That belief has helped me to be uncomfortable when I felt I was not doing great or I was not great. So the quest to be great and do great things led me to a path full of amazing discoveries. Discoveries that sometimes came at a very high cost. I changed careers, degrees, friends and anything that I felt I reached the ceiling or was delaying me on being great. In that process I found my passion, to help others venture into greatness in their businesses, profession and academics. I’m currently writing my book and in it I also devote a chapter that details my journey thus far.

In your experience, how do you see the trends shifting to give women more access to resources and networks for a level playing field in science, impact, and innovation on the continent and beyond? 

I think there is much awareness now in the world about the realities of women than there was before COVID-19. Both genders are aware that we all have unique situations to deal with in our lives and that does not make people with different situations weaker than ours. The fact that women are in a still patriarchal system, have more responsibilities at home by choice or by what the norms dictate is the reality. We all need to be open-minded and support each other wherever we are in our journeys. Men are also realising they can’t be greedy and want to do it alone they need to open up spaces for women to thrive irrespective of the extra responsibilities they have. Women can make even men’s lives easier at work if they are allowed to be women and contribute in a ways they know best.

The trends are moving that way, awareness of the need to embrace women as equally capable as business people and to support them and let them be who they are and lead where they need to lead in a feminine way and not the expected masculine way. Prejudice will always be there but slowly things are moving the right direction.

Your work emulates what is possible when women connect, advance, and are celebrated. After all these years, what do you know for sure? What is the critical insight you carry with you? 

What I know for sure is you can’t win alone. You need to have some social capital in your balance sheet. You need to allow yourself to network and connect with both like-minded and not so like-minded individuals and that’s how we win. Your values and beliefs will consciously and subconsciously drive you towards your destiny so watch what you value and believe.

Tell us about your dream project:
Big dream that scares me:  Becoming a TV talk show host is what I fancy one day. I feel there are important conversations what I call #ConversationsThatMatter that we need to start having as a country to change our narrative and that talk show will give me the platform to do it on a bigger scale. It’s my 5 to 10 years project.

Which woman [leader] has had a profound impact on you and your work? And which would you relish working with?

Two women that make me feel “it’s possible black girl” … Oprah Winfrey and Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng. 

What is the most exciting project on which you are currently working? What can your community and network look forward to in the near future? 

My book which is to be launched this year ( Dear Mr Entrepreneurship). I am excited about it and I think it will be a great read for entrepreneurs or business owners.

When you look back over your life’s work, what contribution do you want to be remembered for? Give us the essentials of your legacy. 

Impact – I helped people believe in themselves and their greatness and enabled them to ignite their passions.