Nexia SAB&T takes immense pride in celebrating our very own leaders who recently graduated from the Women in Leadership Programme (WLP) – a powerful initiative jointly delivered by the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA) and the Financial and Accounting Services SETA (FASSET), in partnership with Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE).
This transformative programme, aimed at empowering 1,000 women in the financial sector over a three-year period, is designed to equip women in management and leadership roles with the tools, insights and networks needed to thrive in their careers. Our Nexians joined a community of trailblazing women committed to rewriting the narrative and creating spaces for women to lead with confidence and impact.
Graduating on the 7th of April, our participants immersed themselves in a robust learning journey, encompassing academic modules, expert-led intersessions, one-on-one mentoring with globally recognised women leaders, and both African and international immersion experiences. The programme culminated in powerful personal and professional growth – and today, we are proud to share their reflections and insights gained from this remarkable journey.
We remain firmly committed to empowering women in every way we can, and we know these graduates will continue to create ripple effects of change within their teams, our firm, and the industry at large.
Congratulations to each of you – we are incredibly proud and inspired by your achievement, and we can’t wait to see the impeccable impact you’ll make as empowered leaders of tomorrow.
Nokuphiwa Stokwe – IA Manager
“We live in a world where families and communities have strongly encouraged a boy child to lead and often trained a girl child to thrive in the kitchen. The programme has reminded me that we must continue to fight to change that narrative making our voices heard as women in spaces the spaces we’re in.
The training has brought very much needed self-awareness, in terms of how I am conducting myself, how it affects the next person, how I am contributing to the problem rather than pointing out who has/has not done what. It also reminded me where I come from, my past is not my final destination.
One thing that I resonated with is that leading starts with leading yourself, taking control of the different aspects of your life. If you can’t lead your life, your home, you cannot lead others. It also reminds me that it is okay to ask for help, none of us are superhuman, something that my Director, Zulpha, has knocked me in knuckles about!
In the programme, we often discussed the life/work balance, which is something that none of us have fully figured out, something that doesn’t seem to exist wholistically, so we decided to call it life/work integration, prioritising according to order of urgency and importance. And learning to say “no” when necessary.
The highlight in the programme for me is the trip to Kenya, being in the room with +-70 leading women from South Africa and Kenya, sharing the journeys to success and the serial failures they have gone through, from president advisors, CEOs and directors of companies who have positively impacted many lives.
One of the things I took with me is “Be Intentional” in whatever that you do.
I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity.”
Arne Diedericks- EA Manager
“I have recently attended the IWFSA’s Middle Management Development Programme which was enlightening and empowering and provided me with deep insights into leading with influence from the middle and the importance of work-life balance. It highlighted the crucial role of women in the workplace and emphasised the importance of their participation and leadership in decision-making positions. The program showcased inspiring examples and strategies to overcome barriers, addressed gender parity in the workplace, and offered practical steps to promote equality and inclusivity. Overall, it was an invaluable experience that boosted my confidence, enhanced my leadership skills and provided me with a supportive network of like-minded women committed to making a difference.”
Margaret Smith - EBS Mangager
“Participating in this program has been empowering, by enhancing my time management and priority-setting skills. By learning to distinguish between urgent and important tasks, I can now allocate my time more efficiently, ensuring that critical tasks are addressed promptly. Implementing strategies like focusing on one task at a time, avoiding unnecessary meetings, and managing email overload has greatly boosted my productivity. A particularly memorable moment was when I started using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks, which has been instrumental in improving my workflow.
The program also included inspiring stories that illustrated how effective time management and priority setting can empower women leaders to excel. Overall, this program has equipped me with the skills and confidence to enhance my effectiveness, know my worth and drive organizational productivity, proving the value of personalized time management strategies tailored to specific leadership styles and organizational needs. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this program and for the valuable lessons and memorable moments it provided.”
