Gloria Sokhela wears many hats – wife, mother, sister, leader and lifelong learner. Balancing those roles isn’t simple, particularly with a high-profile husband – she’s married to DJ Sox, record producer, businessman and founder of the kwaito group Durban Finest. For Gloria, the key is discipline, clear priorities and knowing when to ask for help.
‘I’ve learnt to be fully present in each role,’ she says. ‘You can’t do everything at once, but you can focus on what matters most and do it well.’
Family anchors her. Grounded in her faith, she describes her home as her greatest responsibility and joy. Professional success, she believes, means little without impact. ‘For me, success isn’t about a title. It’s about the growth and fulfilment I can help bring to others.’
She grew up in a close-knit household where education and resilience were non-negotiable. Her mother, a professional nurse raising four children, modelled both strength and sacrifice. ‘She showed me what hard work and perseverance look like. Those lessons became the foundation for my career.’
Today, Gloria leads a team that handles home loan service queries at Standard Bank. The work demands precision and empathy in equal measure. Beyond targets and turnaround times, she is motivated by people – ensuring clients feel heard and helping her team perform with confidence.
When Gloria enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Management Practice (ADMP), a degree-level 12-month programme at Henley Business School Africa, she was after a straightforward career boost. She expected rigorous academic theory. Instead, she got a mirror.
‘It wasn’t just about leadership theory,’ she explains. ‘It forced me to look inward.’
By the third block of the programme, something had shifted. She noticed herself questioning more critically and speaking with greater conviction. A defining moment came when she initiated a difficult conversation with a team member. Instead of entering the discussion with assumptions, she chose curiosity. The result was clarity, trust and a stronger working relationship.
‘That was when it clicked. I wasn’t avoiding hard conversations anymore – I was leading through them.’
The journey wasn’t without strain. There were deadlines that collided with family responsibilities. Gloria relied on planning, open communication and a supportive home environment. ‘We had to contract differently during that period,’ she says. ‘My husband stepped in when I couldn’t. The sacrifices were temporary, but the growth was lasting.’
Since completing the ADMP, Gloria says she approaches her work – and her relationships – with greater intention. She asks more questions, listens more carefully and prepares more thoughtfully.
Her biggest insight? Leadership begins internally.
Two frameworks reshaped how she navigates pressure. The Ladder of Inference helped her recognise how quickly the mind jumps to conclusions. Instead of reacting, she now pauses to examine her assumptions. The P.A.U.S.E method – a structured approach to slowing down emotional responses – strengthened her ability to stay composed in charged situations.
‘Both the P.A.U.S.E method and the Ladder of Inference learned on the ADMP have helped me reflect before responding. That’s improved my decision-making and my relationships, at work and at home.’
The ADMP also challenged long-held habits. It surfaced limiting beliefs she hadn’t fully confronted and required her to sit with discomfort rather than avoid it.
‘My healing started when I became honest with myself,’ she says. ‘I realised vulnerability is not weakness – it’s strength.’
That realisation reshaped her leadership style. She leads with empathy, but without compromising standards. She drives performance while remaining attentive to the people behind the metrics.
For Gloria, the ADMP marked a beginning rather than a conclusion. The practice of asking “why” – of examining triggers and staying curious – has become part of how she operates. She feels equipped with a stronger internal foundation and ready for greater responsibility.
Looking back, she describes the experience as life-changing. She is more reflective, more self-aware and more aligned with her values.
Her advice is practical: don't try to go it alone, and remember your purpose when the pressure builds. Growth, she believes, is never a solo effort.
That conviction extends beyond her personal journey. Gloria sees parallels with South Africa’s future. Just as individuals thrive through shared support and clear intent, so too does a nation. Unity of purpose, accountable leadership and investment in education and youth are, in her view, essential to unlocking the country’s potential.
‘We are a nation of resilience and creativity,’ she says. ‘If we work toward a common goal, we can build a future that reflects the strength and diversity of our people.’
What advice would you give your 20-year old self?
It’s okay to fail and try again. Don’t be too hard on yourself – enjoy the journey because that’s where the learning happens.
Tell us about a book you are reading?
I’m planning to start How Did We Get Here? by Mpoomy Ledwaba – it’s a guide for women on finding themselves.