Interview with the Chair of the Alumni Association Executive Committee

Q1: What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?

Women remain torn between what is required of them as primary caregivers and the challenges that come with leadership positions, not least of these being their lives being made difficult by misogynists in the workplace who resent their presence. They therefore have to carry a double burden, which results in many walking away.

Q2: What women inspire you, and why?

There are two groupings of women who inspire me. There are those who have achieved against all odds, like Oprah Winfrey. As a child, she was repeatedly molested by her cousin, uncle and a family friend, eventually ran away and had her first child at age 14 who died shortly thereafter. She however went on to excel as a student and today is one of the most successful people in the world.

Then there are those who are willing to make great personal sacrifices on behalf of humanity/society and stand for what is right regardless of the attacks they have to endure. Thuli Madosela is such a woman. One day when I grow up, I want to be like her.

This may sound counter intuitive, but those who are still living under the glass ceiling inspire me to greater heights. If those of us who could break through that ceiling to achieve our goals, we achieve on behalf of them too. And I hope, perhaps the opportunity to show them the way out.

Q3: What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?

I’m not sure that it will be much different to what this generation is dealing with. It will take time before the playing field is level. Even though organisations may be forced to promote women, they may very well still have to deal with the patriarchal system working against them. Being in a senior position does not mean that you will get the same support from your male colleagues as you would have if you were male.

Only when men start to share the responsibility of caregiving, women will be in a position to truly take their place without feeling that they are sacrificing their children in the process.

Q4: What is the best and worst decision you have ever made?

The best decision I ever made was to follow my purpose rather than chasing money. I believe that one should find your purpose and build your career around it instead of just finding jobs. Living my purpose has brought me a great sense of fulfilment. I know that I am not just existing in a job, I am contributing to the greater good.

The worst decision I ever made was getting married at too young an age, before I knew who I was and destined to be.

Q5: What was your dream job as a child, and why?

My very first career choice was to become a missionary. I wanted to save the world. I guess I still have a little bit of that in me. It is important to me to know that I am making a difference.  

I then moved on to wanting to become an architect. That I think was because my dad was a draughtsman. I was daddy’s little girl and probably just wanted to become like him. In hindsight, that would probably not have been a good fit with my purpose.

 purpose.