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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng

Whenever there are talks about Gender and Diversity, the biggest question that arises: “Will we ever reach gender equality in the workplace?” or is it just a theory that can never be realised. In this woman in leadership interview feature, Istyleblaq connects with one of the most influential women leaders in Africa, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. I am delighted to have someone of her stature in our interview series for the blaqnifiscent feature.

About Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng

Mamokgethi Phakeng is currently the Vice Chancellor of one of the Top Universities in South Africa, the University of Cape Town (UCT). A professor of Mathematics Education, having graduated from the University of Witwatersrand with a PhD in Mathematics Education. She has occupied many leadership roles such as that of the president of the Association for Mathematics Education South Africa (AMESA), President of Convocation of Wits University, trustee of the FirstRand Foundation and a member of the Board of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Phakeng is the founder of the Adopt-a-learner Foundation, a non-profit organisation that started in 2004 and provides financial support to learners from township and rural areas to acquire higher education. In 2013, she received an award from CEO Magazine for being the most influential women in education and training in South Africa.

MUZI: You have occupied senior leadership roles and sat on different boards, and you’re currently the vice-chancellor of UCT – How is it like being a black female in leadership and how are you handling it?

PROF PHAKENG: It is rough but it can be done. Firstly – I think handling it is accepting the fact that if you’re a woman in leadership, particularly a black woman in this country, you are going to have scrutiny. Scrutiny on you will be excruciating and you will just have to accept that. Secondly, you will also have to make peace with the fact that not everyone will like you. You are here to do a job and thirdly, you are here because you can do the work. There will be detractors but you always have to be convinced that you can do the work. That doesn’t mean you are a God but it means you are capable; you are able and you can do it just like any man can. I think those three key aspects are important.

MUZI: Have you ever had any instances where you felt undermined in leadership because of your gender and how did you deal with it?

PROF PHAKENG: Yes, I have been undermined many times and it depends where the undermining happens. When it happens in meetings, I have so far kept quiet and let the people who are undermining beat themselves up doing it but if it happens in a meeting where it’s just the two of us I will call it out because, but in a big meeting, I don’t call it out. That is the burden of being a black African woman in leadership in this country.

MUZI: How do you feel when that happens? Honestly, for me, I am very emotional, and such instances break me.

PROF PHAKENG: I feel humiliated, and I have felt humiliated many times at such meetings. I have felt bullied but one thing that my mother told me when I went into the world of work was that I must never cry at work about work. So, there are times when tears want to come out, and I hold myself that I will not cry at work. You do it at home, so I hold my tears – I will never cry at work. I have now accepted that this is the burden of the black woman, so I don’t respond any more in meetings. I just keep quiet and let the man or whoever is disrespecting and humiliating please themselves and I hope that people in the meeting will notice. It doesn’t always happen but I still keep going because the idea is to remove your attention from the work.

Remember that if you are a capable woman the agenda is to prove that you are not capable so if you remove your attention from the work, you get absorbed focusing on these issues of interactions and whatever and not doing the work and then they can catch you on the work, you know. If you are competent, Of course, there is nowhere else where they can catch you so that’s why they have to irritate you on that side.

MUZI: What are your thoughts on women empowerment? Is it about gender equality or is it more than that?

PROF PHAKENG: Yes it is more than that, it is a subset of a much wider issue about how we build diversity and inclusivity into the way we make decisions that will affect people. Either people in our place of work or the country or anywhere else but it’s a subset, you know, it doesn’t hang on its own, it comes under building diversity and inclusivity. I am saying that because under the umbrella of building diversity and inclusivity there is a whole lot…there’s gender, there are women but there is also diversity in terms of making sure that we get LGBTIQA+ into our spaces, in terms of people living with disabilities and of course if it’s women living with disabilities then the burden is way more. So, this umbrella of diversity and inclusivity that’s where women empowerment resides, I would say.

MUZI: There’s a small percentage of men who feel the focus is more on women and they are forgotten and side-lined – How can we involve them in this process or concept?

PROF PHAKENG: Good question. I think we need men who can be allies and I am a mother to young men. I have raised them to be feminists, to be pro-women, to see and be irritated by toxic masculinity. So, how our sons, brothers, fathers, partners and male colleagues see themselves and their important role in supporting their daughters, sisters, mothers, partners and female colleagues is hugely important. This is not about protecting, it’s about supporting, you know. So, you can become an ally and be that support and as a mother of young men, I have made it my problem that I want my sons to be good men…to be feminists. So, I identified the mix about the power of masculinity so that they can reconsider important roles that men and boys need to play in balancing the world so that violence against women and children can be unheard of in future generations, if men can do that if they can understand they’re role in balancing the world. I think gender-based violence should be a thing of the past for future generations.

MUZI: Where do you think we are as a society or as a country when it comes to women empowerment? Is there balance, especially in the workplace?

