster

Esmaré Steinhöfel, regional director: Africa of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) studied tourism at the – then – Cape Technikon, and her first appointment was at Cape Town Tourism. “When the Cape Town International Convention Centre was being constructed, the Cape Town Convention Bureau was established and that was my first position in the business events industry. Following that, I moved to The Westin in Cape Town, the Cape Town International Convention Centre and am currently at ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association. I love working in sales and the feeling of closing a deal.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I had very strict, but supportive parents and they instilled values like honesty and integrity. I also believe in staying true to myself — I am who I am. Ask for help and guidance when needed, that is how I learned and gained experience.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Definitely work/life balance and not believing in your capabilities.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Luckily, I switch off easily when needed and believe in working smarter and not harder. I love my to-do and reminder lists, and have one next to my bed, on my desk and in the car.

What have the highlights and challenges been in your career?

Having worked in Cape Town throughout my career, the first highlight that comes to mind is the opening of the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Following that, when Cape Town hosted the International Diabetes Federation Conference in 2006 with over 11,000 delegates and Cape Town’s first city-wide conference. The buzz in the City was amazing. A challenge at the beginning of my career was to learn to speak English, as my home language is Afrikaans and I grew up in Beaufort West where, even in the English class, we spoke Afrikaans.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

The business events Industry, like many other industries, is always evolving and changing. Stay on top of what is happening in the industry and be open to change. We all had to, for example, adapt to the current virtual environment and learn new skills at the same time. I also believe that there is always a positive in something negative.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

The world is your oyster. If you want to make a difference, it is up to you. Make things happen and look for opportunities. And always stay true to yourself and who you are.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Surround yourself with positive people and give more than you take. Find your niche and know what your strengths and weaknesses are. We do not work in a normal 8-5 working hour industry. The working days may be long at times but, in the end, if you love your job it is also very rewarding.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Focus on what you have to do and get the job done to the best of your ability. Ask for advice when help is needed and believe in yourself.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

I do believe in the saying, “Never burn your bridges, you may need to cross them again,” and, if I have made a mistake, I own it. By not doing so, the problem is only going to get bigger. I also try to stay on top of industry trends and what is happening globally. Be kind to people and treat them the way you want to be treated.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

This is not an easy question, as over the years so many females have had an impact on my life. As a student, Margi Biggs, who was my lecturer when I attended the Cape Technikon, gave me the foundation required to work in the industry. My sister, Thalana, always reminds me that every cloud has a silver lining.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have really had amazing bosses, throughout my career, exposing me to opportunities, but it was also up to me to take the opportunities presented. As leaders, we have to share our experience with younger people who are beginning to work in the industry. I also have friends – in and out of the industry – who have made a big impact on my personal life. Also reading: Robin Sharma is a big favourite of mine for a bit of inspiration.

What has you most excited about the future?

Growing Africa as a business events continent. Africa still has very few countries focusing on promoting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, and there is also a need for more convention bureaux. Secondly, wishing that our industry would resume to normalcy, with travelling and hosting conferences in our beautiful destinations.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to stay happy. On a personal front, I began to crochet a month ago and would like to master that. At the moment, ICCA only has members in southern and east Africa, therefore, growing our membership in other regions on the continent will be a key focus, and supporting our membership as things get back to normal, hopefully in 2022.

Africa still has very few countries focusing on promoting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, and there is also a need for more convention bureaux.

Go the extra mile

Ellen Oosthuizen, owner and event manager of Bebe’s Events & Promotions and outgoing chairperson of the SA Events Council established her company in 1996, after leaving the SABC after 14 years of service.

“My first conference took place in Namibia. The SABC contacted me to assist Namibian Broadcasting with the Union of Radio & Television Nationals of Africa’s conference, which I organised for the SABC, whilst being in their employ. I loved working in Namibia. This new venture in my life was so overwhelming! After the conference in Namibia I was approached by the Commercial Radion Association to organise their AGM at Lake Malawi. So, off we went to Malawi to do a site inspection. On the plane, we got chatting to the passenger sitting next to us and he was a training coach. My husband told him about my involvement with the National Secretaries Conventions. He immediately asked me to send a quote when I arrive at Lake Malawi. Well, he accepted the quote, and two months later, I organised a National Secretaries Convention for him in Blantyre. From there on it was word-ofmouth – working with African countries, delegates travelling in from abroad, dealing with visas, travel arrangements, venues (even Robben Island) etc. Today, I am blessed to still be operating under these challenging times in our industry.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

By being humble, professional, and going the extra mile for my clients. My passion for the industry and the fact that I love what I do has brought me where I am today.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

There are many women in leadership roles today. I think the challenges are juggling your personal life and your career, especially for women who are mothers and leaders. We, as women, want to give 100 per cent to both worlds.

If not, we feel guilty for not being able to be a good mother and a professional in our field.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I try to discipline myself to close my home office at 17h00 — not that it happens, especially when we are on a deadline with an event. As a family, I insist that we have dinner around the table so that we have quality time together. On weekends I try to avoid going into the office – we spend time with family and friends.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

My highlight was when I received the Top 40 Women in Mice Award in 2017, chosen as chairperson of the PCO Alliance Network in 2018, chairperson of the SA Events Council in 2020 (six months term) and again, now in 2021 (six months term). Challenges, I would say the last 16 months topped all charts.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

To persevere in what is still perceived to be a male dominated world and building up our industry to what it was before Covid. Financial challenges and to motivate your staff to be proud of your product again.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Be honest, humble, and professional in what you do. Go the extra mile. Hard work will pay off at the end.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

In the world we are in today, I would say, “Do you really want to go into this industry?” Women must make sure this is really what they want to do – it is not a glamorous career. It is hard work, long hours and you must have the right temperament.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Backstabbing, especially when a group of women are working together. Being a mother and seeing to your children when they are sick. Some companies do not have empathy when it comes to mothers with children.

What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career, to date?

I have learned that you must always be prepared for any changes which your client might throw at you when working on events. You accept the changes with a smile, and then you pull the rabbit out of the hat. My clients would normally say something like, “I know you would be able to do that.”

