Power of Women webinar

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This Mail & Guardian webinar was sponsored by AfroCentric Group, the most diversified healthcare company in Southern Africa. It featured as speakers the M&G’s deputy editor Athandiwe Saba, in conversation with Basani Maluleke, the former chief executive of African Bank Ltd.

Athandiwe Saba opened proceedings by saying that the M&G has been doing the Power of Women supplement for 16 years, and by thanking this year’s main sponsor, AfroCentric. She said the feature has focused on changemakers in South Africa, and that there was an overwhelming response this year regarding nominations. She then went through the seven categories for this year’s PoW: The Business Woman,  The Governing Woman, The Guiding Woman, The Harvesting Woman, The Healing Woman, The Mining Woman and The Networking Woman. 

How did you get to where you are?

Basani Maluleke said it was a privilege to be on the webinar. She said her role at African Bank gave her the opportunity to “flex her leadership muscles”. Before that she was at FirstRand, and prior to that she was a lawyer, following in her father’s footsteps. She soon realised that she didn’t want to remain in the legal profession, but wanted to rather be in the financial world. 

Athandiwe Saba

At which moment did the shift happen for you?

My “eureka” moment came in 2005. Myself and some other lawyers were helping two companies to merge, but I decided that I wanted to be on the other side of things. I found a job that incorporated legal and financial aspects, and I had a lot of people who supported me in learning about corporate finance.

What you learned from being a leader, and what tools would you pass onto other women who wish to be leaders?

Leadership requires much introspection, and you have to be a people person too. If you can bring out the best in your employees and they do well, it reflects well on you. You have to be able to invest in yourself and in your staff. Also, you have to keep learning; people and things are changing all the time. You must use all the knowledge you digest to drive a vision, so that you can inspire people.  

What have the pressures been like, and how have you leaned on others?

It always feels unfashionable to talk about patriarchy, but it is real, especially at the top. I have had a lot of support from people who have a lot to give because they are successful, and you have to find them, and lean on them. But you also have to know that there are others who will do their utmost to undermine you, and you have to avoid making that your own narrative. Some people just don’t want to be successful, and you have to make peace with that. 

How do you start bringing the younger generation up, especially women?

Role modelling is important — it’s how you show up — you congratulate people who have done well, but if mistakes have been made, you point them out. You should be generous with your time; if you respond to an email it can make a big difference to somebody’s life. You have to participate in public events as a public person, and as a professional you have to be the best you can be.

Athandiwe Saba and Basani Maluleke at the webinar

How did you use the opportunity of being CEO of African Bank?

I was a young CEO, and it was my first CEO position, so I had the opportunity to try out different things, such as taking a group of people to Cape Town for a workshop. You have to figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are. It’s good to have people in your team who support you and compliment you. Building relationships is also important. You have to understand why certain barriers exist and how to overcome them, and learn short- and long-term strategies. I am so grateful for my African Bank sojourn, because it taught me hard and soft skills; it taught me the fears people have, and how to get them past those. I hope I can use these skills for the rest of my career.

What is next? 

I am going to Capitec, which was our nemesis at African Bank! I want to work with people who lead with simplicity and authenticity, and I think these people really do. I want to get the big picture of what Capitec can do in South Africa. They have this vision to be the best bank in the world. They are digital first, and want to disrupt and move the needle forward, which excites me, as does living in Stellenbosch. It just feels right. We want to figure out what people’s banking needs are, what’s missing from their digital wallets. I think Capitec really walks the talk about giving customers what they want.

Viewer questions

That’s really exciting! We have some questions from our viewers; the first is, what is the nomination process going to entail for PoW in 2022?

Saba: The information you provide for the person you are nominating must include their history; they must have a consistent track record of work. 

At which point did you realise that transformation was important?

Maluleke: I think I was about five years old. I grew up in a very patriarchal family, and soon realised how stifling things are for women, whereas guys could do pretty much what they wanted to. Corporates are microcosms of the country, with the same dynamics; you need to have people there who actually drive transformation.

What makes you happy?

Anything to do with movement, such as dancing; and being in nature: in the mountains, or on the beach.

Today we are celebrating women, and this is a token of our appreciation (gives books donated from NB Publishers, Penguin and Random House). 

Here is what everyone has been waiting for — the big reveal! The 50 Power of Women winners (presentation of winners).

We have had so many messages of support from our viewers!

I had so many people supporting me in my journey …

Saba thanked all the sponsors concerned. 

Whatever women in South Africa want to do, it is possible! Congratulations to all the women who have been nominated this year, and over the last 16 years. Thank you so much Basani, and thanks everyone who was involved in the Power of Women.