PROF PHAKENG: Not at all. I want to say that there will never be balance. The balance will never be about numbers, it is about regarding women in the same way that you regard men, giving the same privileges when they’re in the boardroom and not assuming that women are making one decision because they are angry. You will never hear anyone saying a man is angry, that a decision came from anger. So, it’s about the voices of women also being equal to the voices of men, it’s about women being regarded as professionals, as capable, that when you make a decision, the fact that you’re a woman should be irrelevant. Even in the interest of the institution, or country or organisation it should be that way. If we can’t get to that level then we’ll never achieve gender equality even with the numbers being the same, the number of women being the same or more.

At the moment it’s not, there are too few women in boardrooms across the country, too few women vice-chancellors in the country. In 26 universities you probably have six women vice-chancellors. The power of patriarchy, of masculinity… patriarchy always stands together and we as women are the target to be co-opted into supporting patriarchy and we should resist that because that’s going to help bring us to gender equality. We’ve got to start with the numbers so that we’ve got the critical mass and when you’ve got the critical mass it becomes easier to increase the voices of women.

MUZI: The University of Cape Town created a programme to empower women in local governance. Can you tell us more about that and how it is going?

PROF PHAKENG: I feel like I should tell you about that but I should also tell you about when I came into office, I also created a program that’s called #forwomenbywomen. It is empowering women and we invested R25 000 000 to appoint women who can research areas of study where women are in short supply and secondly in areas that research aspects that affect women like GBV or reproductive science and so on.

Also, in #forwomenbywomen we made the requirement that we want to develop capacity so these women that won the grants to do research also have to mentor other women. As a woman vice-chancellor, I felt like that’s important to do and that was the first project that I launched.

Then in 2019, we launched the programme to empower women in local governance. The idea here is that we as women want to be the change that we want to see in our communities, in our municipalities, in our state-owned enterprises and our lives. So, we did this programme as the UCT Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, we partnered with the South African Local Governance Association (SALGA) and the Zenande Leadership Consulting and we created this women leadership development.

The programme is about leading and being the change so the course includes an accredited short course training. It also includes access to individual coaching sessions to support the women who enrol for this programme, to support them on their learning journey and thirdly it includes one-on-one mentorship. In addition to them doing a course and getting these coaching sessions to support their learning journey, we give them one-on-one mentorship of who can work with them and it has been very successful. So far 110 women leaders participated in the open invitation August 2020, we advertised it in 2019-2020 and 110 women participated. The 70 women leaders will graduate from the programme this year in October and they work in all dimensions of the local government sector with most of them having aboutWOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng 10 years of experience. So, it’s a way for us to contribute to good governance in the country and empower women, not only those who are in academia but also those who are in the municipalities, who work with men so that we can see women leadership roles rising.

MUZI: What are your future hopes for women out there?

PROF PHAKENG: My future hope is that as women we can come together and coming together is about supporting one another. If you see a woman struggling with something, go to them and help them do it better. Women are being co-opted into patriarchy and we need to change that mindset. Never go into the boardroom with a CEO that is a woman and you have an idea of bringing her down. Every time you bring a woman leader down, you’re bringing yourself and many other women down because when any woman fails, it is all of us that fail.

We’ve got to accept as women that there will be someone better than you, and that’s okay. If they are in a leadership position, you should know that they are in the struggle, support them because it’s tough. If you don’t support them then there is nobody else who will support them. Stop criticising them for whatever they’re wearing, their hair or whatever…men don’t do that. We have got to build women.

MUZI: Finally, what does black excellence mean to you?

PROF PHAKENG: For me it means celebrating and showcasing any excellent work that is done by a black person because that gives the message that we CAN, in a world that’s dominated by whiteness and being western. If the world was not dominated by whiteness, there wouldn’t be any need for black excellence but we live in a world that is dominated by everything western and everything white is the best, it’s the way to be and so black excellence has to be highlighted, celebrated and embraced in this country and the world because it says to younger people coming after us that we don’t have to be white to be a pilot or that kind of athlete or leader, black people can do it and it means you can do it too.

Monde Twala Talks Leadership and Black Excellence
I have always been fascinated with leadership. Over the years I have found that people are naturally more inclined to follow one leader over another. It is a decision often premised on preferences made due to differences in leadership styles. This begs the question, what makes a leader effective? Below, Monde Twala, Senior Executive of Global media and entertainment company, ViacomCBS unpacks effective leadership.

Monde Twala has earned his stripes as a respected leader and an executive at a global company. He is currently the Vice President of ViacomCBS Networks Africa’s BET, Youth & Music brands and is responsible for driving the development and growth of iconic music, youth, and entertainment brands BET, MTV, MTV Base, and MTV Music24, across Africa.

Istyleblaq had an opportunity to talk to Monde Twala about his leadership journey. Monde Twala Talks Leadership and Black Excellence MUZI: Your track record is impressive, having occupied senior leadership roles in several large-scale companies. You are currently leading one of the biggest organizations In Africa. Have you always wanted to be in leadership?

MONDE: My background and upbringing molded me into who I am today. Ngingu’mntwana ka gogo – I was raised by my grandmother. As the eldest at home, there was a lot of expectation and responsibility put on me from a young age. This is where my creativity, understanding of people, and inclusivity grew.

MUZI: What do you like most about leadership?