Wendy Becker- EA, Quality & Risk Manager
“Attending the IWFSA executive management women’s course was a transformative experience for me. The sessions were filled with insightful discussions, workshops, and inspiring stories from women who have overcome or are actively overcoming significant challenges. I have learnt valuable skills in leadership, communication, and self-advocacy, which have already started to make a positive impact in my personal and professional life. The supportive environment fostered a sense of community and belonging, allowing me to learn from like-minded individuals. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and empower myself alongside such an incredible group of women.”
Busisiwe Tshabalala
“Participating in the IWFSA Middle Management Development Programme has been an exciting and eye-opening experience for me. The programme equipped me with essential leadership skills , empowering me to navigate through complex management challenges with confidence. The global immersion trip to Kenya was particularly impactful, offering a unique perspective on women leaders in Nairobi. Impactful discussions were held, provoking thought around my standpoint in terms of my career and personal aspirations.
One memorable moment was the visit to the United Nations African Headquarters. An interesting fact I learned about the UN in Nairobi is that it is the largest UN compound in the entire system. Additionally, 100 acres of the land on which the UN is built were donated by the late first President Jomo Kenyatta for free in 1975. The Tour Guide pointed out that this is one of the reasons the UN headquarters were chosen to be in Nairobi. Nairobi is centrally located, and the UN is almost strategically placed to serve both the southern and northern regions. Overall, the programme has been and will continue to be instrumental in my professional growth, fostering a greater sense of purpose and a commitment to making a positive impact in my organization, my team, clients, and beyond. I am truly grateful.”
Maryke van Deventer
“The impact of the IWFSA-FASSET and Duke Corporation course on my life has been profound and multifaceted. Through this comprehensive curriculum, I have developed a deeper understanding of self-mastery and leadership, learning to embrace self-awareness, resilience, having courageous conversations and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The module on working with boards has provided an understanding of governance and strategic oversight and through case studies and real-world scenarios, it taught us how to navigate board dynamics, advocate for ethical practices, and contribute to decision-making processes. The mentorship of Dr. Shirley Zinn has been particularly transformative, instilling in me the courage to practice her BRAVE framework, which prioritizes well-being alongside professional ambitions. This experience has equipped me with the tools to navigate the complexities of modern business landscapes, drive meaningful change within my organization, and foster inclusive environments. As a result, I now approach leadership with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence, ready to tackle challenges and make sound decisions.”
Belinda van der Merwe
“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to Nexia SAB&T for selecting me to participate in the IFWSA Women Leadership Programme through Duke University. This experience has been truly transformative, and I am incredibly appreciative of the investment in my growth as a leader.
Throughout the programme, I have gained invaluable insights into dynamic leadership, with a particular focus on technology, human resources, and other critical leadership skills. What made it even more impactful was the emphasis on women’s development in leadership—an area that resonated deeply with me. These learnings will undoubtedly shape the way I contribute to our team and organisation.
As I look forward to graduating in April 2025, I’m excited to continue applying these insights in ways that drive meaningful impact. Thank you Nexia SAB&T for this amazing opportunity and for your continued support in my development.”
Maryke Labuschagne
“The IWFSA-FASSET EDP is a well round leadership program with a great structure. It begins with a deep dive into self-mastery and self-leadership, with the highlight for me the importance of work-life balance and its impact on your mood and productivity. This introspective journey sets the stage for the next phase, where I realised the crucial difference between managing a team and leading one effectively. The final part of the program broadens your perspective to the global environment. Although the program is mostly online, the biggest highlight was the Global Immersion, where we got to meet people we had only seen in Teams meetings and share meaningful conversations while building connections. Despite the demanding and sometimes overwhelming nature of the program, every moment spent – whether joining meetings from your car on your way to clients, listening to recordings late at night, or conducting research and writing reports in the early mornings—proves invaluable. Reflecting on this journey, I realize that the knowledge gained extends beyond leadership skills, offering profound insights into myself and my goals.”
