I have learned that leaders need to be acutely aware of themselves, their impact on others and the broader purpose of their work. In my role as the Head of the Strategic and Finance Support department in the City of Johannesburg, I am required to build strong relationships and interact with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and leverage financial resources effectively. My role ensures effective resource allocation, financial stewardship and alignment with mayoral priorities to support sustained growth and operational efficiency in the city. None of this can be accomplished without my most important stakeholder: my team.
I have always wanted to be a leader in commerce. Growing up, I wanted to be a financial manager or a director in an organisation. I was always envious of my dad when he left for work in a suit and tie. I was curious about what he did for a living – he was an admin clerk at a bank – and was constantly asking questions about his work.
My father was a great believer in the power of education, and he instilled in me and my twin sister and three other siblings that there is no substitution for hard work. From the time we started school, we’ve worked hard to achieve what we wanted. My father was very involved in our progress at school, made sure we did our homework daily, and kept a close eye on our performance.
I wasn’t able to study full time after school because we could not afford it. I needed to go to work immediately. My first job was as an accounting clerk and once I was earning a salary I started saving to enrol for my first degree, a Bachelor of Accounting Science at Unisa. I followed that up with a Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Auditing, also at Unisa. While working I completed certificates in senior leadership development at WITS, management at UCT, and eventually, the cherry on top: an MBA from Henley.
I was drawn to Henley because the family-friendly structure tapped into my need for work/life balance. Family time is very important to me. Additionally, I knew that the school’s quadruple accreditation meant that the MBA would be recognised not only in South Africa but abroad. I was also impressed with the practical nature of the course content because I would be able to implement learnings to real-life challenges I faced at work.
Going back to study after an extended break from the books was exciting. It made me realise just how much there is still to learn. It was refreshing to uncover the depth and breadth of knowledge that lay beyond my existing experience, inspiring me to push my boundaries further.
For me, one of the highlights of the MBA was the Personal and Professional Development module. Its focus on reflection and self-awareness took me on a journey of discovery. Who am I? What is my purpose? What are my values, beliefs and goals? Interrogating these questions provided me with a deeper understanding of myself and now allows me to coach others in a more meaningful way.
The MBA has also had a very practical impact on my skills, successfully integrating my financial expertise with cutting-edge technology. My elective module provided insights into AI, blockchain, and machine learning, disruptive technologies that are here to stay. This has been instrumental in setting me up for future career growth and new opportunities because technology will continue to play a critical role in developing economies, particularly in addressing triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Leaders should be readers. A friend recently suggested I read Michael A Singer’s The Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Yourself, and I was hooked after the first few pages. The book introduces the concept of the untethered soul which refers to a state of being that is free from the constraints of ego and negative thoughts, allowing you to cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace, love and connection to oneself and others.
All work and no play will make you sad and grey. In addition to family time, which is enormously important to me, I am a golfer. I am constantly working on my swing and golf has taught me lessons in patience, focus, integrity and goal setting. Now I am working on consistency, which is not easy to achieve on the golf course!