Over the past year I have learned to collaborate with my fellow colleagues in the industry. I have learned such a lot from representing the PCO Alliance Network on the SA Events Council.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Probably Queen Esther from the bible. We do not talk about her much these days as there are so many inspirational women leaders now. Esther’s story is immensely powerful, and she showed real courage in a very challenging time. With the power of prayer and bravery, she saved her people and a kingdom. For me, the kingdom and people are everyone in our industry and I pray and fight daily to bring our industry back to where it once was.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

My mentor was my boss at the SABC. He motivated me to always take on challenges and I learned so much from him. He never closed a door on me and I just grew in my career as a PA. This was the spinoff for me to launch my own events company. In the PCO industry I worked myself up to where I am today. Jacqueline Stumke, Founder of the PCO Alliance Network also motivated me and I also learned from her.

What has you most excited about the future?

I pray that the Lord will bring us through this pandemic and that we may rebuild the industry together again.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

I really pray for our industry to be revived once again and that my business and all the other thousands of businesses may return to normality and that we may do what we do best – and love to do – again.

The opportunities are endless

Passionate Tes Proos, 53, president of Site Africa and founder of Crystal Events Africa, has been in this industry for over 38 years.

“My career began as holiday and weekend jobs in hotels and restaurants in Bloemfontein. Before I knew it, I ended up in the Holiday Inn/Southern Sun Hotel Management programme and was transferred to Johannesburg. There, I worked at the Milpark Holiday , before moving to the Sandton from 1987 until 1992. I had a short stint working fulltime at the Pappas group of restaurants before joining the opening team of Gallagher Estate Convention Centre in 1993. In 1996 I joined the banqueting team at Sun City and transferred to Swaziland as regional marketing manager for Sun International hotels. In July 2000, I was headhunted by a Cape Town tour operator and so my life as a DMC began. Following that, I worked for two major South African DMCs before launching up my own business in 2009.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I have been fortunate having been surrounded by role models from an early age, beginning with my parents, who taught me respect – no matter what your station in life; teachers who taught me how to deal with conflict resolution; bosses who recognised the leadership potential in me and steered me onto the path to where I am today. In addition, I had clients that I really looked up to as a young proferssional and they helped to form my opinions on world and business matters, through our interactions.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Whilst there has been an improvement regarding equal opportunities in some sectors, it is still very much a ‘man’s world’ out there. We constantly have to battle the ‘boys’ club’ brigades in our industry to advance. As women, we often have to work twice as hard, to prove ourselves worthy of leadership positions and equal pay. That being said, I absolutely commend the men who enable leadership for women. I have encountered some of these heroes in all walks of life, including men in my family, former bosses, but also in national leadership positions, such as President Paul Kagame from Rwanda.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Maintaining a balance is an extremely difficult thing to do in our industry, as time knows no boundaries. I am extremely fortunate to have a highly supportive partner who takes on the bulk of the domestic chores, allowing me to crunch through weekends and late nights.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

Initially, my career promotions at the Sandton Sun hotel will always stand out to me. I am also happy to say that it was men who recognised my potential and provided the opportunities for me to grow. That said, the female managers I reported to were absolute heroes and role models. As I was growing and learning the ropes, I wanted to excel in food and beverage operations. Later in my career, I ran into brick walls as ‘the boys’ simply did not want ladies within their inner circle. I ended up moving back to a marketing position, where I earned a fraction of what my fellow executive male counterparts earned. It was a catalyst to leaving the hotel industry, but I have absolutely no regrets. My new path on the DMC road opened many more doors to exciting opportunities, such as becoming a SITE member and, subsequently, president of the Africa chapter.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe that Covid-19 has changed leadership paradigms forever. We now have men working from home, having to take the full brunt of raising and homeschooling children. It is no longer a gimmick to see a dad with a baby strapped to his chest, delivering a keynote address. I am confident that Covid-19 may have levelled the playing field, so rather than seeing a challenge, women should take advantage of the opportunities that this crisis may be presenting us with.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Self-respect, first and foremost. Compassion – women should never lose that – it is what makes us strong. Equally important is integrity. You may only lose your good name once. Find role models and mentors, women you look up to — but do select them carefully as not everyone’s style may match your own.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Do your homework before you jump into a career that you don’t know much about. The hospitality and events sector has always looked very glamorous from the outside, but people only realise how tough it is once they are committed. The great thing about our sector is that there are many more career options today than there were 20 years ago. The industry has evolved globally, and the opportunities are endless.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

The work/life balancing act is probably one of the biggest challenges, especially for women with young families. One of the positives of Covid-19 is that we had no choice but to work from home and bosses simply had to trust that things would get done. Therefore, I would encourage business owners to allow women to work from home, wherever possible, instead of being forced to apply for leave every time there is a crisis.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

I have learned how to not treat people. I found myself in several situations where the boss took absolute pleasure in humiliating staff – myself included. Respect is earned, not demanded. Always treat people with respect and dignity. It is incredible how much one may achieve through that.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Oh boy…that is not a fair question! I cannot list all my lady heroes but here are a few: 1.Linda Pereira, CPL Events, Portugal – they say that dynamite comes in small packages, but Linda is a nuclear bomb!

I absolutely admire her tenacity and everything she does to promote Women Power. Her annual event ‘Women of Wisdom’ had over 4,000 global attendees in June 2021! 2.Prof. Nellie Swart, UNISA, South Africa – her passion for our industry is contagious and her compassion for her fellow human beings is tangible. She is one of the greatest mentors our industry could ask for. 3.Adefunke Adeyemi, IATA, Nigeria – I have yet to meet Adefunke in person, but she stands out to me as one of Africa’s greatest influencers and a highly respected female leader in a very male dominated industry.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

Everyone needs a mentor and I have been very fortunate to have amazing people who motivated me, especially when I doubted myself.

What has you most excited about the future?

Africa, without question. There is so much excitement and enthusiasm across the continent when it comes to the MICE industry, and I am inspired to see the efforts being made in various destinations to upskill and educate as well as develop infrastructure to deliver world class products and services. It bodes well for job creation and skills transfer across borders, not to mention great potential for economic development. The supply chain for business tourism runs deep into almost all sectors.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to play an active role in getting new African destinations onto the map for MICE business and, of course, for incentive travel. The climate is right and the willpower is there. Activating all the ingredients will be the key to unlocking opportunities for many amazing African destinations to thrive and prosper in the future.

