Insights from the Former Deputy President of South Africa

In August, we hosted our annual ‘Perspectives: Women in Leadership’ event in Johannesburg. This sold-out afternoon brought together more than 120 senior female professionals from across South Africa’s business and financial sectors.

This year’s event featured an engaging fireside chat with Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and former Executive Director of UN Women, in conversation with Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, Jersey Finance’s Market Development Consultant for Africa.

Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka shared powerful insights on leadership, education and empowerment, stressing the importance of “falling forward” – the willingness to learn, adapt and bring others along with you. She highlighted education as the most transformative tool for progress and lauded digital learning “the biggest enabler of access”.

Reflecting on her time at the United Nations, she underlined the importance of collaboration and inclusion: “Equality benefits everyone. Empowering women is not a women’s issue – it’s a human imperative.”

The event concluded with a reminder of the power of community. “This platform exists to connect, to share and to strengthen one another,” said Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa.

Watch highlights from the event and read the full conversation with Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka.