Destiny Power of 40 report 2014

Power Destiny

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REPORT In assocIatIon wIth

Destiny

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REPORT wE’RE cELEBRatInG...

Xoliswa Daku

Fikile Moeti

Nobulali Dangazele

Mbali Mogalanyane

Zeenith Ebrahim

Cathy Mohlahlana

Neliswa Fente

Sazini Mojapelo

Lepang Ferguson

Nazmeera Moola

Sarisa Ferreira

Matshepo Faith More

Thabiso Foto

Lindiwe Mthimunye-Bakoro

Hellen Hassim-Madziga

Irene Mutungi

Nicci Hattingh

Asanda Myataza

Amy Jephtha

Vhonani Neluvhalani

Yasmin Kathoria

Unathi Nemuhuyuni

Dudu Ledwaba

Zandile Nkonyeni

Mahlohonolo Maja

Khensani Nobanda

Lumka Majola

Celeste Ntuli

Sithokozile Malinga

Ola Orekunrin

Donnadelliah Rhulani Maluleke

Lesego Phiri

Marcia Mathsa

Daniella Shapiro

Rosie Molete Matlanyane

Sibongiseni Tunzelana

Nomsa Mazwai

Candice Wyatt-Minter

Thuthu Mbhele

Thulisile Volwana

CONTRIBUTORS: Sheena Adams, Harsha Gordhan, Mariam Isa, Gillian Klawansky, Aurelia Mbokazi, Atlehang Ramathesele and Norma Young

In assocIatIon wIth

hey’re drawn from a myriad of industries and stages of success, yet the 40 amazing women we’ve featured here for our annual Power of 40 report, published in association with Chevrolet Trailblazer, have one important trait in common – innovation. Be they entrepreneurs whose innovative businesses could not but succeed or corporate staffers whose original ideas have taken their divisions to fresh heights, a belief in constant innovation is behind the success of these trailblazers aged under 40.

The example of excellence they set reminds us to maintain a healthy curiosity about life and work and to keep questioning the status quo so that it constantly improves.

American journalist Warren Berger’s just penned a fascinating book about the sparking of groundbreaking ideas, called A More Beautiful Question. It has lessons for all of us about continually questioning our motives and ways of doing things.

“When we want to shake things up and instigate change, it’s necessary to break free of familiar thought patterns and easy assumptions,” he writes. “We have to veer off the beaten natural path. And we do this, in large part, by questioning.”

Off you go, then… And have some fun doing it!

Sheena Adams

HERE’S TO THE PIONEERS

DEpuTY EDITOR

FINDING NEW ROADS The future is defined by those who dare to dream – and who believe all dreams can be attained. As we hurtle through the 21st century, the world evolves at a rapid rate. Gone are the days of acknowledging a person’s achievements long after the fact.

Over 100 years ago, Billy Durant and Louis Chevrolet dared to dream and combined their visions to form the Chevrolet Motor Company: an organisation that would leave its mark on automotive history and become world-renowned for ingenuity and innovation.

Continuing that philosophy of innovation and guided by our global positioning, “Find New Roads”, we strive towards finding new ways in which to make the Chevrolet experience more rewarding. This is what inspires us to create vehicles that are exciting to drive and equally exciting to look at. It’s what fuels us to push beyond the ordinary and towards the extraordinary.

It’s therefore an honour and a privilege to sponsor and be associated with DESTINY’s Power of 40 report and the individuals who are living our global philosophy, finding new roads in their respective fields. At Chevrolet, we believe in you.

We believe in the power of all you can achieve, what you want to be and where you want to go.

We wish you well on the trails you’ll continue to blaze.

Tim Hendon

To the women who are changing the landscape of South Africa, Chevrolet would like to acknowledge and thank you for your contribution and inspiration. Wherever your career takes you next, the new Trailblazer offers a safe and comfortable ride in powerful style.

The Trailblazer epitomises elegant modern design for an elite driving experience.

Here’s to you, ladies, and the trails you continue to blaze.

Chevrolet Trailblazer, proudly associated with The Power of 40 initiative.

TRAILBLAZER

BRAND MANAGER: ChEvROLET www.chevrolet.co.za www.facebook.com/chevroletsa

www.twitter.com/chevroletsa

Promotion

POWER Power moves No destination is out of reach

when you’re in the Trailblazer. The powerful 2,8 LTZ model has a Duramax engine that puts all the power you need – and more – in the comfort of your hands. Whether you’re conquering a mountain on a family camping trip, cruising around town or dashing between engagements, this SUV delivers great performance.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a tough, powerful looker that marries luxury and safety with the latest in automotive technology. Wherever you’re going – it’ll go with you!

Power dressing If you’re looking to turn heads,

then the Trailblazer is for you. The exterior is best described as rugged sophistication and its look is unmistakable. Inside, it’s loaded with plush upholstery and comfortable Tumble Flat seating for seven. There’s ample room for everyone’s gear and the three rows of seating put all the accessories needed perfectly within reach. The patterned leather seats are now available in a dark ash grey option.

Power play Life doesn’t stop while you’re in

your car, so why should you? With Chevrolet MyLink, you’ll stay connected. Technology for comfort, convenience and safety is right at your fingertips, or enjoy your favourite music or news programmes. With Chevrolet MyLink, pairing your compatible smartphone is simple using Bluetooth® connectivity. Make or answer calls safely while driving, or access your contact list easily. In addition, Stitcher and TuneIn come pre-loaded, so you’re never without your favourite tunes. There’s even a USB port to connect your mobile device or portable hard drive.

The new Trailblazer offers a safe, comfortable ride without compromising performance.

Chevrolet. Find New Roads.

Picture Credits:

Photographer: Shaun Mallett. Stylist: Lauren Nicoll. Stylist’s assistant: Bongo Mazwana. Make-up: Lindsey Swart @ Red Hot Ops. Model: Mosa Modingwane. Clothing: Dress by Karen Millen, 011 784 2937, www.karenmillen.com, shoes byAldo, 011 884 4141, www.aldoshoes.com, sunglasses, RAD Shop, 011 781 0455, www.radthestore.com, clutch by Trenery, 011 290 2500, www. woolworths.co.za Shot on location @ Bryanston Shopping Centre, 011 706 3519, www.bryanstoncentre.co.za

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Trailblazer power principle “Beyond fear is freedom.”

GAUTENG

NICCI HATTINGH (32), CO-OWNER OF CREATIVE AGENCY MONARCHY

Daniella Shapiro

Trailblazer power principle “It doesn’t matter how you feel – get up, dress up and show up!”

Fikile Moeti

Sazini Mojapelo

Zandile Nkonyeni

Photographer: Michelle Wastie. Hair & make-up: Zenzi Masuku, Marc Boss & Kathryn Marnewick

Candice Wyatt-Minter

Since graduating from the University of Pretoria with a BA in information design, Hattingh’s won many accolades from Promax BDA, the official body recognising outstanding work in the TV industry.

Having scooped 64 local and international awards in under four years, including for the title sequence for M-Net’s The Wild, Hattingh’s at the top of her game. At just 24, she became the country’s youngest Creative Director at Clearwater, a leading TV media company in Johannesburg. She was then handpicked to work in Los Angeles, California, USA for Kyle Cooper – the originator of title sequences like Se7en, Dawn of the Dead and Sherlock Holmes. After her stint there, she returned to SA and started a design company named Monarchy with her husband and soul-mate, Delarey. “Almost overnight, Monarchy became a big contender in the design and marketing arena when our company won a big pitch against the country’s best (including Clearwater, Birthmark, Orijin and Twisted Sisters) and skyrocketed into a major business,” she says.

