iMasFinance celebrates Women’s Month with Gqinile Hlatshwayo

The legendary march led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn on the 9th of August 1956, was the catalyst of true female leaders that led 20 000 women of colour to stand up for their rights.

South Africa has come a long way from those days and today women face different challenges in the workplace. With a history spanning over 85 years, iMasFinance has extensive experience in providing financial services and strives to provide a platform for women to grow and thrive in the financial sector.

Gqinile Hlatshwayo, Regional Manager at iMasFinance shares her journey in the workplace and reflects on the life lessons she has learned as a female leader in this industry.

Tell us more about yourself – who is GQ in a nutshell?

Where do I start? I take life with humility, waking up every day and seeing the sun is a blessing so I live life to the fullest. Even amid challenges I look for positivity, one thing that keeps me going (from growing up in a township till now) is the gift of life. I’m passionate about making a difference because we are here on earth just for that.

Please give us a brief overview of your career path and where you are now in your career.

After matric, I finished a financial management diploma, and I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to complete a BankSeta learnership in one of the big five banks. A year later I was promoted to a Team Leader role, and managing the very same people I learned from. I then completed my Post Graduate degree through UCT and I am currently doing my MBA.

Who inspires you and why?

Women who have faced many challenges but never gives up. I’m a product of strong women, including those I engage with daily, like the woman who sells oranges to put her child through school. Women who are resilient inspires me, they know their purpose, their ‘why’ is bigger than their current environment. Children’s creativity, honesty, and genuine love also inspires me. They remind me to keep the child in me alive, stay creative, inquisitive and to not take myself too seriously.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

You are more than enough – no one should ever tell you that you are inadequate. Don’t put pressure on yourself, you are on your own journey and your biggest competitor is yourself. You are as good as your last result so strive to exceed your own goal. Young leader, the world is your oyster.

What would you tell young women who are just starting their career?

Once you find your purpose, you need to have a plan in place, whether it is your career plan, academic plan, or health plan. I always have a plan every month for my spiritual well-being, career, and health. I track my progress weekly as am accountable to myself. Does it always work out? No, but at least I know where I am going. If you don’t have plan, you have already failed.

How could women support other women in their organizations?

Leaders in senior management need to ask themselves, how many women am I sharing my knowledge with? How many platforms are you creating for women to have better opportunities? Are you creating an environment to have deep meaningful conversations? Platforms where meaningful conversations are held to lean on each other are a must to have.

What are the biggest lessons that you have learned from your time at iMasFinance?

I had a conversation with iMasFinance Group Chief Executive Officer, Banie van Vollenhoven, a few days after joining the co-operative. Two statements he made really had an impact on me, firstly everyone needs to make a difference, no matter what their role is. Secondly, is to appreciate the organisation’s DNA because that is what makes the co-operative unique. At iMasFinance, our DNA is that we care about our members and that we always have their best interest at heart. This is the purple blood that runs through our veins – to always care whether you are the first person to greet the member in reception or the one to give them the call to tell them that their application was successful.