Surround yourself with people who inspire you

Kim Roberts, director of Mise-en-place Hospitality Solutions and SAACI national chairperson, began as a chef and travelled extensively. She has a worldwise approach to life.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

The challenges, changes and wins have shaped who I am. It is hard, sometimes, to take those on as your own, but so worth it to grow in your career. In an industry that has recently seen larger numbers of women in roles as leaders, celebrating and supporting each other is of great value to us all.

I encourage each woman working in the business events environment, and beyond, to find a mentor. Sometimes you may even need more then one at a specific time, to bounce and share thoughts and ideas with. As women, we need to seize and explore every opportunity. At times, having a sounding board may assist and process the challenges we find ourselves facing. Personally, this is where I have observed the success of others.

Taking time for self-assessment is critical. It is also important to recognise when you have grown and are ready to tackle new things.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Working predominantly from home – even prior to the national lockdown – gave me a chance to work on finding the right balance – though there are times that, even when in a routine, it may be rocked. Many women in business are faced with the family vs career question. In fact, you may have both and balance is the key. Thankfully it is improving.

For me it is about routine. Getting up and walking the dogs is one of those things I do each day. It keeps me sane.

Things that have worked for me in maintaining balance:

• I walk away from the office at the end of the day and don’t walk my phone or laptop around like a pet in the evening – being present in every activity.

• Cook a healthy meal and sit at a table for dinner.

• Plan something for the weekend or maybe a future holiday.

• Celebrate work wins with colleagues (and personal wins with loved ones, of course).

• Keep planning and working towards those goals.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

Highlights – seeing the people you have worked with and mentored grow into leaders themselves.

Challenges – our immediate space, keeping the confidence and morale up with colleagues in the industry, considering the current challenges we are facing.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

To be relevant and respected in a way that totally negates the gender question. To be so effective and inspirational that men and women aspire to your success.

What advice would you give to women who want to be leaders?

Surround yourself with people, particularly other women who inspire you. Read and read more, be aware of your surroundings, and use them as building blocks. Give time to people and hear them – change what you may for the better, regardless of the position you hold within a company, it will be remembered. Work alongside your colleagues.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Learn as much as possible about the sector at large. Go to events, network and make the effort to meet new people each time you attend (online or in person). The businesses and contacts are so interconnected and will stand you in good stead as you grow and may need advice or assistance.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

I think that the workplace is starting to become reasonable. It is about whether you may perform in the role or not. Women should not worry about being women – rather about what value they may bring, as a woman, to an organisation.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Patience, is the lesson that is the hardest to learn, for me. To achieve success, you have to put in the hard yards, it is not an overnight thing.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Brende Sisane – Art of Sunday Kaya FM (passion and advocate for music and education)

Holly Duckworth – Leadership International (Mindfulness facilitator and focus on Stress free leadership).

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

A massive difference – in all aspects of my life. I believe that everyone needs a mentor and often, more than one. Some just for a short time and others for longer. As you develop as a leader you will realise the need for different personalities and experts as leaders. Do not be afraid to go out there and find the right one and ask them to assist you. Most will be honoured to share their experience. You don’t have anything to lose.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

Implementation of an adapted strategy for SAACI, in conjunction with the board, to move into our ‘New World’. The last 15 months have challenged the ability to be creative – I am focused now to push the creative brain again. I have always enjoyed doing research and am committed to implementing opportunities to entice youth into the tourism business space, post the pandemic.

Change is the new constant

Gill Gibbs is the chief executive officer of bluCube International (Pty) Ltd, chairperson of EXSA and incoming chairperson of the SA Events Council.

After graduating, Ms Gibbs worked and saved to travel overseas. “I lived in London and Scotland for five years and, after working in hospitality, I started out in the optometric industry, working for Boots Opticians. I returned to South Africa in 1992.”

“After returning to work, I returned to the optometric industry in Durban and then moved to Mtubatuba, where my fiancé ran a hardware business. There, I was involved in the church in the Women’s League and with the local primary school, assisting with speech, drama and choreography.”

“We moved to Johannesburg in 1997 and I bought a training franchise, servicing the corporate industry and student market. Two years later, I became involved in the organiser’s side of the industry, working for International Fairs & Exhibitions. I then joined Z Displays on the contracting side of the industry. Shell Systems and Z Displays amalgamated to form Oasys Innovations, which was bought in 2010 by GL Events.

“In April 2010, my husband Andrew and I started ConCept G Exhibitions & Events. bluCube was founded in 2012 and CG Retail Solutions, in 2015. I began serving on the EXSA board in 2017, became vice chairperson and I am currently serving my two-year term as chairperson. I was recently nominated as chairperson of the SA Events Council, which is a six-month term.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I was witness to the rise and success of my parents – both extremely resilient – with a strong work ethic and clear direction. Striving for excellence is in our DNA. So too are values, principles and convictions. My family faced various challenges during my childhood, all of which have instilled in me the ability to flex, apply agility, embrace change and to keep forwardfocused — underpinned by my strong faith.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

I have attended one too many webinars during the varying stages of Covid-19 lockdown, where what has become quite clear is that recognition of female leaders globally requires change, embrace and attention.

In South Africa, when I first started in the industry, it was quite male-dominated and this had its challenges and frustrations. As females, we had to fight that much harder than that of our male counterparts to achieve recognition and respect.

Being strong, consistent, driven and focused stood me in good stead. I am proud to be part of an Industry where female entrepreneurship is respected and admired – this has been my experience as a female entrepreneur.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

This has always been a tricky scenario in our industry, which may be quite engulfing at its peak times. The Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to slow down, take stock and review our perspective. Work/life balance could always be better, which is an ongoing syndrome for entrepreneurs, especially in trying and stressful times such as these. Working from home has shown that you may lose sight of time quickly and, having a structured day with significant breaks in this environment, is key.

What are the highlights and challenges in your career?

Highlights and challenges include serving on the EXSA board and the new opportunity on the board of the SAEC, working towards a phased approach to the reopening of the industry, juggling and applying agility across many platforms in this 17-month stretch in which we find ourselves. Campaigns such as LightSARed, evoked such passion and emotion amongst our community, further reinforcing our commitment to excellence, dedication to our sector and our ongoing resilience and professionalism, despite all the odds stacked against us.

Challenges include hanging on by the skin of our teeth, forging and pushing on to expedite the green light from the Government to operate at 50 per cent venue capacity, to give our sector some chance of revival, if possible. Knowing that some of our renowned skillset and experienced stalwarts have left the industry and may never return poses a whole set of challenges. And the mortality in our community due to Covid-19, is extremely difficult and devastating.