Her most recent project is the international on-air branding and imaging for DStv’s Crime & Investigation network, which is running in 102 countries and has just won an International Gold Award for Art Direction and Design.

Hattingh came up with a concept for it called “converged timelines”.

Yet she remains humble, crediting all her creativity and success to God. “He gives me the ideas, the strength and the foresight to know what solution will be right. My talent comes from Him,” she says.

Asked which of her achievements she’s most proud of, she smiles.

“My son, Benjamin, who’ll be seven months old on 11 November.” – Harsha Gordhan

Trailblazer power principle “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

– Sir Isaac Newton

Mahlohonolo Maja Nicci Hattingh

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With a Master’s degree in development studies under her belt, social entrepreneur Mojapelo’s need to create innovative solutions for community and poverty problems prompted her to start Hand in Hand Southern Africa.

Part of an international network, the organisation empowers women and youth to start, run and grow their micro-businesses by offering training, capacity-building, financing and facilitating markets. Since partnering with a philanthropist, it’s grown to employ more than 230 people and now penetrates SA, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Having won 2014’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the Gauteng Regional Achievers awards, Mojapelo attributes the success of the company to a variety of things, particularly the attitude of the

CANDICE WYATTMINTER (35), OWNER OF WYATT HAIRDRESSING & BARBERING The owner of this chic salon at 44 Stanley has long had a reputation for being one of Jo’burg’s most adventurous stylists. And now, with a plum role as one of cult hair brand Davines’s Head International Trainers (after winning the Davines World Style Award in Berlin, Germany, in 2010), her profile’s fittingly gone global. Not bad for a one-time Carlton Hair apprentice who says she laid down the roots for almost all her present clientele “by fluke”, freelancing for a magazine and advertising industries.

The crisp, all-white interior of her eco-

people. “From the board members to the field officers, we have people who are passionate about helping others discover and unlock their potential. This has enabled us to deliver and build a strong track record, which has ensured the confidence of our donors,” she says.

She plans to support 500 000 entrepreneurs in their programme and replicate their model in Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique – a goal that’s achievable, given her solid relationship with her mentor, corporate heavyweight Wendy Lucas-Bull.

This mentorship, she says, has included advice on juggling family obligations with her career, without compromising either commitment. “It can’t be done without the guidance and support of women who’ve gone before you. Wendy’s wisdom and insight are great anchors when making tough decisions,” says Mojapelo.

Twitter: @sazinimojapelo Website: www.handinhandsa.org – AR

Trailblazer power principle

“A candle loses nothing from lighting another candle.” friendly salon, designed by Dokter and Misses, is a calm and serene space, even with bums on every seat.

“I signed the lease on my birthday, 19 March 2007, two days before I had a malignant melanoma removed. It was an epic time because I was really celebrating,” she says.

But she does admit to going in “completely blind” when it came to her staff.

“As teething problems arose, I just kept working through them. I never advertised for people or actively poached anyone; I knew they’d come to me,” she says.

She’s recently moved into larger premises at 44 Stanley and says she’s very aware of how her state of mind affects the running of her business.

“If you’re wanting to make money from a business, people feel that. But if you want to have fun in what you do, everything else follows. I can definitely see that the times when the business hasn’t been doing well

Hattingh’s dress by Woolworths. More’s jumpsuit by Jo Borkett. Ebrahim’s shoes by Socrati. Nobanda’s dress by Karen Millen & shoes by Socrati

Although she concedes she’ll have to eventually focus on one aspect wholeheartedly, Moeti’s hybrid interests in entertainment, social entrepreneurship and social activism have afforded her a well-rounded career.

Despite her success as a radio personality for 5FM, she also wanted to be an agent for social change. After studying arts entrepreneurship in Chicago, USA and doing a summer course in social entrepreneurship at New York University, she enrolled for a Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Programme (SECP) at Johannesburg’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) to gain a local perspective.

Her focus is on helping artists and social entrepreneurs become more business-minded and increase their reach. “I want to create awareness at grassroots level. There are many people who’ve been doing social entrepreneurship and don’t even know it, and I’d like to help them formalise it,” she says.

When this accomplished triathlete used her participation in the gruelling Ironman challenge to raise funds for someone wanting to do the SECP course, it inadvertently birthed the Fix Scholarship – a partnership with Gibs and 5FM’s CSI initiative, YoungBlood5, which sponsors the education of change-makers.

Using her on-air and social media platforms to propel the scholarship, it’s been running for three years.

Moeti relishes her role in social development, especially for the youth, who she feels are teeming with fresh ideas. “I appreciate being able to push what’s important in our country, but still provide entertainment as an escape that helps people enjoy life,” she says. – Atlehang Ramathesele

SAZINI MOJAPELO (35), CEO: HAND IN HAND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Clothing: Mojapelo’s jacket by Mango & shoes from Socrati. Wyatt-Minter’s shoes from Europa Art Shoes. Moeti’s accessories by Jo Borkett. Mohlahlana’s dress by Jo Borkett & shoes by Aldo

GAUTENG

FIKILE MOETI (27), 5FM DJ AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST

DANIELLA SHAPIRO (25), ENTREPRENEUR Shapiro’s never been afraid of a challenge.

In 2009 she bought and rebranded the City2City marathon and, in three short years, increased participation in it 10-fold.

She’s involved in all things brand-related, from web engineering to planning corporate events and developing her own condom brand, Loveglove, which comes in 12 distinctive colours and flavours, aimed at different “personalities”, including the chocolate-flavoured Ninja and the banana-flavoured Handyman. Loveglove will soon be available in Dis-Chem, Pick n Pay and Spar outlets.

Shapiro attributes her achievements to her proactive and tenacious approach. “I’m not afraid to step out of my comfort zone,” she says. If she had to sum up her philosophy in one word, she says, it would be “disruption”. “For entrepreneurs, the hardest part isn’t necessarily creating an idea. It’s getting that idea noticed in a cluttered market.”

This innovative speaker with fresh, forward-thinking ideas is determined to push boundaries and take companies to the next level.

With marketing strategy clients who include Anglo American, GEMS, Standard Bank and Eskom, the projects she’s been involved in have helped increase brand awareness in order to maximise brand value.

Never one to sit still, Shapiro has recently joined CliffCentral.com, where she hosts a weekly programme interviewing business people.

Her advice to entrepreneurs is: “Bet on yourself, invest in yourself and own yourself.” – HG

are the times I wasn’t [at my best personally].

If I’m positive and at my most energetic, clients book appointments and my staff are more motivated. But the moment I lose sight of my priorities, everything else drops.

You make your own business,” she says.

She’s currently focusing on growing the footprint of her internal training academy at Wyatt and is enjoying exposing other salons and hairdressers to her inimitable techniques and colouring expertise.

– Sheena Adams

ZANDILE NKONYENI (34), HEAD OF PR: SABC TV Amid the constant woes dogging the national broadcaster, Nkonyeni’s role is to establish and maintain effective communication between the SABC TV network, the media and viewers.

“Due to its fast-paced setting, working in broadcasting is a daily challenge.

My focus in the past year has been on creating an effective communication plan where SABC TV is perceived as a network with channels that offer complementary programming, rather than individual channels that compete with each other. So I’ve had to be clear about my vision and pass it on to the team,” she explains. She gained her communication experience from working in print media, agencies and broadcasting. In the past, the three SABC TV stations each had a Head of PR and when Nkonyeni took over, she had to combine teams who were accustomed to working independently. “One of the key business lessons I’ve learnt is that leadership is a service, rather than a position. I’ve had to learn new skills and shift from being a consensus-builder who liked having everyone on the same page to working with a big team. To get valuable input from them, I had to strengthen our collaboration and our communication.”

