By: Zukiswa Mpalweni, Financial Director, Fairheads Benefit Services
Can you share some key milestones and challenges in your career journey that led you to a senior position in the finance industry?
My career started when my kids were young, and I was also studying part time. In those days there was no flexitime, let alone work from home. Women had to work much harder than their male counterparts, and most had wives at home to look after the kids. I was determined to get where I am today, so I took up the challenge and never looked back. I had to make a few sacrifices here and there, and in my spare time I had to choose between catching up with work, studying or resting to recharge.
How do you perceive the current state of gender diversity and inclusion in the finance industry, and what changes have you observed over the years?
I think the industry has done well in transforming. For example, I see a lot of female portfolio managers, an area that was previously dominated by males. I feel strongly that this must continue and not be reversed. There should be a deep pool of young female professionals to draw from.
Balancing work and personal life can be particularly challenging in demanding roles. How have you managed this balance, and what advice would you give to other women aspiring to senior positions?
My career picked up when my children were small. I was fortunate that I had a good support system in my husband and my helper. It was hard to not feel guilty when the kids expected me to drink tea with other moms at 10am at school after dropping them off. I had to explain to them that unfortunately I had to work to afford their school fees. I tried to attend as many events as I could on weekends. And don’t forget the trips to the print shops in the evenings when school projects were done last-minute – we are going back some 25 years here! I also had to juggle all this with my Makoti responsibilities (that is, being a daughter-in-law). I tried to attend all the important events and am glad I did, because even where I am today, I am respected by my in- laws. My advice to young women would be to embrace the offers for help and don’t feel guilty about it. Surround yourself with people who are not threatened by you climbing the ladder and who share your vision.
Have you had mentors or role models who have significantly influenced your career? How important do you think mentorship is for women in finance?
In my previous job, I looked up to my manager who was a hard worker but also played hard. This taught me that though we work hard, we need to enjoy the fruits of our hard work. Later, in my current job, I had a mentor. It was way before I even thought that I would be in this position. She was already a director and even today, after her early retirement, we are friends. She encouraged me and acknowledged my strengths. We would have long chats about work environment, and she gave me good advice on how to handle things and ‘read the room’. I think it is very important for everyone to have a mentor, even if it is just to listen to them.
What do you believe are the most critical steps the finance industry needs to take to support the advancement of women into senior roles? What initiatives or policies have you found to be most effective?
I think a lot has been done already. It is up to us as women to be ready when the position is available and raise our hands. I do not think we should be employed just because we are women; but having said that, we shouldn’t be overlooked because we are women either.
