Stanton Chase Johannesburg asked 44 senior women executives across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia one question: what advice would you give to a younger woman with C-suite aspirations? Their unedited responses, presented in their own words, come from leaders at organisations including Standard Bank, Sanlam, Discovery, MTN, Old Mutual, Pick n Pay, Momentum, Nedbank, Aon, Life Healthcare and Rand Merchant Bank. Across banking, mining, healthcare, retail, insurance, energy and professional services, common themes emerge: don’t wait for permission, build capability before chasing titles, stay authentic, keep learning and lift others as you rise. Explore the key themes on this page or download the complete collection of all 44 executive quotes.
An African proverb says, “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
The women in this collection have built those roots over years of leading organisations across Southern Africa. Stanton Chase Johannesburg wanted to understand what helped them get there, so we conducted an original research project, asking 44 senior women executives one question: What advice would you give to a younger woman with C-suite aspirations?
The women who answered lead across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, in banking, insurance, mining, retail, healthcare, and more.
The Themes That Emerged
Although every leader answered in her own words, clear patterns emerged across the 44 responses. The chart below shows the themes that appeared most often, revealing a shared view of what matters most for women aspiring to the C-suite.
Keep Learning
Curiosity runs through many of the responses. The executives describe continuous learning, building expertise, and staying open to new experiences as essential parts of growing into larger leadership roles.
Put Purpose Ahead of Status
The collection returns to the idea that senior leadership is about impact, not just position. A seat at the table matters because of what it allows a leader to contribute, influence, and change.
Stay Yourself
Authenticity is a consistent thread throughout the collection. The executives reject the idea that women need to change who they are to succeed, pointing instead to empathy, perspective, and individuality as valuable leadership strengths.
Do Not Wait for Permission
One of the clearest messages is to act before feeling completely ready. The responses encourage women to put themselves forward, take on challenging opportunities, and make their ambitions visible. Confidence often follows action rather than coming first.
Invest in Relationships
Career progression is rarely described as an individual effort. Across the responses, mentors, sponsors, colleagues, and supporters are recognised as important influences on leadership journeys.
Let Consistency Do the Talking
Credibility is built over time. The responses highlight the importance of reliability, integrity, and consistent delivery in earning trust and taking on greater responsibility.
Lift Others as You Rise
Many of the responses connect leadership with creating opportunities for others. Mentoring, sponsorship, and making room for future leaders emerge as important measures of success alongside personal achievement.
Build Capability, Not the Title
The advice is to build the capability that earns a position rather than to chase the position itself. The executives emphasise developing expertise, understanding the wider business, and building a reputation people can trust.
About Stanton Chase Johannesburg
Stanton Chase Johannesburg provides executive search, executive assessment and development, board search and services, succession planning, executive onboarding, and leadership advisory support to organisations across South Africa and Southern Africa. With more than 70 offices in 45 countries, Stanton Chase brings international capability and local market understanding to senior leadership and board appointments. The Johannesburg team curated this collection to share the experiences and advice of women executives leading across the region.
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