In the future, she sees herself in a training role advancing the communication industry. She’d like to coach up and coming communicators, especially those from underprivileged communities. – AM

MAHLOHONOLO MAJA (36), FOUNDER OF NRW LOGISTICS A former Project Manager for the Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education Training Authority (Seta), Maja used to watch her engineer husband dabble in commodities trading on the side and was piqued by the profit potential.

So in 2009, after giving birth to her last-born, she applied for a trading licence in wholesale petroleum – which she got a year later.

“Within a month after I’d resigned from the Seta, I met an engineer who was contracted to the Medupi Power Station and who told me they were looking for a female supplier. I registered on their database and the rest is history.”

NRW Logistics is currently turning over R30 million a month, based on a trading volume of three million litres of petroleum. Maja’s licence

allows her to trade in all petroleum products, including diesel, gas, jet fuel and industrial lubricants. She buys in bulk from oil majors like Engen and Sasol and then sells it on to bulk-end users. Her clients include mines, power stations and large-scale farmers, but she’s also got long-term gas supply tenders signed with Transnet and SA Breweries (SAB).

“When we started five years ago, our turnover was R20 million per annum – now we’re doing more than that in a month. Profit margins are 3-5%, depending on the product, although margins on gas are around 10%,” she says.

As it’s an exceedingly lonely industry, especially for a woman entrepreneur, Maja’s enrolled as part of the Acumen mentoring programme with Raizcorp, which has helped sharpen her focus.

“I’m currently outsourcing the logistics side, but looking at getting my own trucks which will be contracted to Sasol and not limited to my Transnet or SAB tender.

“I want to diversify further in the next few years by acquiring our own filling stations to positively impact our cash flow,” she says. – SA

Trailblazer power principle “Invest quality time in increasing love, faith, hope, truth, gratitude, generosity and humility in your life and the rest will follow.”

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GAUTENG

MATSHEPO MORE (32), ACTING CEO AND CFO: PUBLIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION (PIC)

In her current role, she leads the biggest asset manager on the continent. “My position requires that I take my core competencies to another level. I believe the vote of confidence in me to act as the CEO of such an important organisation isn’t just because I’m a woman, but is due to the skills and hard work I’ve demonstrated throughout my years in the PIC – particularly my efforts to improve reporting and accountability in the organisation, premised on the audit record over the past two years as the CFO.” While her academic background and experience equip her for the post, More admits facing challenges.

“The PIC deals with various clients who have different requirements, but the same expectation of getting a good return on investment. This makes it a difficult balancing act. It’s therefore my duty as Acting CEO to ensure that all our clients are satisfied and that we deliver good returns on their behalf.”

Heading a major company has yielded significant lessons, she adds. “I recently learnt the art of ‘constructive arrogance’ in business. This is the ability to recognise that you belong on any boardroom chair you occupy without feeling intimidated.” – Norma Young

Qualified as a CA, there was a strong likelihood that More would one day be financial head of a JSE-listed corporation.

What was less likely was achieving that at 32. Also a member of the Fund Investment Panels and sitting on the boards of companies like CBS Property Management, Pareto Ltd and Abasa, she’s earned the respect of her peers.

Dr Sibongiseni Tunzelana

Dudu Ledwaba

Matshepo More

Aldo, 011 884 4141, www.aldoshoes.com • Jo Borkett, 011 883 7240, www.joborkett.co.za • Karen Millen, 011 784 2937, www. karenmillen.com • Mango, 011 783 7907, www.shop.mango.com • Socrati, 011 784 1117, www.socrati.co.za • Woolworths, 011 290 1011, www.woolworths.co.za

Zeenith Ebrahim

WESTERN CAPE

DR SIBONGISENI TUNZELANA (35), DIGITAL INNOVATOR, DJ AND PERFORMING ARTIST, LOVEOLUTION In a digital age, Tunzelana’s qualification – a PhD in information systems (majoring in digital analytics and digital innovation) – makes her one of the most sought-after experts in her field. Yet she’s not one to put all her eggs in one basket.

When she’s not helping companies map their digital strategies, she pursues her other passion: music. One of her proudest moments was recording her single, Molo-molo, and shooting its promotional video. Her most challenging initiative to date has been implementing a digital strategy for a UK-based company and leading a physical and virtual team for months until the completion of the project.

“I learnt the value of putting people first, before technology. After all, it’s people who develop technology and they’ll always remain at the heart of any project,” she explains.

A modern trail-blazer, Tunzelana has her sights set on becoming a professor in her academic field, as well as a music producer. “I want to add value by supervising PhD graduates who’ll be able to apply innovative solutions to businesses and communities globally,” she says. – Aurelia Mbokazi

ZEENITH EBRAHIM (32), EXECUTIVE COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE) Responsible for GE’s transportation business in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as for leading revenue and business growth across the region, Ebrahim’s had a meteoric career.

She credits her success to “working incredibly hard” and being able to connect with people towards a common purpose. She’s driven by a passion to make a difference on the continent through the three areas she believes matter most: education, agriculture and transport.

Ebrahim believes she was “phenomenally privileged” in terms of her own education – after beginning her career at Procter and Gamble, she was able to study for a Master’s degree in business science at the UK’s illustrious Oxford University as a recipient of a Nelson Mandela scholarship.

DUDU LEDWABA (26), ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT, PRIME BROKING CLIENT SERVICES: DEUTSCHE BANK Trained as a chartered accountant, Ledwaba says her personality’s played an important role in shaping her career. “The qualities that have helped me most are confidence, an ethic of hard work, enthusiasm and good people skills. Forty percent of my job includes client interface, which requires me to be approachable, knowledgeable and able to handle difficult situations diplomatically. The ability to communicate with people of all backgrounds has helped me gain the trust of both my peers and those in higher positions.”

Thanks to these qualities, Ledwaba’s able to handle the

She aims to continue studying all her life, as it allows her to “reset priorities and think about what I want to achieve. I believe I have an obligation to give back to this country and, with a group of likeminded people, figure out how to support others,” she says.

She says the best advice she’s ever been given came from an American colleague at GE a few years ago, when Ebrahim was still very intimidated by being a young woman in a male-dominated industry and was battling to appear “stern and knowledgeable”. “He took me aside a few times and told me to just be myself. After a while, that sank in,” she says. After admitting that she didn’t have technical knowledge of the industry, her eight-member team – all of whom were considerably older than she was – embraced her.

“The rapport’s been phenomenal: I’m not dictating a strategy or approach. We’re doing it together,” she says. – Mariam Isa

stresses that come with her work.

“My duties include the co-ordination and management of relationships with SA Prime Clients, SA Finance, SA Operations and London for offshore clients. We manage the performance of our clients’ portfolios and we’re the main link between the hedge funds and the traders. The nature of the job poses different challenges on a daily basis. These don’t necessarily pertain to a specific project, but are related to my client base and their trading issues.”

Having achieved corporate success at such a young age, Ledwaba says she’s benefited from mentorship. “My first mentor was my uncle, Benny Mokaba, who’s guided me in my career path from day one.

He inspired and encouraged me, pointing me in the right direction. His advice has always helped solidify my ideas and decisions.” – NY

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GAUTENG

Trailblazer power principle “Love.

Laugh. Live.”

Cathy Mohlahlana

Celeste Ntuli

CELESTE NTULI (35), COMEDIENNE AND ACTRESS

CATHY MOHLAHLANA (27), ANCHOR: eNEWS PRIME TIME AND REPORTER: eNCA

With her signature blonde brush cut, booming voice and hilariously raw brand of Zulu comedy, Ntuli’s fast becoming an immensely popular entertainer. Juggling a flourishing stand-up comedy career with newfound fame as an actress on DStv’s Isibaya, she’s been kept very busy.

