Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane ranked among Africa’s women CEOs of Biggest, Complex, Businesses

Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane, Managing Director at Absa Bank Botswana Ltd

Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane

ranked among Africa’s women CEOs of Big & Complex Businesses

From a skill perspective, the researchers For this selection utilised a methodological assessment oF leadership oF complex listed entities on the aFrican continent.

BY: HENRY DAVID

Abanker per excellence and a household name in the financial services sector, Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane, Managing Director at Absa Bank Botswana Ltd recently had her name etched on the Africa.com Definitive List of Women CEOs at the helm of the Biggest and Most Complex Businesses in Africa.

Of the revealed crème de la crème of the revered 50 female CEOs heading corporate Africa, she is perched among the top fifteen (15). The list was compiled over many months through a deep research effort to examine the management of big businesses in Africa by Africa.com.

Enchanted by her nomination as well as to appreciate her response to her leadership milestone, Strides recently had an enlightening conversation with this agile, open minded and trendsetting leader.

In narrating her response to the nomination, her words reveal a visionary leader poised to make waves in the industry yet modest enough not to take anything for granted.

“It really was a pleasant and affirming surprise,” says Pheko-Moshagane, noting, “I think often as leaders, especially female leaders, you question whether you are doing things right in all respects, predominantly in the current volatile environment in which we operate. Such nominations, particularly among the caliber of women I was nominated against really did boost my daily mantra that nothing is impossible.”

In reflecting on the methodology used in the nominations. The MD points out the need for leaders to consciously cultivate cutting-edge strengths and skills.

“From a skill perspective, the researchers for this selection utilised a methodological assessment of leadership of complex listed entities on the African continent. The candidate had to lead an entity listed on an African Exchange, with a market cap of over USD150 million USD or be a division head of an African exchange listed company, where the division itself would be valued at over USD150 million were it standalone; and finally, Africa region heads, or country heads, of globally listed companies with a market cap of over USD50 billion, “says Pheko- Moshagane, highlighting, “ This first logical approach quantified the skill aspect of the selection as you cannot lead a business with such returns that is listed and accountable to various stakeholders, if you do not have the capacity to do so. In terms of my strength’s, I believe that my commitment to lead change in a positive manner, having led the bank through one of the biggest brand transitions in the continent, as well as always being authentic with my story of transitioning from a “tech girl” to a seasoned executive for one of the biggest financial institutions in the country.” Pheko-Moshagane extrapolates that leadership is a progressive journey as it continues to unfold in new dimensions. Having led the back through its transition process from Barclays to Absa as well as steering it through the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, she reiterates that there is no leadership journey devoid of pitfalls.

“There is no leadership journey without challenges, and the most poignant challenge I can share is the one that was brought about by the pandemic. It definitely was not easy to lead 1200 people remotely when the pandemic first broke out and challenged all the conventional ways of doing business and working that we were used to. One thing that helped me overcome this was to quickly realise what was in the ambit of my control and influence from that perspective, as opposed to dwelling on the things that I could not change. This has affected my level of resilience and made me realise that if I lead with empathy, I am able to quickly inspire people to tap into their potential and influence their level of agility despite the circumstances they face,” says the managing Director.

In addition to celebrating her nomination and emphasising on the need of self-development as a leader, she is quick to celebrate the capabilities of the other leaders with whom she is ranked.

“I am absolutely blown away by the caliber of other CEOs selected. Firstly, just looking at my peer Ms. Catherine Lesetedi, who had achieved so much and inspired a lot of young Batswana women to forge ahead in an area such as financial services, I am indeed proud that I could be considered alongside her,” she says.

The caliber of the CEOs aside, Pheko-Moshagane says she is captivated and motivated by their diverse industry backgrounds and life stories.

“Listening to some of their stories motivated me to become even more resolute in challenging the status quo. That I should not only be using my God given abilities as they are but be developing and enhancing them to achieve goals that break the glass ceiling in Botswana, in so doing leaving something for the next generation. In everything I do with my career, I strive to leave things better than I found them. What also inspired me as I listened to other CEO stories is the case of a one lady from East Africa who was in manufacturing and had been thrust into leading a team of men in a factory when she was just 25 years old. Her story made me cognisant of the fact that I need to do my part in pushing those women with potential into opportunities that would help them forge ahead and shine. I really do believe that Mosadi Ke Thari Ya Sechaba and I ensure that I translate this saying into daily goals and action by leading with intention and inspiring the women in this country to dare the impossible,” says the Managing Director.

Drawing on the passion to leave things better than she found them, Pheko-Moshagane says she is resolute to contribute positively to people’s lives as part of her legacy indicating that it is her desire to inspire girls especially from rural Botswana aspire to do exploits in the STEM field.

“I want to inspire women to challenge themselves. I desire to empower my fellow colleagues to rise up and initiate change even though they are not guaranteed of success. It is my aim to inspire the aspiring young farmer to stop procrastinating and dare to dream big and believe in their potential. That is the legacy I would like to leave behind. Even though I might have been the first female Motswana MD for a Pan African bank like Absa, I shouldn’t be the last,” stimulates Pheko-Moshagane.

To the inspired, a gold nugget of wisdom from a progressive leader is priceless. Contemplating over the circumstances of her rising and success, she says it is imperative to live life with a growth mind set and allowing it to infiltrate it in every aspect of one’s endeavors.

“Leadership is a journey because there is no destination. It is continuous. It is intentional. It is painful sometimes, but ever so worthwhile,” concludes Pheko-Moshagane. KEABETSWE PHEKO-MOSHAGANE

Known as KB among her colleagues, Pheko-Moshagane was appointed as the Managing Director of Absa Bank Botswana Limited (“the Bank”) in April 2019.

She was the Chairperson of the Bankers Association of Botswana until April 2021. She had previously held the position of Head of Core Banking Applications after which she progressed to Head of Technology, overseeing the execution of bank projects, programmes and initiatives aimed at ensuring the business operates in a stable environment. She further held the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Absa and was instrumental in driving various transformational initiatives, which contributed towards the overall performance of the Bank.

She has a background in technology, and prior to joining the Bank, she worked as a consultant for various organisations in the telco and banking industries in South Africa. She is passionate about not only technology and innovation, but also about education and women empowerment, inspiring Batswana women to take pride in their identity and contribute to society positively.