If your dream doesn’t scare you, it isn’t big enough, says Oletilwe Mogashoa, Executive Head of Business Development in the Old Mutual Large Enterprise division. This sentiment fuels her vision given the scope of her work.

‘In this role, I am leading my team towards an ambitious target across investment, employee benefits, actuarial and post-retirement medical-aid consulting, as well as a substantial revenue target. This is right up my alley. I’m passionate about leading a team to achieve a common goal, as well as their individual best.’

Her work hasn’t been easy in an increasingly remote and hybrid world where it’s harder to nurture relationships and build trust, says Mogashoa, but she accepts the challenge with enthusiasm because it’s an opportunity to be more intentional about every relationship and interaction.

‘We’re taking a more tailored and strategic approach with our corporate clients, asking each one how we can address their challenges and provide relevant solutions. As a result, our work is being more thoughtfully positioned. I want to build relationships that are mutually beneficial and purposeful.’

Championing women in the corporate sector

Mogashoa’s vision doesn’t only extend to her portfolio as Head of Business Development. She is an advocate and ally for women in the corporate sector, encouraging them to champion one another because, she says, women can go further and faster together.

Her work in women’s empowerment extends beyond the boardroom to an online talk show called Secrets to Success in which successful women share their career achievements. This platform also enables her to host Mentorship to Leadership sessions, which covers mentorship and coaching but also involves steering people in the right direction and ‘cracking the whip with love’ when necessary.

‘There’s enough room for everyone to have a seat at the table, but there are barriers to success for women in leadership positions. Sometimes it’s a manager who doesn’t acknowledge how much some women have going on, and other times it’s a partner that isn’t supportive of big career dreams.

‘Mentorship provides perspective and career direction but it’s also important to have a sponsor – a woman who uses her relationship currency to be a voice in the room for you and to promote you to advance your career. There’s no merit to being the only black female if you don’t bring the elevator down so you can lift another woman up.’

Secrets to Success also earned Mogashoa internal recognition when she was appointed South African Chairperson of the Old Mutual Women’s Network (OWN) in August 2022.

‘This group brings all the beautiful, talented women in our business together, granting them an empowering platform to make a real difference in the communities in which they operate and gives a voice to the under-represented. OWN has expanded its reach from South Africa to 10 chapters across Africa, each with its own country leads.’

Why social entrepreneurship is a two-way street

When Mogashoa talks about social entrepreneurship, she has the same twinkle in her eye. As a young girl growing up in Soweto, she was lucky to have access to career guidance from companies like EY (then Ernst & Young) and PWC (Price Waterhouse Coopers). Her school (Parktown High School for Girls) made available those opportunities, but she knew that disadvantaged learners did not receive the same kind of exposure. As soon as she had the chance, she decided to change that.

‘I founded an organisation called Owning It 2, which is aimed at empowering learners from less fortunate circumstances by giving them mentorship and career development and exposing them to different institutions that offer bursaries and scholarships.

‘Every Saturday, I would enlist people from my professional network to assist me in Soweto and other townships to conduct workshops, organise career exhibitions and demonstrate how far you can go when you have people who support you. At every stage of your personal development, you need that – whether you’re a man or a woman.

‘I always share this quote with the young people I mentor: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.” I love it; it centres me and keeps me focused on my purpose.

‘I am so proud that our input and support helped one learner to qualify as a civil engineer and another as a medical student. There are many other success stories. Social entrepreneurship is symbiotic because both the giver and receiver benefit.’

It’s easy to forget to pause and take stock when you’re wearing so many hats, and on this subject Mogashoa rejects the notion that to succeed you need to be a superwoman and that exhaustion is the price you pay for success.

‘I exercise, meditate, pray and spend time with my daughter and my parents. Those things fill my cup when I am running on empty. I am ambitious and driven but I know when to put up my hand and take time out. I’ve learnt that that’s an important part of being a good leader – to fill your own cup before you can do it for anyone else.’

For more insights from and interviews with Old Mutual Corporate experts, visit Our Expertise on the Old Mutual Corporate resource hub.