The funny girl from Empangeni, KZN, who actually entered the comedy space on a whim, first won audiences over as a Top 10 contestant on SABC2’s So You Think You’re Funny and while she has cross-over appeal, she admits it isn’t easy changing material to suit different languages without compromising the humour.

Ntuli believes women often hold themselves back from doing comedy. “It’s about who you are and your ability. If you’re open enough to stand on a stage in front of a crowd and make them laugh, take the leap,” she implores.

Enjoying her foray into acting, which she describes as “living a double life”, she hopes to do more TV work in the future. “I’d love to do a sitcom or maybe even a reality TV show. People wouldn’t believe the madness that is my life!” she laughs.

Despite a string of nominations, including a Royalty Soapie award and a Safta, Ntuli jokes that her “room-divider’s still empty”.

However, judging by her success, it won’t be long before she’s wielding armfuls of accolades.

Twitter: @bhelez Website: www.whacked.co.za – AR

Born and raised in Polokwane, Limpopo, Mohlahlana’s always been purpose-driven. She went from interning at a radio station while in university to becoming the youngest-ever News Anchor for eNews Prime Time at 7pm on weekdays in a short period.

Her passion for the newsroom and vested interested in community, national and global issues have given her career momentum, but she believes her loyalty, dependability and commitment to getting things done are her most valuable assets.

She enjoys covering breaking news. “It’s a privilege to be able to give a voice to people and humanise social issues. It’s also about holding those in power in the public and private sector accountable for systemic failures in our country which deprive people of the life they deserve,” she says.

Mohlahlana plans to continue telling stories and making a difference, as well as campaigning for youth issues through her involvement with the Young African Leaders Fellowship and the Mandela Fellows hosted in the USA by American President Barack Obama recently.

“It’s our duty as young adults to share opportunities and time with the youth so that they can begin to imagine and realise possibilities for themselves,” she says.

Twitter: @CathyMohlahlana – AR

Trailblazer power principle “Mosadi o tshwara tipa ka bogale” (“A woman holds the sharp end of a knife”).

NELISWA FENTE (28), CO-FOUNDER: SPRINGAGE Having started SpringAGE with her schoolmate, Raelene Rorke, Fente describes the company as a platform that co-creates new business ideas and services for large corporates with brilliant young minds.

The interesting business model brings in the expertise of youngsters (who do the work free of charge) to work on innovative ideas for clients such as Liberty, Simba, Pepsico and SAB. Fente’s career started as a Call Centre Agent for Standard Bank, a posting she left as a Workplace

LESEGO PHIRI (29), MARKETING SPECIALIST: BMW GROUP FINANCIAL SERVICES Phiri knew from a young age that she wanted a successful marketing career in motoring and to be a strong female voice in a maledominant industry. Armed with determination and a marketing degree from the University of Johannesburg, she started out as an intern at VWSA and quickly worked her way up the ranks, landing good positions at Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW. Highlights of her career include her tenure as Brand Manager of Jaguar Land Rover in SA, a position she held until three months ago.

“Taking up that position at age 25 was a

Coach after just two years. She’s currently completing a B Com in industrial psychology.

Her company holds threehour “ideation” meetings called “SpringBREAKS”, based on questions posed by its corporate clients and attended by students, professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders “with the same desire to take the country forward”.

The next phase is called SpringREFINERY, where the company comes up with a formal business model for the ideas thrown up at the brainstorming session, should the client wish to proceed with it.

“Some of the clients who use our services, such as SAB, gained key insights from what this group of young people think could reduce irresponsible drinking. They also got ideas about campaigns they could do differently that would speak to young people and about innovations that might help educate young consumers to know their limits,” she explains.

She’s currently working with Bowman Gilfillan on setting up a youth development foundation.

Unsurprisingly, she’s also been named as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper community – watch this space. – SA

huge responsibility and taught me that I could no longer rely on others to pick up the pieces after me. I had to work extra-hard to be taken seriously in this business. Fortunately, when I set my mind on something, I pursue it with vigour and won’t stop until I’ve achieved my goal,” she says.

Phiri’s career has included organising the launch of the new-generation Range Rover Sport, which incorporated various aspects of the company’s business and also demonstrated the vehicle’s capabilities.

Asked where she sees herself in the next decade, she says: “As a powerful player in the motoring industry, with ‘Director of Marketing & Communications’ inscribed on my office door.” – AM

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GAUTENG

Trailblazer power principle “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

KHENSANI NOBANDA (35), EXECUTIVE HEAD, POSTPAID: VODACOM Having worked as a marketer in the FMCG industry for 14 years, including an impressive stretch as General Manager of Hansa Pilsener, Nobanda’s recent move to her present position demonstrates her ambition.

The new job is a lot more technological and she’s learning on her feet. “I’ve never been in the telecommunications industry, so I’m enjoying the challenge. Plus, if

– CS Lewis

Lesego Phiri

Nobulali LuthiLwethu Dangazele Lumka Majola

Trailblazer power principle “Be clear about who you are and what you want. If something doesn’t work, move on.”

Khensani Nobanda

I have the ability to sell you beer and airtime, it must mean I’m quite strong at marketing!” she laughs.

Her duties feed her creative passion, but also require business management, as her team’s accountable for the growth and profit of the brand and the sector.

This dynamic merging of skills ties into Nobanda’s ultimate goal of either becoming Chief Marketing Officer for a blue-chip company or running an advertising agency.

An intuitive marketer who genuinely puts the consumer first, she says her

focus and curiosity have boosted her career. However, she admits she doesn’t have all the answers.

“When I was at Unilever, I was hesitant to go with a revolutionary idea when re-launching the Rama brand. I was proved wrong by the positive reception our research yielded. That taught me the value of doing thorough research and not believing a strategy is only about what I think. We can hold our consumers back if we don’t challenge ourselves,” she says. – AR

NOBULALI LUTHI-LWETHU DANGAZELE (29), FOUNDER AND MD: NOBULALI PRODUCTIONS

LUMKA MAJOLA (37), PACKAGING MANAGER: HEINEKEN SA

In a country grappling with numerous social ills, Dangazele chose to be a social entrepreneur – or, as she prefers to describe herself, an “artrepreneur”.

“My business uses the arts as a strategy to develop teaching and learning skills in education and business through professional plays and corporate theatre,” she says. More than 30 000 school pupils from four provinces have watched her theatrical productions. Despite her successes, however, she admits having learnt the hard way.

“I once took an entire cast of John Kani’s Nothing But the Truth to Nelspruit and booked the Civic Theatre, accommodation and transport for everyone – but the show was attended by only 139 students over its five-day run. It was a huge loss, since our projections were based on an attendance of over 3 000 pupils. I incurred a lot of debt because I hadn’t conducted proper market research or marketed the show adequately,” she recalls.

A serial multi-tasker, Dangazele’s reading for her PhD at Warwick Business School in the UK and also working on some of her biggest projects, which include a TV show that will be broadcast in various African countries.

To get ahead, she surrounds herself with powerful mentors who play a pivotal role in the development of her career. These include the Joburg Theatre’s CEO Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema and the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship CEO, Shaun Johnson. – AM

Majola’s just come off an exhausting 15-hour shift (and an 80km round-trip from Heineken’s Sedibeng brewery) when we meet her, yet you’d be hardpressed to hear a bad word about her job.

Formerly Engineering Manager at the plant, she’s taken to her new role with aplomb and is already hard at work trying to increase efficiencies on the canning and bottling lines that she manages, while also running mentorship circles.

“I have 190 people reporting to me and it’s a nice gender mix – 40% are women. We’ve done very well in trying to balance the employment equity scales,” she says.