Career highlights include our execution of very special, memorable and exceptional projects that we have conceptualised, designed and realised, such as the Robertson’s Reinvention Kitchen at Melrose Arch for THB, the South African Tourism international exhibition stands for CWDi, large exhibition stands for Siemens and Voith at Electra Mining, Africa Rail, Africa Automation Fair, semi-permanent installations and environments for our clients, to name a few.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

Globally, industries have to start looking beyond gender and rather focus on merit, capabilities, experience, credentials and credibility. That’s how I would want to be measured and gauged. Personally, it’s about what you may contribute, enhance and improve and in that, consistently learn. So, the challenge lies in consistently changing the narrative and perspective around gender.

As females, we may have to juggle various roles and responsibilities that have to be fulfilled, aside from our careers. Having an approach of partnership in our relationships or good, reliable support – as in the case of single parenting – is key, which speaks to nurturing a financial portfolio that enables the required support.

What advice would you give to women who would like to be leaders?

To work on themselves first and foremost. To be honest with themselves and identify aspects that require work and/or change;

to work on their wellbeing and to achieve consistent learning, knowledge and improvement. To work on their financial portfolio and provide for their future. To be proud of their achievements and to consistently push themselves forward. Having a solid foundation and emotional intelligence opens up a whole new world of opportunity and will give credence to their hard work and efforts and in this, they will continue to grow, develop and succeed. To support and collaborate with fellow female leaders and like-minded professionals. To congratulate, uplift and encourage one another. To follow successful female leaders with sound principles and good work ethic and to identify a mentor to whom they feel positively aligned. Be fearless – you have to want it more than you fear it. Finally, to be able to look inward with confidence and clarity and to be able to answer who they are to their circle and how they show up – in the workplace and in their homelife.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Be braced for change and hard work – in today’s new normal era, it is a constant. Be open to new opportunities and adopt an agile approach. Learn. Grow. Educate yourself. Be informed. Consistently maintain a professional approach. Stay humble and care – about the environment, clientele, the industry, peers and colleagues. Own your mistakes and your successes. To be advocates and change agents to enhance themselves, the industry, the workplace environment and to uphold wellbeing.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Confidence. Managing often-varied roles and responsibilities. Balance and wellbeing — the belief that they have to perhaps be everything to everyone in their circle.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Commitment, consistency, resilience, focus and drive.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Thuli Madonsela, advocate and professor of law. She is indomitable. Fearless. Courageous. Strong and steadfast in her convictions, her approach and beliefs.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

As an advocate of change and passionate about the industry, the people and companies that I have worked with and had the opportunity to serve, offering my experience, ideas and input to uplift them, to enhance and develop them, makes me very content. If I am able to make even a small difference, it matters.

What has you most excited about the future?

New chapters and journeys. New landscapes. Awareness, enhancements and improvements. Awareness and change.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

The phased and safe reopening of our industry, to begin its revival. Recognition for our industry sector, equal opportunity and no fear, no favour – that no matter what gender, race or creed, fair opportunity is available to all.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

Due to the group areas act of the apartheid regime, I lived in an Indian only community and went to an Indian School and predominantly Indian University. I was well aware of the inequalities of life and was determined to have the opportunity to succeed and help young people like myself to grow, find their purpose, and be allowed to achieve their goals.

My parents were always very calm, despite the challenges my three siblings and I brought their way. There was never a moment of raised voices to express their discontent. Their example has laid my foundation to provide a nurturing yet motivating environment for teamwork.

Be braced for change and hard work – in today’s new normal era, it is a constant. Be open to new opportunities and adopt an agile approach.

Believe in yourself

Projeni Pather, managing director of Exposure Marketing and chairperson of AAXO, has been in the exhibition industry for the past 16 years. “Having been in the advertising and communications industry before that, I organised numerous exhibition activations, conferences and events for many of my clients. I enjoy the dynamic nature of the industry. You must be open to change, or you will get left behind. It gives me great pleasure to be able to think of a concept and then make it happen, and I have an amazing team who all help to put it together.”

She founded Exposure Marketing in 2004 and launched MamaMagic in 2005 and hosts four exhibitions annually.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Sadly, according to the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report, only one-third of leadership positions are occupied by women.

Women are stereotyped because they are often the primary caregivers of families with children. Once women have children, they are perceived as less productive and unable to prioritise work projects.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I ensure that my calendar is filled with my family activities as well as work-related activities. But, besides family and work life, I make time for myself. I ensure that I fill my calendar with time bands in the day that I dedicate to exercise, meditation, research, and connecting with friends and family,

and even catching up on a Netflix series. I find that scheduling these activities, no matter how big or small they are, ensures that they are not forgotten. Each of these activities adds meaning to my life. My daily entries in my gratitude journal keep me grounded and appreciative of all I have.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

My career in advertising, marketing, and communication, shaped my career. But after I had both my children in the space of less than two years of each other, I felt displaced due to my newfound status as a young mother. But every challenge leads you to find a new purpose. It led me to establish Exposure Marketing in 2004 to launch South Africa’s first baby exhibition, MamaMagic, at the then-Coca-Cola Dome.

My exceptional work ethic and reputation resulted in Exposure Marketing being awarded the license for Live Events in Africa for Barney, the world’s most loved dinosaur. We created a platform and demand for Barney for the past 16 years. Despite other characters taking centre stage currently, Barney has become iconic because of the MamaMagic brand.

In 2007, we set the first-ever Guinness World Record for the Largest Gathering of Pregnant Women under one roof. This historic record afforded us worldwide exposure and established the MamaMagic Baby Expo as a leader in the parenting industry.

Despite the small team, we pride ourselves on service delivery, marketing excellence, and teamwork. MamaMagic Baby Expo has won several EXSA and AAXO awards for best exhibition in its category over consecutive years.

But not all new exhibitions or business ideas work, and I have had a few failed attempts, which I don’t regret. I learnt from my mistakes and have let them guide my future decisions.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2020, it will take another 99.5 years before the gender gap is closed. From the latest 2021 report, influenced by the pandemic, it has now increased to 135.6 years. So, the challenges we currently face will sadly remain for a few generations ahead. There has been slow progress on the Economic Participation and Opportunity Gap, with only 27 per cent of women in management positions. It is therefore important that current leaders get actively involved to ensure that we close the gender gap sooner.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Get out of your comfort zone; you have so much to offer the world. It is your responsibility to grow the next generation of leaders. Always strive to be the best and to do your best.

