Letter from the managing editor: It's time to become a superhero

It’s time to become a superhero

In only one year, we have faced as much as our ancestors did in a hundred – from an ongoing pandemic, to a war, to floods, and a troubled economy. We’ve become experts at adapting, pivoting, evolving and surviving, but it’s time to throw away these cliches and approach things differently. In our cover interview [see page 14], TFG CFO Bongiwe Ntuli explains that once you become a senior leader, you realise the importance of what you do and the direct impact of your decisions on your company and society. This year, the CFO South Africa community has come together in-person on multiple occasions after two years of solitude and virtual confinement, and they all agreed that it’s time to learn from the past and be proactive in our response to change. During the Cape Town Summit on 22 June [see page 62], CFOs revealed that the key to this lies within relationships. This was echoed at a dinner on 7 July [see page 12], where those around the table agreed that South Africa’s problems are solvable if business leaders put their minds together. CFOs also explained that every sector has an important role to play in driving positive change during a Finance Indaba Online discussion [see page 26]. Building on this, myself and the CHRO South Africa managing editor, Nomahlubi Sonjika, were tasked with organising the annual Women’s Dinner event this year, and we wanted to emphasise the importance of relationships and women supporting each other [see page 20]. We realised that in order to be proactive, we have to recognise and understand the strengths within ourselves first, something which had been emphasised during the CFO Day on 11 May, during which attendees learnt how to unlock their superpowers [see page 38]. Putting together this issue of CFO Magazine, we decided to shine a light on the people who have been driving change instead of navigating it, including the nominees of the 2022 CFO Awards [see page 68]. Investec group FD Nishlan Samujh also believes that, if we keep reacting to crises instead of finding solutions to the problems we are facing, we won't see the world returning to its full potential [see page 50]. And we heard from leading audit professionals on how accountants have a role to play in improving the future by helping to build a better world [see page 58]. I hope in reading this, you find the inspiration to tap into your strengths and become the superheroes South Africa needs.

Caylynne Fourie Managing Editor cfourie@cfo.co.za +27 68 583 9270