However, she admits there are still “subtle” gender dynamics at the brewery, with a good number of her male colleagues not feeling it necessary to prove themselves or put in as much effort as she does.

“I normally summarise that by saying you get comfortable with people who are similar to you. When there are differences, it takes time to find common ground. For me, having to go the extra mile consistently for my boss is because he’s a white German man and I’m a black woman.

“But I feel as if I’m in a pioneering role and accept the challenge of doing something visible to show that gender

Trailblazer power principle “To thine own self be true.”

– William Shakespeare, Hamlet

and colour don’t matter much when the passion to do the job is there,” she says.

Majola regrets not having completed the MBA for which she enrolled a few years ago due to illness, but is happy about the strategic knowledge to which the modules on the course exposed her.

“My sights are set on running a manufacturing plant by the time I turn 40 and, thereafter, looking at a Manufacturing Director’s role. Once I’ve cut my teeth on that, maybe I can look at an MD’s role. That’s my ambition for the next seven years,” she says. – SA

“I feel as if I’m in a pioneering role and accept the challenge of doing something visible to show that gender and colour don’t matter much when the passion to do the job is there.”

LIMPOPO

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MPUMALANGA

VHONANI NELUVHALANI (38), ATTORNEY AND FOUNDER OF ACCOMPLISHED LEGAL SOLUTIONS

Marcia Mmatsela Mathsa

Vhonani Neluvhalani

MARCIA MMATSELA MATHSA (30), RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, PUBLIC SECTOR: NEDBANK Managing relationships is a critical part of most jobs, but for Mathsa, it’s a key performance area. Fortunately, she’s multilingual and describes herself as being “self-motivated, outgoing and with a genuine love for people”. This attitude has enabled her to run impactful projects. “This winter we launched a blanket collection campaign at Thabazimbi Spitskop Special

School. The project was a great success as part of our community developments and investment through the Nedbank Foundation. It also brought the valueadd of the school to the attention of the Mayor of Thabazimbi, who decided to help get it registered at the Department of Education.”

Dealing with people can be challenging at times, she admits, and has taught her some important lessons. “Internal communication breakdowns can result in a bad brand experience for the public,”

she explains. Due to Nedbank’s positive community impact, Matsha’s become known and respected in the organisation.

“I got the opportunity to be appointed as a board member of the Essential Services Commission under the Minister of Labour.

My work performance also gained me the chance to travel to Dubai in 2012.”

In the next few years, she hopes to grow in management positions. She also plans to become an entrepreneur – and, given her strong people skills, that part of the job won’t present any problem. – NY

Despite holding an MBA, a B Eng Hons in technology management and a Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency, Mogalanyane doesn’t hesitate to admit there are gaps in her knowledge.

“I’m not afraid to ask if there’s something I’m not sure about, so I’ve mastered the ability to learn and adapt quickly,” she says. This quality, she adds, has helped shape her career, as has her commitment to hard work. “I’m driven and refuse to be mediocre.

I always ensure I deliver quality work and go the extra mile. Most of the opportunities I’ve been afforded were because of those traits.”

She’s had to learn to work in a team. “When I was a Mine Overseer doing pillar extraction, finishing up the last of the minable reserves, I was in charge of two sections. A lot of planning needed to be done and properly managed because so much can go wrong and mining sequence deviations aren’t tolerated.

That project taught me the importance of collaboration in achieving the goal of safe, optimal production,” she says.

While she’s committed to her chosen industry, Mogalanyane also hopes to become a fashion entrepreneur one day. “In 10 years’ time, I see myself still in the mining industry as an Operations Manager or higher, while running my own image consulting business,” she says. – NY

HELLEN HASSIMMADZIGA (37), SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR

Photographer: Matthew de Jager. Make-up: Zonique van den Berg

Trailblazer power principle “Never set yourself up for failure.”

Life may not always imitate art, but as a fan of legal TV dramas like The Practice, Neluvhalani was intrigued by the profession and motivated to make a difference to clients. She’s since attained her LLB and held senior positions at companies including PetroSA and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation.

“When I relocated to Polokwane from Cape Town and Pretoria, I applied for many positions within local and provincial government without success, even though I had a credible and solid track record,” she says. Struggling with depression as a result of her inability to find work, Neluvhalani was mentored by two Limpopo businesswomen. “I’m much stronger, more determined, more resilient and self-assured because of their support. My two daughters are also my inspiration.”

Identifying a gap in the local market for commercial lawyers, she eventually decided to start her own commercial law firm, with a debt collection department headed by her younger sister, Matenzhe, whom she’s mentoring to eventually run the business. She’s also a key member of the Businesswomen’s Association in Limpopo and a part-time lecturer at the University of Limpopo. “My commitment to teaching and learning goes deeper than a call of duty,” she says. “There aren’t enough hours in the day, because I’d also like to register for my PhD in law.” – Gillian Klawansky

MBALI MOGALANYANE (28), MINE PLANNING ENGINEER: GLENCORE

Raised in a village in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, Hassim-Madziga realised that someone had to come up with viable solutions for her community – which was when the entrepreneurial bug bit her. Her businesses include Interiors@Se7en, Mad Chef and Ecommedia.

“My businesses are interlinked and provide a turnkey solution for my clients.

Ecommedia is a business branding company which improves a company’s image, starting with its logos and websites, while Interiors@

Se7en helps companies do away with bulky couches and plastic chairs in reception areas. Once the business front is taken care of, we move to clients’ homes to provide interior design solutions. Under Mad Chef, we run a busy restaurant and shisanyama in Sabie, which has become a favourite among tourists and the biking community,” she explains.

Juggling three businesses, a marriage and motherhood hasn’t always been easy.

“I’ve yet to find that elusive balance everybody keeps talking about. I’ve sacrificed family time to grow my business.

I’ve also been brave enough to turn down lucrative contracts which would have kept me away

from my family for unreasonable periods,” she says She believes women have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to earn the same respect. Unlike major cities, she finds that businesses in small towns often operate in silos.

Her advice to entrepreneurs in such areas is: “Read and attend workshops to remain relevant in your industry and always respect your clients.” – AM

Trailblazer power principle “Things may come to those who wait, but they’re the things left by those who hustle.”

KWAZULU-NATAL

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YASMIN KATHORIA (38), BRAND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: UNILEVER FOODS

THUTHU MBHELE (35), DIRECTOR: SEKELAXABISO CONSULTING

Yasmin Kathoria

Thuthu Mbhele

Photographer: Andew Griffin. Hair & make-up: Volenti & Kendyl @ Nixon Make-up

Working with a R3 billion portfolio is no easy feat, but Kathoria has a passion for food brands like Knorr, Robertsons, Aromat, Rajah and Knorrox. She’s proud of the consistent double-digit growth across those brands, as this indicates that the innovations her team develops are meeting the needs of South African consumers.

“I joined Unilever as an Assistant Brand Manager and worked my way up over the past 10 years. In doing so, I’ve come to realise what it takes to rise above challenges. Qualities such as resilience, authenticity and purpose are needed in order to make it to the top,” she says.

Kathoria enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with young women whom she’s mentored over the past few years. Her latest mentee, Fawzia Docrat, has gone on to run pioneering research at the Unilever global head office in London. She has confidence in the young women of today as the harbingers of a brighter future and considers female leadership to be critical. “I believe that putting people and purpose at the core of what I do has led to award-winning successes in building some of the strongest brands in the world,” she says. – HG

She holds a B Com and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting, but it’s not just her technical skills and academic foundation that have garnered Mbhele success. “I’m able to remain very calm in difficult circumstances. This helps me see the situation from all angles and respond in a way that addresses the most significant concerns without compromising my own position,” she says.