Speak up and speak out! We want to hear your voice because your opinion matters. I believe that silence is a sign of disrespect. So, speak up and share your thoughts; they might be what we all need to hear to help us get over the hurdles we face.

Believe in yourself! Humility is graceful but learn to sell your strengths and your area of authority. If you have confidence in yourself, you will be comfortable sharing your ideas and taking on risks.

Don’t stop learning! Remember, leaders, are learners. Whenever you feel a lack of confidence in any area, equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to fill the gap.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

There are so many opportunities available in this sector. But you have to actively participate to be seen and heard. Ensure that you are at the right place to take advantage of those opportunities. Get involved in your association, share your views, lend a hand to those around you, and showcase your expertise, values, and what defines you. Don’t fall into the stereotyped roles expected of you; you know your strengths.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Women are not being recognised for their contribution to the company and therefore not being given opportunities to rise to management level. Sadly, many companies still see family responsibilities as the baggage that women are saddled with, hence steering away from elevating their careers.

What is the most important lesson that you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Build your personal brand consistently across all facets of life and business. Reinforce your values and principles through your actions because your actions will speak louder than any of the speeches you will ever make. Nurture the relationships which you form with your co-workers, suppliers and clients; these relationships will stand you in good stead for many years, even when you change jobs.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Michelle Obama. She could have sat back and been the pretty face next to her husband, but she skilfully used her position to improve the lives of others. She is authentic in her approach to life and business. I admire her strength, sincerity and devotion to uplifting others. Kamala Harris – As the first woman of colour in the US Presidency, I think that is a marvellous feat. She is highly educated, knowledgeable, ethical and sincerely wishes to create a better life for everyone. At the same time, she is a devoted mother who is a guiding light to her family. She is a perfect example of embracing motherhood and leadership across the bounds of cultural diversity.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have had many indirect mentors through the positions I have held, and despite none of them being perfect, I embraced every moment with them and learnt from their strengths and weaknesses. Having a mentor is the ideal opportunity to listen, learn, and discover your path.

What has you most excited about the future?

I want to make a difference in the lives of others by transforming my business and the exhibition industry. We need to provide opportunities to the many young women like me who want to be part of this industry; we need to allow them to learn and lead.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I want to reopen the exhibition industry with urgency so that we may do business irrespective of the varying levels of lockdown. We need to teach our sector to embrace the changes the pandemic has brought about and not be bogged down by outdated traits of the business environment.

Venues

Adele Hartdegen is passionate about people

Adele Hartdegen, chief executive officer of Johannesburg Expo Centre started as a project manager within the ICT industry, then moved into telecommunications where she was later promoted to a divisional executive managing three technical divisions including engineering, patents, production, and roll-out. Adele then moved into a head of department position in sales and marketing initially in telecoms, then electronic warfare and defence. Adele’s career commenced in the business events industry when she joined the GL events group in 2014 as head of department business development and marketing. After a recommendation from Craig Newman to the GL events Group, she was appointed as the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Expo Centre. In mid-2020, in addition to her position at the JEC, she was asked to take on board the management of Dogan Exhibitions and Events, organisers of the Rand Show.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I have always been passionate about helping people, and for me leadership has always been about what I can do for others, to see them grow and flourish. I take my life lessons, learned through good and bad experiences – and through my mentors – and share them with others in an attempt to guide them to avoid the same pitfalls.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

One of the biggest challenges which I observe in female leadership is for women to genuinely support and empower each other, be it their superiors or subordinates. We need to rapidly move beyond the old ways of competitive behaviour and create a new culture where we actively build up other women and support their journey to success. At the same time, women have to learn to trust their voice and deal with negative feedback without it affecting their self-confidence, women who have already reached this goal need to be open to guiding other women who are facing similar challenges.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I switch off – literally doing any activities that don’t involve something with a screen. We have become so obsessed with our devices constantly feeding us information that our senses become overloaded, and we feel out of balance. Just by going back to basics and taking time out from emails and WhatsApp groups, etc. makes a world of difference.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

Establishing myself in a male-dominated industry, filled with engineers, my biggest challenge was being surrounded by, and managing people who were 20 years my senior and technically more qualified than me. I had to find a way to establish my credibility and authority without being emotional about it and getting into power struggles. I quickly learned that industry knowledge and understanding every aspect of the business was my best option and I was able to establish a leadership position in my organisation by having expert power and being honest with people even when telling them what they didn’t want to hear. Being appointed as the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Expo Centre has been the highlight of my career so far, having initiated the feasibility study more than two years prior to the acquisition by the GL events group, it was a dream come true to be able to take the project full circle and have the opportunity to head up such a prominent entity in the industry.

What advice would you give to women aspire to be leaders?

Ensure that you know exactly why you would like to be a leader and what kind of leader you aspire to be. If you want to lead in the corporate space, ensure that you have a good comprehension of the concept of leadership versus management. It is also important to understand that being a leader takes great sacrifice in both your personal and professional capacity. Being a leader in your space might seem all glamour and accolades, but the truth is it takes blood, sweat, and tears if you really want to make a lasting positive impact in the lives of those you are leading.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Accept that change is the only constant and be prepared to be flexible, keep adapting, and innovating. Nothing amazing ever comes from a comfort zone. If anything, the last couple of months have shown that complacency within the business events sector may be detrimental. For those who would like to enter our sector, events is not a fun job — it is a complicated, demanding industry that requires diverse skills and the ability to think on your feet and respond rapidly. It is not for the faint-hearted or those looking for a nine-to-five job.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

I’m answering this question, not based on the circumstances in my organisation, but more on the challenges faced by friends and family, as I am very fortunate to belong to a group that is pro-female empowerment and equality. Many women are still not being promoted and recognised for what they have to offer an organisation, simply because they are female. They are still given fewer opportunities than their male counterparts, are often paid less, and must put in a lot more effort to make it to the top. Added to that, there are still too many pre-conceived notions in the workplace of how women should behave and should present themselves. Over-react just a little and you quickly receive a nasty little label, as opposed to male colleagues doing the same which is generally acceptable behaviour.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

