Talented, dedicated, black women are helping to drive innovation at the SA telecoms giant. Here, four senior Telkom executives tell the story of their journeys to success – and their learnings along the way.

 

Success is a journey, more than a destination. It comes from an attitude of excellence, dedication and constant growth. It is therefore no surprise that four of the most successful women at a leading South African ICT Group Telkom remain committed to ongoing improvement, becoming the best versions of themselves every day.

 

Telkom Foundation Head and Trustee Judy Vilakazi, Openserve Chief Administration Officer Morwesi Ramphenyane, Telkom Executive for Research and Innovation Dr Tsabi Molapo, and Telkom Consumer & Small Business Chief Digital and Information Officer Dr Noxolo Kubheka-Dlamini have many insights to share with girls and young women looking to follow in their footsteps towards successful careers as women in tech.

Newly appointed Telkom Foundation Head, Judy Vilakazi began her professional journey in the mining sector, which exposed her to a wide range of stakeholders.

I came to understand the needs of everyone – from tribal authorities, to communities, to the government, to corporate affairs,” she says. “But I also found my passion for community development.”

 

That experience saw her chosen to head up the Telkom Foundation, which exemplifies a commitment to community development work.

“This is the work that I love,” says Vilakazi. “Work that makes an impact and touches lives.”

Vilakazi believes in a style of woman leadership that embraces femininity. Her team has weekly check-ins, where they have a chance to discuss anything from family to work or personal challenges.

 

She explains that the main objective of the Telkom Foundation is to make a difference in South African communities by investing in education.

“We believe that if we invest in young people, we are shaping the future. If we give them access to quality education and technology, they will be better equipped to later contribute to the economy and to society at large.”

She credits her Christian faith for her ability to remain gentle and warm-hearted, even in tough, male-dominated industries like mining and technology. She encourages young people to be patient with themselves, as they find their own path.

“You were born to make a difference,” she says. “You have a role to play in society. So, stay in school. It really helps to shape who you become.”

“Understand who you are,” is another piece of advice she offers. “You need to know your strengths and weaknesses. That will help you choose a career that you enjoy, and where you can make an impact on the world.”

Morwesi Ramphenyane, Chief Administration Officer at Openserve, has always been a versatile and driven individual, striving to reach greater heights in her career. After obtaining a BCom degree, she entered the workforce as an assistant Economist. From there, Ramphenyane worked in various sectors and eventually landed in Telecommunications.

 

In this sector, she started as a Senior Manager for Network Procurement at one of the major network operators in the country. She grew her career in telecoms and enhanced her understanding of network operations and its dynamics in more detail. This opened doors for her to join Telkom as an Executive for Network Procurement and she is currently the Chief Administration Officer at Openserve.

When asked to describe how she overcomes business challenges, Ramphenyane recommends developing a wide, big-picture awareness of your company and industry it operates in.

“When you understand the core business of the company, the interdependency of different divisions, and you have acquired business acumen and leadership skills, you are well armed to lead a diverse portfolio,” she says.

Ramphenyane has more than 17 years’ experience in procurement and related legal aspects, as well as people management. She previously led a team of more than 1 400 and says her management style is based on respect and empowering people to perform.

“I treat every employee with respect, create a conducive mindful work environment, make provision for team members to explore ways of improving on different aspects of work through debating, testing and implementing where relevant. I also empower the team to stay up to date with industry developments and to work with the business community to achieve Openserve goals.”

In terms of advice to young women professionals in the tech field, Ramphenyane identifies a few principles that have served her well in her career. “Understand your strengths and development areas,” she says. “Identify a mentor and actively engage. You should also volunteer to get involved in projects/tasks that broaden your understanding of the business and the industry. It is also helpful to enrol for relevant further studies in the sector, read relevant articles, perform at your best and create a personal ‘brand’ so you get noticed. Furthermore, be receptive to constructive criticism as you can learn from it,” she adds.

She encourages young women to look for opportunities to grow and be ready to step up to the next level in their career. “It is advisable to allow yourself to be guided and surround yourself with friends who have vision. Also, have fun – but within reasonable limits, so you don’t get derailed on your journey to success.”

Telkom Executive for Research and Innovation, Dr Maletsabisa Molapo describes herself as a human-driven engineer. She began her career as a telecommunications engineer, after completing her undergraduate degree in computer systems engineering.

After working in the telco space, her interest in the relationship between humans and technology drove her back to academia, to design the systems that people need. By the time she obtained her Ph.D., Dr Molapo had developed an interest in AI, specifically natural language processing (NLP).

Dr Molapo was a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, as well as earning a fellowship from Google, and studying on programmes with Facebook, Microsoft and the World Bank. She has also been part of many women-in-technology leadership programmes.

That said, she has learned to deal with being one of few women in her field.

“When I was an undergraduate student, I was the only woman in my entire engineering programme,” she says. “But I’ve always had women whom I’ve looked up to.”

She names her current manager, Telkom Group Executive: Innovation and Transformation Dr Mmaki Jantjies, as a significant inspiration.

Dr Molapo is encouraged by the way the tech industry is evolving to accommodate women and developing a more family-centric culture.

“I have brought my child to academic conferences, to work events. I’ve worked at offices where childcare is provided. A lot of effort is going into supporting women in tech. More needs to be done, but having women in leadership will drive those conversations.”

Dr Molapo has encouraging words for girls feeling overwhelmed by career pressure in an accelerating, hi-tech world.

“There is no need to be constantly on edge. You are doing fine,” she says. “There is no need to seek perfection. Just keep learning and bring others along with you.”

That approach of constant learning will stand young people in good stead, as the field of technology changes.

“The industry has become more democratised,” says Dr Molapo. “If someone is passionate about healthcare, there is a place for them in biotechnology. An African-language speaker can get into NLP.

You don’t have to study computer science to enter technology. Let’s open our minds to the possibility of being technologists, despite our academic or professional background.

For Dr Noxolo Khubeka-Dlamini, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Telkom Consumer & Small Business, the journey to her current position has seen her play senior roles in business development and IT, infrastructure, mining and logistics; start her own IT business consulting firm; and earn a Ph.D. in information systems.

“I’ve had a multidisciplinary career path,” says Dr Khubeka-Dlamini. “By the time I got the chance to join Telkom, I was looking for a place where I could really make an impact to create an edge, grow revenue, and build a sustainable business.”

In terms of career challenges and how she overcame them, Dr Khubeka-Dlamini recalls her early career, where she was one of only a handful of black women in the industry.

“One was always expected to do more. I had to balance top-level delivery, with building solid relationships, so that I could learn.”

“If you raise your hand, people will see it, and they will want to help you through the journey,” she says. “The attitude you display; your willingness to learn, opens doors for you.”

Dr Khubeka-Dlamini also emphasizes the importance of understanding business culture.

“It’s not written down anywhere, but those dynamics are critical for you to succeed. Once you understand the business culture, you’ll know how to navigate within your mandate.”

Dr Khubeka-Dlamini pays tribute to her own family for encouraging her constantly and giving her self-belief.

“I was fortunate to have parents who were deeply encouraging, and powerful role models,” she says. “I try to encourage the belief that anyone can do ambitious things - with my own children and the young people I am coaching.”

Dr Khubeka-Dlamini has a few tips for young people… Firstly, invest in yourself. Secondly, show up. Thirdly, set healthy boundaries. Fourth, give of yourself. And finally, live with faith and the right attitude!”

She encourages young black girls to enter the telecoms space. “There is no sector that is not touched by technology. If young women get into the tech space, they will have infinite opportunities!”