MONDE: In all my years of leadership experience, I have occupied different roles with the sole aim of leading with purpose and leading from the front. I pride myself on my ability to listen attentively and understand people from different walks of life. I think leaders in today’s world need to not only listen to hear but to listen to understand, particularly, when dealing with young people.

Over the years I have worked with various brands including MTV, BET, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and this experience taught me the importance of having a diverse understanding of markets and trends that shape this industry. There is an old adage that says that Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu which can be loosely translated to “I am because you are”. This is an adage that continues to inspire my leadership style. When you look at it, modern-day leadership requires a level of flexibility, adaptability, and agility. It also requires a broader understanding of your team and their skillset. I do not believe in being the jack of all trades and a master at none.

Our recruitment systems enable us to bring skilled people that are experts in their fields and have truly mastered the industry, and I often lean on them to produce meaningful work. Modern-day leaders should not only lead but also allow themselves to be led. Through coming to the party with an open mind and a collaborative spirit, leaders can achieve great strides and meet growth targets in any organization.

MUZI: Different leaders have different leadership styles – What do you think is Effective Leadership, and how would you describe your leadership style?

MONDE: A good leader is one who is able to carefully assess their challenges, consult broadly and collaborate with his team to produce exceptional work and bring solutions to the table. It is also about appreciating my team, their skills, talent, and their ability to pull it all together and deliver meaningful work. Passion is also central to everything we do because if you do not have the passion, you will struggle to lead people.

MUZI: The ability to effectively lead, motivate and direct a group of people – whether it is in business, community, or politics – requires a very complex set of skills. Is leadership born or built?

MONDE: I believe everyone is a leader in their own right. In whatever situation you find yourself in, whether personal or in your professional career, leadership is something you grow into. We are all called to lead at some point in our lives. Whether you are a sportsman, musician, or across any space, people can grow into becoming leaders.

As a soccer fanatic, my leadership style is inspired by sport. I played soccer in my youth and through this experience, I learned some principles of leadership that I still apply today as a leader. For example, in soccer, as the captain of a team, you are required to lead by example. Similarly, in my experience as a leader, I have found that when I lead by example, my team is more inclined to follow. It also helps that I have a strong foundation of values of respect, objectivity, and authenticity.

MUZI: You pride yourself in the projects you have successfully led such as the BET Awards, Africa Music Awards and you currently lead the BET international team. How is that going?

MONDE: Leading BET international is an opportunity that allows us to learn from our international colleagues while also providing an African perspective.

I think this role is important because it allows me to shine the light on African perspectives which is re-imagining Africa and ourselves, and elevating culture and business, and making sure that we can grow the South African and African economy. I am particularly excited for this new role because it provides opportunities for many other young Africans and young leaders who aspire for international success. It’s a proud moment for not only me but also for Africans globally.

MUZI: What are your thoughts on empowering black people and ensuring that there is a balance in leadership roles in the workplace?

MONDE: It’s a responsibility we have as leaders to bring others along. If you look at the population, you find that the African population is a young one. If you look at the projects that we choose to do, for instance: Boity, Own Your Throne on BET, showcasing a young, strong, independent, and talented African female – and how we used Boity’s profile and journey to highlight the importance of empowering young girls. That is an important factor because it inspires not only me but the business as well to consistently look at how we can elevate and groom new and fresh talent into the industry. It is something I have been passionate about throughout my career; I have always collaborated with amazing talent across the continent. Leaders who share knowledge are the most powerful.

MUZI. According to the African Report, Africa has deep leadership issues- Leaders stay in power way past their time, endless corruption, shortage of skills, and the youth floundering in many ways. What is your take on this?

MONDE: Leadership is a challenging position to fill. With that said, if you are the type of leader who empowers your team, takes the time to understand different perspectives, and use your ability to pull everything together into a strategy or solution, then you will progress and achieve your goals. I believe that we need to become more attentive to African problems and use international exposure to build case studies that can give us solutions.

MUZI: What advice can you give to aspiring leaders, any programs available to help develop future leaders?

MONDE: There are many programmes that are driving a positive impact while grooming future leaders by equipping them to identify their roles and responsibilities and think beyond self-interest. I think that more of us can lead while firmly rooted in making a difference and an impact.

As a continent, we have great leaders, and we have to pay attention to how we groom young people and foster their energy towards the right things. Wanting to be a leader that has a positive impact on the world is a noble dream that has to be nurtured in young people. This should be at the heart of every leader’s agenda.

MUZI: Istyleblaq celebrates and promotes black excellence – What does black excellence mean to you?

MONDE: Black excellence speaks to showing up every day in excellence and consistently reinventing ourselves when needed. It is a concept that speaks to being focused on your dreams, your purpose, and being engaged in projects that are beyond self-interest. Black excellence is a culture that can create, commit, and execute with great focus. It is about innovating and bettering your standards and those around you.

Black excellence is rooted in African culture. We strive to achieve black excellence in entertainment, storytelling, elevating and discovering new talent, and ensuring that this talent is successful beyond our borders. I mean, look at Trevor Noah who started on Comedy Central, and how he is shining the African flag on The Daily Show. It is about constantly challenging ourselves to be better than yesterday.Bold text

November 2021
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