Speak your truth, treat others as you would like to be treated, and admit when you need help. Although it may be hard to have certain conversations, always be honest and transparent with your team. Never forget that you were once an employee who may have had a ‘horrible boss’. Remember how that made you feel? Ensure that you never repeat these actions to others Nobody is perfect, nobody knows everything, and you don’t have to be a hero, be open to learn from your superiors, equals, and subordinates and ask them when you really need support.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I believe every woman can be a leader in her own way and on her own terms, and sometimes this can simply mean a woman being the leader in her family, and therefore the woman leader I admire most would be my mother. My mother has been a housewife for most of her life, and even though she could not teach me the corporate ropes, her character, kindness, and perseverance have taught me invaluable life lessons and shaped me into the person I am today. She is and has always been my biggest cheerleader and I look up to her as she has won battles in her life without ever compromising her kind nature and staying true to herself even when faced with the worst situations.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

Mentorship has made a significant impact in both my professional and personal life and I am fortunate enough to have the same mentor in both instances. I originally worked for my mentor as a personal assistant/project manager and, due to his guidance and constant effort to develop my strongest attributes, I am able to lead an organisation today whilst maintaining a fulfilling personal life. My mentor has always been my sounding board, the person who is not scared to give me a straightforward answer and correct me when I am going down the wrong path. I have always admired the great success he has achieved, by retiring as a millionaire in his early forties, and at the same time being the humblest person you will ever meet; I am blessed to have crossed paths with him and I attribute much of my success to the years spent working with him.

What has you most excited about the future?

Seeing the resilience of our industry, the passion of the players within our industry, and the willingness to collaborate during the toughest challenge we have ever faced, makes me excited about a new way of working together within the industry. I hope that this newly formed dynamic will remain post-pandemic as it presents us with an opportunity to go further together and really put South Africa on the map as a leading destination for Business and Consumer Events.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to focus more on giving back to the community and become more involved with NPO’s and projects focused on orphans and children in need, not only focusing on financially supporting these initiatives but being actively involved and dedicating my time and energy to those less fortunate.

Lindiwe Rakharebe leads with love and respect

Lindiwe Rakharebe took the reins at the Durban International Convention Centre as chief executive officer at the beginning of April 2015. “I was blessed with a good formative education at Montebello, which is a Catholic Girls Boarding School. I hold a bachelor’s degree in management leadership from the University of the Free State, a diploma in management development and have undertaken a number of professional development programmes during my career, including the financial services training programme.”

“Prior to assuming my position as chief executive officer at the Durban ICC, I served as the regional executive for Absa KwaZulu-Natal where I oversaw the strategic leadership of the organisation and facilitated the growth of Absa/Barclays Africa Group’s footprint in the province. I have served in a management capacity for all four of South Africa’s major banking institutions. I am the African representative on the ICCA Board, which is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry. My areas of expertise include strategic planning, research, marketing, community liaison, policy development and the principles of good corporate governance.”

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I hold a personal view that leading with love and respect is the key to bringing out the best in people and this has carried me throughout my leadership roles. I believe in principle-centred leadership. The Durban ICC embraces five core values and I do my best to live out these values every day and influence the corporate culture by the way I treat every member of the team. Our five core values are Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Passion and Commitment and finally, one team, one vision, united in diversity.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

During my career I was often underestimated and found that I needed to over-achieve to secure opportunities for development and advancement. As women, we always have to work twice as hard as our male counterparts to demonstrate our capabilities and we are often underestimated. However, I believe that if we work hard and use the gifts which God has given us, we may overcome those challenges. I have seen that success is ultimately the result of diligent management, strong collaborative relationships and an attitude of perpetual learning.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I love spending quality time with my family, reading, playing tennis and going for walks on the Durban beachfront. To achieve this:

• I make sure that my love for people does not lead me to try and be all things to all people.

• Prioritise my time and what needs to be done.

• I try to schedule some personal time.

• As hard as it may be, I try to have set work hours and to stick to them as much as possible.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

Highlights:

• People, people, people – employees, suppliers, clients, heads of state, celebrities, royalty, sports luminaries – I am blessed to meet, engage and learn daily from people of all walks of life.

• I am lucky enough to have over 30 years of experience in the corporate environment. I have had the privilege of holding management positions in all four of South Africa’s major banking institutions.

• Since taking the reins at the Durban ICC I am pleased to say that we have seen a consistent year-on-year increase in the number of international events secured at the Durban ICC. This has translated into significantly higher economic impact and job creation contributions since that time. In fact, we have never contributed less than R4-billion annually to South Africa’s GDP since I joined the company in 2015 except for when the pandemic struck in 2020.

Challenges:

• I have a very open and approachable style, but some people incorrectly assume that I am a pushover. I know how to be tough when I need to be and when to crack the whip to obtain results.

• As we all know the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown triggered a sharp drop in economic activity in the market. When conferences and events resumed, they were severely restricted in the number of attendees permitted, resulting in a reduced number of events being held than in the past and those that did occur were on a smaller scale than on previous occasions. I am, however, proud of the fact that when our core business hit a roadblock we did not just sit down and accept that as our lot in life. We recognised that the difficulty was being faced by ourselves, our clients and our communities. Our team went into overdrive to find opportunities and we developed new ways of doing business. We have been focusing on opening new revenue streams for the company and the development of our high-tech Virtual Event solutions. We have reinvented the way we organise events. By investing in our online event technology, and retraining our event coordinators to become online event producers, we now have a range of virtual event offerings such as live-streaming and hybrid events. We continue to explore other revenue streams as the conference and events industry continues to be impacted by the pandemic.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

One of the biggest challenges we currently face and which we will continue to face is generating revenue. Many businesses have had to repurpose due to the pandemic. My advice is to find ideas to generate revenue and then focus on those.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

• Believe in yourself.

• Invest in yourself through education.

• Show respect in all you do, which includes your speaking, dressing and mannerisms.

• Love what you do every day.

• Be like a sponge; constantly learning from those who have been around longer than you, regardless of their position. I believe that when we stop learning we start dying.

