Celebrating the #WomenOfWesBank this Women’s Month

As WesBank joins the rest of the country in celebrating South Africa’s remarkable women this Women’s Month, WesBank is committed to enabling it’s women to shine in the workplace and to make an impact while improving their working life and enabling their success.

Women at senior and middle management levels within the country’s leading vehicle and asset solutions provider currently make up 36% and 43% respectively, while the total female workforce comprises more than half of WesBank’s employees at 58%. “Our focus on ensuring women continue to fill positions that drive the bank’s growth strategy is an important and key company objective for us,” says Shamala Moodley, WesBank’s Retail & Consumer (R&C) Human Capital Executive.

“As such, at WesBank, #WomensMonth means taking a moment to honour all our amazing #WomenOfWesBank and celebrate our gender diversity, while at this same time recommitting ourselves to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. We achieve this through our leadership development initiatives that include mentoring, coaching and networking events, as well as the policies put in place to provide flexibility and assist in meeting the demands of juggling family, home and work pressures,” explains Moodley.

Anushuya Gounden, WesBank Chief Finance Officer, has worked within the group for eight years, the last three with WesBank. She acknowledges and credits the large female component in both her finance team and finance leadership team for assisting her on her journey. “I could not achieve what I do, without any of their inputs. I also appreciate the opportunity I have to give back – mentoring and coaching young female professionals remains a passion.

“There are a number of women working at WesBank who are also always willing to lend a listening ear and a smile, which is often all that is needed. I believe in work-life integration but at certain points, one needs more attention than the other. While working from home has made the boundaries more challenging, I do believe this is a lifelong journey,” Gounden adds.

For Khantse Radebe, Women’s Month is a reminder of how far women have come, but also of how far they still have to go. As Executive Head for Corporate Clients at WesBank, she appreciates all the support she has received from the organisation, both big and small. Starting out in the finance team at WesBank, Radebe was the only female Chartered Accountant, but she was able to hire other talented women, who now enjoy successful careers across the group.

“I have encouraged them to take up programmes and study opportunities offered by the bank, and I appreciate that WesBank women are collaborators. My call register says it all – the last four calls were all with WesBank women!

“I have grown in my career path in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I joined WesBank as a young CA in the finance team and I am now leading a business unit. I am grateful for the opportunities and the successes, which were propelled by empowering bosses and ambitious teams,” comments Radebe.

As National Sales Manager: FNB Retail Integration, Nomgcobo Salukazana has enjoyed 14 years of great opportunities, continuous learning and self-development at WesBank. She joined the bank in 2007 as a learner graduate on the bank’s learnership programme. Nomgcobo acknowledges the great support she received from her team leaders and the immense contribution from WesBank as an organisation, for her personal development as she progressed in her career through the ranks to her current role.

“I believe we should celebrate women every day, not just in the month of August! The women who are nurturers and nation-builders are not celebrated enough. WesBank presents us with the rare opportunity to showcase and celebrate the many shining gems in the organisation, as we are constantly reminded to celebrate, empower and support one another,” says Salukazana.

Jade Thomas, WesBank’s Operations Manager (Customer Service & Complaints Resolution), feels blessed to work for a company that celebrates and understands the unique skills and strengths that women bring to the workplace and the leadership teams.

“All the women I surround myself with, both at work and personally, add value to my life every day for different reasons. They all have unique traits and different views on life, and I can apply the learnings from their life stories and experiences to my own life when faced with decisions or difficulties,” explains Thomas.

A favourite part of her job as a leader is developing and empowering people and being a part of their development journeys. ”Witnessing their growth and success is deeply fulfilling for me. I joined WesBank just out of school and the strong women I have encountered along the way have always guided and supported my growth and dreams. During this time, I have grown in both my career and personal life – I have become a wife, a mother to our beautiful son, and a student. I have escaped my fears and found my passion and purpose in life through my work at WesBank.”

Empowering women leads to societal transformation, believes Tidimalo Mokone, WesBank’s CSI and Volunteers Consultant. Through her role, she is able to walk the talk as she engages with amazing women from all walks of life, be they her colleagues who volunteer, the management team, school representatives or NGOs.

“Using research to find solutions to different challenges allows me to transfer industry knowledge and the skills I have obtained through my studies and in the workplace. But for me, the most rewarding experience is empowering the incredible women I interact with to become exemplary corporate citizens through volunteering and acts of kindness,” says Mokone.