Having recently joined SekelaXabiso, she’ll need her steady head for the role. “In addition to the technical competencies required for this job, the critical success factor will be my ability to create and maintain high-value relationships with my clients (both existing and potential) and my staff,” she says.

Luckily, Mbhele’s work experience has also equipped her admirably for the challenge. “In my various roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, including that of External Audit Partner and Human Capital Partner, the lesson I learnt and applied repeatedly was remaining true to myself at all times. Being authentic in business has ensured that I’m respected by my staff and clients equally,” she says.

Having recently moved to Durban, her mandate requires getting used to both a new city and a new set of responsibilities. “My vision for the next three to five years is to establish SekelaXabiso as the big name in internal audit and business consulting in the KZN market,” she says. In order to do this, she plans to draw on both her own experience and the insights of other successful business people. “I don’t have one particular mentor or business coach. The work I do exposes me to various good leaders and I always look for behaviours I can adopt to make me a better leader too. I’m motivated by individuals who are passionate about what they do and inspire those around them.” – NY BETHLEHEM

ROSY MOLETE MATLANYANE (37), MANAGING DIRECTOR: ROSY’S DAIRY

Matlanyane holds a B Com in bookkeeping, but found that her interest was increasingly in the culinary world. She and two partners started a catering business which became so successful that within a year, she was able to resign from her fulltime job.

In 2010 she started doing research and was captivated by dairy processing.

CHICAGO, USA

DONNADELLIAH RHULANI MALULEKE (31), COMMERCIAL ATTACHÉ: SOUTH AFRICAN CONSULATEGENERAL

Having earned her stripes at KPMG’s Advisory Services Department, as well as at the Industrial Development Corporation as a dealmaker and Trade & Investment Limpopo as Tourism Investment Portfolio Manager, Maluleke says she’s derived more personal fulfilment serving in the public sector than in “constantly increasing shareholders’ targets”.

A daughter of Mabiligwe village in Limpopo, she says it wasn’t surprising to have become a diplomat at the age of 27.

“It’s an absolute honour doing the type of work I’m involved in.

Even though I’d lived in the USA before, coming back as an adult with a national mandate had its own challenges.

“Before moving to Chicago, I went to meet my counterpart from the US Consulate in Sandton, Johannesburg. He walked into the room and asked if I was ‘Ms Maluleke’s PA’. I politely responded that Ms Maluleke was me. That was the first of

“Because of the catering business, my partners and I had already started a small dairy project where we collected milk from local farmers, pasteurised it and made maas as well,” she says. She then decided to start her own dairy brand, which has proved to be a lucrative move. “I currently operate in a very big space processing products like yoghurt, cheese and juice with nine employees. I’ve won a few female entrepreneur awards locally, provincially and nationally,” she says.

Supplying products like haloumi cheese and maas to outlets like The Sandwich Baron, the military base in Bethlehem and local Save Rite stores has extended her

numerous encounters of this nature, as people typically assume that diplomats are middle-aged males,” she says.

Maluleke’s appointment is essentially as a representative of the Department of Trade & Industry, helping facilitate investment, competitiveness and employment creation for SA’s benefit in 14 midwestern American states.

“Strikes and labour tensions in the mining sector, as well as high crime and violence statistics, Moody’s downgrades and corruption-related scandals that make their way onto Fox News, pose challenges in our quest to sell SA as a gateway to African economic opportunities,” she says. “There’s a need to perfect our PR to the world to redeem our position as a nation of endless positive possibilities.”

As President of the Chicago International Trade Commissioner’s Association, Maluleke’s also been exposed to markets like South America, Canada and many European nations. – SA

Trailblazer power principle “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”

– Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

business focus. “I’m now busy with a 1 200ha farming project. We have Bonsmara cows and I’m also planning to buy sheep and start a vegetable garden.”

Nevertheless, she’s had some major obstacles to overcome. “Milk can become contaminated and poisonous, so I had to ensure we always follow health standards and procedures. Also, all my milk suppliers were male farmers, most of whom were very gender-prejudiced.”

Nevertheless, with persistence, Matlanyane eventually developed solid business relationships. Now established in the Free State, she has her eye set on national business success. – NY

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Trailblazer power principle “If success was easy, everyone would have it.”

EASTERN CAPE

Thulisile Volwana

Sarisa Ferreira

The most amazing aspect of Volwana’s inspiring entrepreneurial story is undoubtedly how she taught herself electronics via the www.edx.org free online university. Both she and business partner Sabelo Sibanda are self-taught IT experts and the solar-powered Millbug Vuya tablet they designed is currently being manufactured abroad. The company they began two years ago also does web hosting, web development

and business applications, but started as an ecommerce retailer selling women’s clothes.

Besides the Vuya device, the company also recently developed an app called UmoyAir, a free call platform with advertiser incentives.

“I grew up in Ngcobo near Mtata and it was an experience often marked by no electricity. I realised that with our demographic, much as we want them to be online, create content there and participate in the digital economy, they often can’t because of infrastructure

A cancer survivor, Paralympic athlete, mother of three and business owner, Ferreira’s accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. She holds numerous qualifications, including an international hotel management degree and a business management diploma.

Having broken two African records for belowthe-knee amputees in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, she’s used to overcoming challenges, something that’s assisted her in her entrepreneurial venture.

Living on a farm in Patensie, Eastern Cape, Ferreira sought inspiration as drought and floods threatened her community and her family’s livelihood in 2012. “I approached various markets and discovered there was a huge demand for fresh, pre-packed vegetables in the province,” she says. “In December that year we started Areli Veg, which buys vegetables and citrus fruits from local farmers, integrates technology to pre-pack them using specialised machinery and distributes the produce to clients.” With a labour force that’s grown from 25 to 73, Areli’s client base includes the likes of Pick n Pay and Freshmark.

Ferreira provides on-site training and prides herself on creating a caring workplace. “Seeing my business grow and how it helps my staff and our local farmers is an amazing feeling and inspires me to do even more with my team.

“Good communication and asking for help from people you respect play a major role in making a success of yourself and your endeavours,” she says.

Areli Veg is currently doubling production to meet the needs of its growing client base. – GK

shortages,” she says. Thus the solarpowered tablet was born.

The Small Enterprise Development Agency came on board with R35 000 in funding for the licensing of the tablet while an angel investor has put up a considerable sum to develop the 7" Android device, which will retail for R1 499. They’re also part of the Shanduka Black Umbrellas incubation programme.

“We’re currently talking to various distributors and resellers and also hope to have our own online store one day,” she says. – SA

Inspired by a passionate accounting teacher in high school, Myataza grew to love the subject and later studied a B Com at Rhodes University. Having qualified as a chartered accountant in 2008, she’s been with PwC for seven years, where she’s steadily risen through the ranks from Trainee Accountant to Manager and then her present position. “I’ve always believed that hard work reaps rewards. I don’t believe in luck,” she says.

She also attributes her success to the mentorship of Shirley Machaba, PwC Senior Partner, Chairperson of its Southern Africa Governing Board and President of the Institute of Internal Auditors. “Shirley’s guided me through my career and provided me with numerous opportunities to show my leadership skills. She’s also assisted me in gaining exposure at the relevant senior levels within the firm. She’s always available to give me advice on any matter. I have tremendous respect for her,” says Myataza.

In her present role, she provides professional advisory services to public-sector clients. “I’m passionate about what I do because I believe I’m adding value by helping clients improve their finances, auditing outcomes and offering professional advice,” she says.