What advice do you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

As a woman, you are gifted; you are a natural life-giver and whatever you give life to will increase and grow. The sector is currently one of the most challenged due to the pandemic. However, whatever challenges you are faced with – as a woman – you know how to manoeuvre, whether it’s leading a company or propelling a cause. I believe a woman influences everything she touches. I would say, do your research, be prepared, keeping an open mind that to make it and sustain the industry, we will need to leverage one another’s strengths for the greater good of our industry and society at large.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

A change in our mind-set, as women, is critical. Despite societal norms, women have changed the course of history. For example, look at the 20,000 women (across all races) that marched to the union buildings on 9 August 1956 to deliver petitions to the then-Prime Minister JG Strijdom, against the carrying of passes by black women. Women are nation builders and the pillars of our society. We have the ability to hold our families together despite the challenges that we face daily. We are leaders in society and role models to many. Therefore, we need to empower one another.

Women need to negotiate confidently and convincingly. Your ability to negotiate in today’s competitive business climate may determine your success in whatever field of business you decide to work in. The following tips may help improve negotiation skills and possibly make all the difference in your next negotiation:

• Be confident and assertive

• Be prepared

• Know when to compromise

• Follow up

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

I believe it was Albert Einstein who said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” If you want to recognise opportunity, look for the areas of greatest difficulty, because that is where the greatest opportunities are. Address these to unlock your next level of success. We have all been affected by this pandemic in several ways, and we would all agree that this may certainly be described as ‘difficulty’. But this is also a time of great innovation and the opportunity to reinvent ourselves and the chance to do business in new ways.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I am inspired by other great women leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama who are making an impact in their own unique ways.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

As a young girl, I spent time at Montebello, which is a Catholic Girls Boarding School. Although the nuns at the school were extremely strict, they instilled a solid foundation of discipline and respect in me, which has served me well throughout my life. They taught me to take my studies seriously and the real value of education to open doors for me throughout my career.

My late grandmother – A strong woman, disciplined, compassionate and she inspired me to be the best I could be.

My mother – I lost my father at the age of five, so my mother had to raise me on her own, working day and night shifts as a nurse, to provide for me and my sister. She made sure we had the best education and she taught me resilience and what it means to be an independent woman, even though it was not by her choice. To this day she remains a pillar and a source of strength.

In my personal capacity I try to make a difference through the people I mentor and coach and through giving my time and financial resources to the projects I support for the upliftment and development of our communities.

What has you most excited about the future?

I really enjoy travelling and there are still many places in the world I would love to visit.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

Whilst the Durban ICC celebrates all the good strides that have been made, I am mindful that there is still a lot more that needs to be done. Once the vaccination process, which most countries around the world have embarked on – including South Africa – has been completed, we are hoping to yet again welcome people to the centre in numbers. We are ready to give our delegates an unforgettable experience, once again, in our world-class facility and encourage them to explore Durban as we have an array of entertainment attractions on offer. As the Durban ICC, we need to continue to strive to exceed our clients’ expectations and provide an exceptional experience for each and every event we host in future.

Personally, I would like to continue to develop people, giving back to those in need and improving the lives of others. I strive to do it in both my professional and personal capacity, and it is an ongoing journey.

Supplier

Alexia Swart – marketing and events go hand in hand

Alexia Swart, managing director of Barmotion worked in the hospitality sector from the age of 16 and the events industry from the age of 21. The Barmotion journey began in 2010 and here we are, 11 years later! I continued studying and completed my marketing degree. I believe marketing and events go hand-in-hand. A successful marketing strategy needs to encompass events – events are the perfect way to promote your company or message.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I was raised to believe the world was my oyster and I have always been encouraged to spread my wings. I was encouraged to follow my own path — I believe that this encouragement and freedom has assisted me to become open minded towards people and situations and I don’t really feel that anyone’s abilities are limited; I have faith in people.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Often, when women assert themselves, they tend to be classed as ‘bossy’ yet, when men behave in the same manner it’s classified as leadership. Overcoming this generalised perception of how assertive women are viewed needs to change. For some women this may be internally challenging due to the stigma attached. Women who know what they want and how they would like things done shouldn’t be labelled as nags and bossy. Stats show that women are twice as likely as men to be concerned that, in a leadership role, they will be viewed as bossy. The only way this stigma will change is if we change the narrative. We need to educate the youth of today, the future generation, to exchange the term bossy for leadership. Sheryl Sandberg – the chief operating officer of Facebook – hits the nail on the head, “I want every little girl who’s been told she’s bossy, to be told instead that she has leadership skills.”

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

It’s a work in progress, at times the balance is good, and at times its nonexistent, and this is okay – it’s called life! The most important lesson I have learnt is to be flexible. If I don’t get everything done in my set workday, I reshuffle — I will nevertheless go for my run or spend a couple of hours with my children and then continue what I need to attend to later in the day.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

It’s been amazing to see the continuous growth of Barmotion from inception as well as witnessing the special touch and energy of each team member who has come on board. Our expansion into our regional branches, due to local demand, has also been a highlight.

My biggest challenge, without a doubt, was having to restructure and retrench staff due to the current climate and the fallout of Covid-19. It was heart-breaking.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

Proving that we are both capable and equal as leaders without pushing ourselves to burnout. I think redefining what we currently perceive as success — and then trying to find the balance. More companies need to adopt the idea of work flexibility more openly.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Listen to understand, not to answer. Own your feminine strengths — we view things differently and have good communication skills amongst other proficiencies which come naturally to us. These attributes are important in the business world. Share your vulnerabilities and challenges, we all have them.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Buckle up baby, it’s a hell of a ride! It’s intense, it’s a go-go kind of environment- but it’s brilliant and full of adrenaline.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Finding the work/life balance, especially when it comes to raising children and your career. One should not suffer because of the other. Self-doubt is a big issue amongst us females, try not to suffer from imposter syndrome. Learning to embrace that we are successful because of our feminine traits – these are why we lead and work together in a completely different manner to men.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

Listen to people. They need to be heard.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I have been mulling over this one for a few days. I kept on trying to pin it down to a celebrity or a well-known, famous woman and it dawned on me — all the women around me are strong and are leaders. I have had the privilege of being surrounded by some of the strongest women I have known throughout my entire life. From my teenage friends, lifelong friends, to their older sister, to their mother, my mother, my gran, my amazing team of ladies at Barmotion — each of these women have taught me something along the way which has formed part of me and contributed to my character. I am stronger as a result of having them in my life and am grateful that I have had them as my mentors along the way.

