Being true to yourself
I joined the South African firm in 1994 and became a partner in 2001 at the age of 30 which was quite an achievement at the time. After finishing my traineeship in 1997, I was given the opportunity to take on a management role — this was key to getting me to where I am today. I was supported by a strong group of partners (all male) who provided me with many opportunities and challenges. I was able to demonstrate my value and as a result, further career opportunities became much easier. I was also able to allocate part of my portfolio to human capital, an area about which I am passionate.
Balancing work and family life
I am fairly disciplined about separating work and personal life. I believe in making my maximum contribution whilst I am at work, but once I am with my family this time is jealously guarded. As a family, we believe in spending quality time together and we all enjoy retail therapy, fine dining and playing tennis together. I also love cooking and baking and together with my two girls, we are frequently covered in flour!
Getting women into leadership positions
Compared to our intake of female staff at the trainee level, the number of female partners is low, but we are seeing good improvements in South Africa. In addition, women partners have been included at management level within the partnership — this serves as a visible demonstration of commitment by the leadership and valuable role models. I think communication is key — we need to be better at letting female partners know about existing leadership positions and the criteria for promotion into these positions.
Being true to yourself
My advice to other women is to be true to who you are — don’t imitate others, and showcase your strengths. There are numerous opportunities to become a leader — be courageous and seize them! |