This passion also fuels her desire to give back. Born in Bisho. she’s committed to helping develop the Eastern Cape and believes in the power of education. “My plan is to further grow my career at PwC and get involved in community initiatives,” she says. “I’ve already started providing mentoring sessions to University of Fort Hare Honours students. I’d also like to assist Grades 11 and 12 accounting students in the Mdantsane area.” – GK

Trailblazer power principle “Work hard and play harder. A work-life balance is important.”

NOMSA MAZWAI (29), CREATIVE ACTIVIST AND ARTIST Mazwai’s Master’s degree may be in international political economics and development, but she’s an artist at heart. She doesn’t separate the two worlds, though: in her most recent position as Director of Emthonjeni Arts, she aimed to partner the arts with economic development. “I was tasked with turning a post-construction facility into a sustainable social enterprise operating as an artists’ residency. This utilised my skills of leadership, high-level co-ordination and community and stakeholder engagement, as well as critical thinking.” Having taken up the position in 2012, Mazwai was able to fund-raise a major chunk of the capital required for the project.

After 18 months at the helm, she decided to leave the operation. “We’d successfully met all the milestones set out in the business plan, including the official opening of #Open Day, which coincided with the National Arts Festival this year,” she says.

She then focused on her passion for creating, releasing an album in August which has garnered interest abroad. In September, Mazwai and her band performed in New York, followed by a few gigs in Panama with DJ Dead Fresh.

While she admits walking away from Emthonjeni was a bitter-sweet experience, Mazwai says her sense of humour always makes difficult moments a little easier. Still an advocate for the artistic community, she adds that the needs of the industry are always top of mind as she travels and performs around the globe. “I’m looking for my next creative, innovative developmental project so that I can take my place and contribute to SA, the continent and the world.” – NY

BOTSWANA Photographer: Debbie Louw. Hair & make-up: Iris Gomez

– Sir Donald Gordon

THULISILE VOLWANA (23), CO-FOUNDER OF MILLBUG

ASANDA MYATAZA (32), DIRECTOR AND PARTNER: PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (PwC)

SARISA FERREIRA (30), DIRECTOR: ARELI VEG

LEPANG FERGUSON (34), PRODUCT DESIGNER AND LIFESTYLE ENTREPRENEUR Owner of Lepang Ferguson International, a lifestyle company that designs concepts ranging from fashion and accessories to

textiles, food and beverages and lifestyle centres, Ferguson’s fed her passion for design in various ways.

Born and living in Botswana, she spent her early 20s studying visual communications in Australia, majoring in graphic design and media studies. “It all starts with making something tangible for your audience. I loved the idea that I could see my product in someone’s hand, or as a living concept that people used practically as part of their lifestyle,” she says.

She’s currently working on a global music and film project in Denmark called

The Swing Prophets: Truth, Rhythm and History. Another focus is pushing her accessory brand Ngwao, which comprises several collections of handbags, jewellery and home and kitchen products. “They’re all made of a combination of precious metals, leather and semi-precious stones, especially Botswana agate,” she says. Her hope is for them to retail internationally in the near future.

A firm believer in constantly updating her skills, she admits that the industry needs more transformation.

Twitter: @lepangferguson – AR

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Western CAPe

Trailblazer power principle

Xoliswa Daku

Sithokozile Malinga

Thabiso Foto

LINDIWE MTHIMUNYE-BAKORO (40), GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: PETROSA

Photographer: Neil Burton @ One League. Make-up: Fabienne Zadel & Sjani Grobbelaar @ One League. Styling: Candice-Lee Kannemeyer

Amy Jephtha

“If there’s a 1% chance of success in anything you want to do, take it.”

Having cut her professional teeth at RMB after becoming a chartered accountant, Mthimunye-Bakoro says the seven-year stint moulded her into a “seasoned investment banker destined for great things”.

Working with women like Wendy Lucas-Bull. who was one of the most senior executives at the RMB Group at the time, also set the tone for a very empowered career. When she was appointed CFO of PetroSA last year, she joined a network of impressive women, including the organisation’s CEO (Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo) and its Interim Chairperson.

Mthimunye-Bakoro says the infrastructure advisory firm she started after leaving RMB, Palau Structured Solutions, made her more aware of her ability and resilience as an entrepreneur.

“It further unleashed my potential and positioned me to take Non-executive Director roles later in Imperial Bank, Woolworths and Group 5, so it was a very positive step for me.

“I sat on boards, so I didn’t become a stay-at-home mom. It just doesn’t appeal.

Having been in professional services, I’m used to working hard. It bothers me if I’m idle,” she smiles.

She’s thoroughly enjoying the petroleum resources industry, summarising PetroSA’s business as “mining at sea”.

“With most companies these days optimising costs, the accounting function has changed to be more strategic and less about transactional accounting. So I find myself involved in almost everything that happens in business.”

She says her two young children would probably like to see more of her, given a schedule that takes her to Johannesburg each week, but she stresses that balance means vastly different things to different people. “You can never make everyone 100% happy. Rather just be happy with the best you can do.” – SA Nazmeera Moola

Lindiwe Mthimunye-Bakoro

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WeSTeRN CAPe

XOLISWA DAKU (35), CEO: DCI HOLDINGS At the helm of DCI Holdings, and an expert in property development, facilities management and construction, Daku is courageous and solution-driven. Running a business with a diversified portfolio and experience in public-sector and state-owned enterprise services has earned her formidable industry respect.

She first identified the opportunities in property when she worked in an economic development space responsible for foreign direct investment promotion. “I realised that if I could advise people on where to invest and be able to package such developments for investment, why not do it myself ?” she says.

She feels there’s a lot of scope for women to succeed in the facilities management and property development sector, but they just don’t participate enough. “They tend to focus on construction only and don’t explore the property value chain – though that’s actually where growth is,” she says.

This partly drives her resolve to be part of global women’s empowerment. She’s a member of a variety of organisations serving those objectives and is the Chairperson of the Judging Panel for the Women’s Empowerment Programme.

The 2013 Black Business Quarterly Outstanding Woman in Business Award winner is focusing on mixed-use developments in the Western Cape, KZN and the Eastern Cape, but ultimately plans to grow DCI significantly. “My business aim is to achieve the multi-billion mark,” she says.

Twitter: @dciholdings Website: www.dci-holdings.co.za – AR

Trailblazer power principle

“Don’t judge each day only by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

AMY JEPHTHA (26), PLAYWRIGHT Some business lessons take years and repeated teachings to be assimilated.

Jephtha, however, is an astute and fast learner who’s well aware of the importance of seizing opportunities. “The hardest lesson I’ve had to learn is to say ‘no’ to money if what I’m being asked to do doesn’t inspire me. It was a mistake I’d made many times, telling myself I needed the work or the experience. But I finally learnt my lesson about ‘following the money’ after signing a contract to tell a story for which I had no passion. The desire wasn’t there from the beginning and I simply couldn’t manufacture that spark.

It was a creatively frustrating few months.

I’ve since refused several commissions because they didn’t trigger anything urgent within me. The only criterion I apply to projects now is whether they inspire me from the start,” she says.

Able to work on multiple projects at the

same time, Jephtha’s currently planning an international conference for women playwrights in 2015. She’s also finalising a screenplay and writing her next work.

It sounds as if she has the energy of someone just breaking into the industry, but – despite her age – she already has a dazzling resumé. After being awarded the first Emerging Directors’ Bursary from UCT’s Gordon Institute for the Performing & Creative Arts, she produced four shows in one year. In 2012 she was invited to participate in the Lincoln Centre Theatre Directors’ Lab in New York and then travelled to Sweden, where she presented one of her plays at the Women Playwrights’ International Conference.

“Although I think of myself as a storyteller, I’ve ironically always believed it’s more important to listen than be heard,” she says. – NY

“I’ve had to learn to say ‘no’ to money if what I’m being asked to do doesn’t inspire me.”