What has you most excited about the future?

It’s been a tough year for all of us in this industry, and right now, I am cautiously optimistic as to when things may return to some sense of normality. The constant fluctuations are beginning to cause some weariness – BUT – I know things are going to revert back to how we knew them, and boy, am I ready and excited for this return!

We are also in the process of setting up the UK division of the company, so this is very exciting for us.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

To return to what we love doing most as a company, plenty of events and expos and getting the UK division off the ground.

D.M.C. Representation Company

Heidi Angell-Schau walks to the beat of her own drum

Heidi Angell-Schau, managing director of Worldview Portfolio and country director of sales for Africa, Soneva Resorts, always knew what she wanted to do.

“I knew what I wanted to do since I was 10 years old, and I never deviated from my passion to work within the MICE industry. I kicked off my travel career working for Wedgewood South Africa in 1997 and then moved on to Dragonfly, two very smart inbound DMCs. I found my strength in sales and worked for a representation company for 10 years, representing DMC’s from around the globe, to the outbound MICE segment. I took a leap of faith and my own representation company, Worldview, was established in September 2013, and I have never looked back.”

“At that point in time I had already established a sound reputation on the international circuit and I was fortunate to be in a position where I could handpick my principals and managed to establish a very strong portfolio of shining star DMCs. Worldview took off like a rocket and my husband joined me in 2014. With his incredible people skills and my business sense, Worldview very soon became the front leader in DMC representation. Soneva Resorts approached us in 2018 and I became their country director of sales representing Africa. Currently, I wear two hats which compliment one another and it certainly keeps me on my toes.”

How has your life experience moulded you into the the leader you are today?

I have had the best training from my A type personality client base over the past 24 years, the best university ever! It’s the truth, my clients are my best teachers and they have moulded me into the professional I am today. They are perfectionists, they are highly demanding, very service orientated, they all come with exceptionally strong personalities and require high standards. I am very proud to be a preferred service provider for these super agents, it’s an achievement!

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

I still encounter the odd ‘boys club’, which exists more so in the more mature generation. To a degree I have to empathise with these boys’ clubs, they simply have to watch out for each other because the ladies are showing up and trailblazing out there. Barriers for women in business are much less today than 10 years ago. You set the tone by being a competent professional, so you establish yourself as someone qualified to get the job done and let that speak for itself. I truly believe women are natural leaders and entrepreneurs. So, grow your business based on your skillsets and your intellect! As women, we have a lot of both!

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Personally, I manage this by having a very firm line between the two. When I am at work, it is only work and when it’s time for home and family it’s exclusively their time. I ensure that I feature too, I don’t feel guilty taking time for myself and do what makes my soul dance, that is comparable to fuel for my being, it’s a definite essential. So, when I dedicate time to work or dedicate time for family, there is no need for resentment because I very definitely feature in there too.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

I have many highlights, too many to mention. Every confirmation is a highlight for sure as well as travelling to all corners of the globe and experiencing the most incredible things. Meeting various people from different backgrounds and cultures, I just love my job! Challenges, every job has them – the volatile rand, the various flare ups globally… let’s see, the world pandemic is huge.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe that education and mentorship within our industry is lacking. We have large generational gaps within the travel industry, a lack of new blood, and the older generation is skipping ship, especially with Covid destroying sustainable livelihoods within the travel industry. The new generation will need guidance and mentors to show them the ropes, so I feel this will be the biggest challenge.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Love yourself, embrace your flaws as much as your strengths, you are a full package and no one sees just one part of you. Own your womanhood and be immensely proud of it. It’s fabulous being a woman and know your self-worth and never put yourself in a position where you allow someone else to determine that for you. People treat you based on your behaviour, so behave as a lady if you would like to be treated as a lady. Lead by example first, and never assume that respect is a given.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Whatever you do, be so good at it that they can’t ignore you. Perseverance! It is a career, first and foremost, driven by sheer passion and love for the industry. All the good stuff only comes much later and only after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so stick it out, it’s well worth it at the end.

It is a career, first and foremost, driven by sheer passion and love for the industry. All the good stuff only comes much later and only after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so stick it out, it’s well worth it at the end.

What do you believe is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Boundaries and self-respect are lacking in general. We, as women, should never accept anyone addressing us with less than a certain level of courtesy, from one professional to the other. Less than that should not be okay with anyone. Boundaries are not always an easy thing to implement in a relationship, however it is essential to have in place if you desire respect.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Walk to the beat of your own drum, listen to your intuition, and always follow through. Its normal to be human and have feelings and that is okay. Don’t say anything negative about another person in writing. Find your passion, establish that as your career and then take charge of it. Your success is your own responsibility. You will fail more than you will succeed and it is better to view it as a learning curve. Continuous learning leads to continuous improvement. The business environment is evolving rapidly, and your adaptability and leading practices will assist you in managing better results. I’ve learned not to worry about making mistakes — everyone makes them! Women are perfectionists and find it difficult to leave certain things in the past, but it’s best to learn from it and move on! Be a graceful opportunist, be classy and don’t forget to forgive yourself often.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

My first boss, Helen Wilson. She provided my first opportunity: employed me fresh out of college and took me under her wing in 1997. After all these years, Helen knows me very well and she has been an incredible role model to me. Why? I guess we have the type of relationship where she may be critically honest with me and still have my best interests at heart. She has always been my biggest cheerleader, always supportive and there to listen.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

When you run and manage your own business, the buck stops with you. It is vitally important to have a mentor to bounce things off and get a professional perspective from someone you trust. When you become clouded with emotion or there’s too much dust in the air, you need something to help you cut through the emotion and get clear vision on something that will dictate a solid path forward.

What has you most excited about the future?

What excites me is the day we are able to get rid of these masks! In all seriousness, I am cautious about getting excited about the future because everything changes so rapidly. I’ve learnt to be excited in the moment. I think what most of us us have missed most is something to look forward to. Setting small rewards along my journey is what has helped me put one foot in front of the other and is driving my ambition at this point.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

What I have accomplished in the past year was not something I could have made up or dreamt of in my wildest dreams! So, who knows what I will manage to accomplish in the next year. What I may say is that I have learnt incredible lessons these past 18 months, such as save, save and then save some more! What I would like to accomplish in the next year is to have enough resources saved to carry me through for at least three years of loss of income.