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Chase experience
I’ve worked in remote areas, I’ve worked in Messina, Kimberly and Springs, and today I can tap into all that experience. At the beginning, and even now, I wasn’t chasing money – I was chasing experience. So my biggest advice is to chase that experience. Trust that if you put the right building blocks first, the dots will connect and everything else will fall into place.
At the beginning, and even now, I wasn’t chasing money – I was chasing experience.
Nkateko Mathonsi, equity analyst - resources, deputy head of research
Own your place at the table
Describing her leadership style as “unapologetic, consultative and respectful, with an underlying base of integrity,” Rufaida’s advice to other women on the rise is to never take no for an answer.
“In a very patriarchal society, women often play victim to that default patriarchal response and this passive acceptance helps no one. Women also tend to apologise a lot. We walk into a room and say “sorry I’m late” while our male colleagues generally never apologise for their lateness. They simply fill up the room and claim their space - us women need to do more of that.”
In a very patriarchal society, women often play victim to that default patriarchal response and this passive acceptance helps no one.
Rufaida Ismail, head of payments, Investec
Embrace being a woman
She learnt the power of embracing her female self from her mother, a pioneering South African career woman, and from an inspirational female boss in New York who “made no apologies for being a working mother”. Her advice to other women is not to try and emulate men in the workplace.
“I once heard a quote that said: ‘We expect women to work as if they don’t have children, but to raise children as if they don’t work’,” says Ali who tries hard to seek the elusive balance between work and family.
She believes that you need to be true to yourself at work: “Bring your fabulous female selves to work. I can be a woman at work. In my mum’s day, working women could never mention that they needed to organise play dates, let alone breastfeed babies!”
We expect women to work as if they don’t have children, but to raise children as if they don’t work.
Alexandra Nortier, Joint Head of Wealth Management, Investec Wealth & Investment
Stay in your lane
"My first piece of advice would be ‘stay in your lane’, focus on your personal journey and growth path and don’t be too concerned about what others are doing. Women place tremendous pressure on themselves to outperform and this can derail their focus.
"Be patient: both with yourself and your environment. It takes time to build technical knowledge, solid relationships and credibility."
My first piece of advice would be ‘stay in your lane’, focus on your personal journey and growth path and don’t be too concerned about what others are doing.
Nonhlanhla Mayisela , CEO Izandla Property
Teach your children about equality
"For me, whether it is a boy or girl, I try to live and teach them the same values. I know these days there’s a great spotlight on girls, but I think at the same time we can’t leave the boys behind. Above all, we must make sure boys respect girls and really learn equality. I teach them to “fear no one but respect all”, to make sure their voices are heard, but do it respectfully and with confidence."
I know these days there’s a great spotlight on girls, but I think at the same time we can’t leave the boys behind. Above all, we must make sure boys respect girls and really learn equality.
Makoena Mabusela , aviation finance specialist
Look for male mentors too
"I try not to confine myself to only women as inspirational figures, because I think men play a huge role in championing and sponsoring women in the workplace."
Nonhlanhla concurs: "Sometimes we focus too much on female mentors and often they’re simply not there, or they may not have the capacity to mentor as they may be battling with the same challenges as you are. So, I would say you should focus on building relationships with people that believe in you and are willing to support you along your journey of growth, that could be a male or female."
Devina’s other important piece of advice is to remain true to yourself: "People often say female leaders need to lead like men but I’m proud to say that I’ve burst into tears in meetings, and I wear my heart on my sleeve most days – which shows others that it’s ok to be your real self. I don’t shout the loudest or aim to be the most aggressive, but I still hold my ground. I also often purposefully wear a dress when I go into an important meeting because I want people to remember that I’m a woman, and that’s a powerful thing."
I also often purposefully wear a dress when I go into an important meeting because I want people to remember that I’m a woman, and that’s a powerful thing.
Devina Maharaj, head of digital, Investec SA
Women on the rise
Read more inspirational stories about Investec women in business, education and sport.
About the author
Ingrid Booth
Lead digital content producer
Ingrid Booth is a consumer magazine journalist who made the successful transition to corporate PR and back into digital publishing. As part of Investec's Brand Centre digital content team, her role entails coordinating and producing multi-media content from across the Group for Investec's publishing platform, Focus.