SITHOKOZILE MALINGA (30), DRILLING ENGINEER: BAKER HUGHES Born and raised in KZN, Malinga’s made the world her home. Since obtaining her B Eng in automative systems engineering from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK, she’s lived in Durban and is now based in Cape Town. She’s worked in the Middle East, North America and Europe and is now involved in an offshore drilling campaign in Mossel Bay. Being able to adapt to new environments is an important skill in her work, as is good interpersonal communication. “The first time I handled a project as a drilling engineer, from the planning stages to the daily operations and final deliverables, it was both scary and exciting, but I had great support, which made things easier. The lesson I learnt from that was to always communicate. Don’t just ignore emails or requests, even if they’re about things you don’t understand or think aren’t

THABISO FOTO (29), CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: REMOTE EXPLORATION SERVICES Encouraged by her elder sister to become a chartered accountant, Foto’s strong work ethic has helped her chart a course to the top. A 2009 encounter with Mary Vilakazi, then the Group CFO at the Mineral Services (MS) Group at a career conference organised by the African Women Chartered Accountants, led to a job as her assistant at the company. Vilakazi, who’s now the CEO of Balance Sheet Management at MMI Holdings, has since become an invaluable mentor. “She’s steered me in the right direction with almost every challenge I faced at work and in my personal life, and she’s contributed significantly to building my leadership skills,” says Foto.

She stayed with the MS Group to become CFO for its subsidiary, Remote Exploration Services in Cape Town, where she oversees the company’s financial performance and manages risk and compliance.

While she was excited about her appointment, she initially found it daunting. “I have to sit in meetings with people mostly 10 years older than I am and at the moment I’m the only black female in executive management. I feared failing those who’d appointed me, but I learnt to speak out, ask questions and say anything, no matter how stupid it sounded. That’s how I built up my confidence,” she says.

Driven by her proactive, hard-working nature, Foto’s also grounded and motivated by her husband, baby daughter and siblings. She’d like to head up a business one day, but says: “I just want a career that allows me to make a significantly positive difference to society.” – GK

your responsibility. Always let people know where they stand with you, because that builds trust – which is essential in business,” she says.

Having spent months at a time as the only woman working on an oil rig, Malinga admits it was often taxing, but says she has the requisite personality to cope with challenges. “The trait that’s helped me most in my career is resilience. You need it to survive and thrive in a maledominated industry.”

Having created such a solid foundation, she’s clear about her ambitions. “In three years’ time, I see myself still in the oil and gas industry, but in a position that intertwines technical sales and strategy,” she says. – GK

“The lesson I learnt was to always communicate.

Don’t just ignore emails or requests, even if they’re about things you don’t understand or think aren’t your responsibility.”

NAZMEERA MOOLA (36), ECONOMIST: INVESTEC ASSET MANAGEMENT Moola was good at maths in high school, so she embarked on a degree in actuarial science at the University of Cape Town. “After two years, I realised I’d rather shoot myself!” she laughs.

So she switched to economics, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in business science. Her supervisor, Brian Khan – now a Deputy Governor at the SA Reserve Bank – suggested she speak to his friend, economist Jos Gerson, at Merrill Lynch, who duly offered her a job as his assistant. She describes him as a mentor who taught her “how to think”.

“We shared a 5m x 5m office with desks side by side. For two years, we’d constantly engage – Jos interrogated everything I said and made sure my foundation in economics was solid. He believed in me at a time when I didn’t know how important that was,” she recalls.

Moola spent two years with Merrill Lynch in London, working in the bank’s global markets equity team. Her international experience gave her a valuable perspective on how SA fits into the global context, as well as access to people she probably wouldn’t otherwise have had as a woman in her early 20s. From there, she moved to Macquarie First South, first as Head of Macro-strategy and then as a member of its international sales team. Now her role at Investec, as well as her weekly column in the Financial Mail, have made her virtually a household name in SA. She says that having a daughter has been very rewarding, not just for the experience of motherhood, but in dealing with the pressures of work. “Having a child puts a lot of perspective on that,” she says. She adds that companies which have enabled her to work from home have also helped her achieve balance.

“International companies tend to be better at that – it’s not about doing less work, but about having more flexibility,” she says. – MI

“Having a child puts a lot of perspective on work pressures. Companies which have enabled me to work from home have also helped me achieve balance.”

Though she’s currently not practising as a medical doctor, Nemuhuyuni still has a heart for healing. Armed with an MB ChB, a M Med and registered as a Fellow of the College of Public Health Medicine of SA, her work at Metropolitan is focused on healthcare. “My job involves working with government and like-minded corporate partners to identify, champion and implement innovative partnership projects that aim to advance a shared vision: improving access to affordable, quality healthcare for all South Africans.”

Having recently completed projects such as the Hello Clinic in Pretoria for free breast cancer screening, as well as a wellness project partnering with clinics in the Western Cape, Nemuhuyuni’s learnt to balance multiple stakeholder ventures.

“Working on these projects has taught me that even if each party has a different primary agenda, finding a common vision will enable each one to bring their best to the collaboration. This is a critical factor in the success of any partnership.”

Besides on-the-job lessons, Nemuhuyuni also benefits from literary learning. “Observation and books are my mentors, as it’s difficult to find time for structured mentoring and coaching. I read many personal and leadership development works,” she says While committed to the medical profession, Nemuhuyini has her business goals set firmly too.

“I want to make a significant contribution to SA’s health system reform,” she says. – NY

NIGERIA

OLA OREKUNRIN (27), MANAGING DIRECTOR: FLYING DOCTORS OF NIGERIA

When Orekunrin graduated from Hull York Medical School at the age of 21, she became one of the youngest medical doctors in the UK. While she was indisputably an academic prodigy, that was only the first of her achievements. She was awarded a MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship, moving to that country to research regenerative medicine.

By the time she returned to Europe, she looked set for a promising career there. However, a lingering connection to Nigeria brought her to Africa.

Having lost her younger sister because there was no aircraft to take her to a hospital a few hours’ drive away, Orekunrin was intensely aware of the importance of providing emergency transportation. She began studying models and business plans for emergency and air ambulance services to inform her business venture.

In 2007 she launched Flying Doctors Nigeria, providing speedy medical services to critically injured patients.

Through her training as a helicopter pilot, Orekunrin’s been able to combine two passions – medicine and development in Africa. Over the years she’s become an acknowledged expert in disaster medicine, with a reputation for being a life-saver and one of Africa’s true humanitarians. – NY KENYA

IRENE MUTUNGI (39), PILOT: KENYA AIRWAYS

Mutungi’s name is inextricably linked to the history and achievements of Kenya Airways. Earlier this year, she became Africa’s first black female Boeing 787 Dreamliner-certified Captain when she steered the plane onto the tarmac at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

It was a notable achievement for the woman who started taking private flying lessons when she was just 17. Once she’d mastered piloting small aircraft, she went to Oklahoma, USA to qualify as a commercial pilot. Upon her return, she was hired by Kenya Airways as its first female pilot – a position she retained for six years.

A few years later, Mutungi notched up another first when a qualification to fly Boeing 737s made her the first black female airline captain on the continent. She celebrated the achievement by piloting an all-female flight from Kenya to Entebbe, Uganda. With over 3 000 followers on Twitter, she engages with aspirant pilots and shares her passion for increasing the number of women in aviation on our continent. – NY

Photographer: Andrew Griffin. Hair & make-up: Volenti & Kendyl @ Nixon Make-up

DR UNATHI NEMUHUYUNI (39), HEAD OF PUBLICPRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: METROPOLITAN HEALTH CORPORATE