Women discuss leadership roles
Tsiba Business School held an on-campus and streamed panel discussion on the importance of female leadership, in honour of Women’s Month.
The discussion, on Friday August 19, was led by Tsiba co-founder and board chairwoman Gia Whitehead and included Prowess investment operations officer and Tsiba graduate Ruth Stoffberg, Asisa Academy CEO Alicia Davids and Tsiba economics lecturer Chloe van Biljon.
Speaking on the challenges she had to overcome as a new graduate entering the workforce, Ms Stoffberg said she had had to work on building her confidence and self-esteem and not be afraid to ask for help and advice.
Ms Davids worked as a teacher for several years and later as a lecturer at UCT. After feeling something was missing, she decided to leave her job and start her own business, which she ran from her home at first. While juggling being a wife, mom and new business owner, she said she had had to learn to ask others for help and build her support network.
“I had to learn to tap into my support network and call on people to help. This was not easy at first, wanting to do everything myself, but I had to step out of my comfort zone.”
Ms Van Biljon gave into pressure and decided to study for a commerce degree in actuarial science instead of following her first love, social work. She could not see herself working in that sphere and went into development economics as a researcher.
“As a researcher, I still felt disconnected, as I was behind the scenes. We eventually ran workshops on women empowerment, and that is where I realised my passion and decided to go into teaching.”
Ms Davids said for her it was important to set goals in order to achieve her desired results but that could often become overwhelming and it was important to take time out.
“It is important to have ‘thinking time’ whether you go for a walk, spend time in nature, meditate or pray. But it is also important to work on your goals.”
Discipline, resilience, perseverance and faith were key for Ms Stoffberg, who grew up on the Cape Flats and faced many challenges.
“There were many skills I needed to learn to make it in my industry. I was quiet and an introvert but had to find a way to connect with people. Being genuine and true to myself was how I overcame this obstacle.”
Ms Van Biljon she had had a hard time commanding authority when she had started teaching but she had also relied on her strengths as a woman who could listen, support and bring a “softness” to situations.
Ms Davids encouraged guests not to be defined by failure, saying it was not final, just temporary.
“Sometimes we are so hard on ourselves and become stuck there. You need to have the courage to do the scary things.”
Tsiba Business School is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution in Woodstock that offers undergraduate and postgraduate business qualifications.
