Tumi Sekhukhune-Chamayou, chief enterprise business officer, MTN South Africa

For Tumi Sekhukhune-Chamayou, Chief Enterprise Business Officer – MTN South Africa, diversity is the engine that fuels innovation, bringing unique perspectives that, together, culminate in a feast of ideas and thought processes that could bring to market the next generation of inventions.

“That’s the power of diversity in the workplace,” says Sekhukhune-Chamayou. “Diversity fosters innovation, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the community we serve. Diversity goes beyond race and gender for me because, personally, I place value in the diversity of thought and approaches to problem-solving, which can ultimately lead us to be a more inclusive society.”

Sekhukhune-Chamayou says women are bringing a strong sense of collaboration, communication, and empathy to the workplace. They are also adept at building trust and fostering inclusive environments.

“These qualities are essential for building high-performing teams and navigating the complex challenges of today’s business landscape,” she says. “The world has changed and it’s less about succeeding at all costs and more about how we bring the collective together to create a more equitable and sustainable society.”

MTN is intentional and strategic about growing female participation at all levels and generations of its workforce. The organisation recognises the importance of building both MTN internally and the extended workforce its uses through its partnerships.”

“MTN’s commitment to growing female participation at all levels is underlined by various company programmes, championed and accelerated by our group leader, Ralph Mupita,” says Sekhukhune-Chamayou. “We’ve implemented several initiatives, including targeted recruitment programmes, pay parity adjustments, accelerated mentorship programmes, professional coaching for senior leaders, and unconscious bias awareness training for all staff.

“Programmes focus on attracting top female talent, developing the skills and capabilities of MTN’s high-potential women and building a strong pipeline of female leaders.” Sekhukhune-Chamayou has seen positive changes in the workplace for more inclusion of women, some motivated by men. “You just have to look at the changes such men have made in their leadership structures and the growth in representation of female executives across executive boards, to recognise the value of their efforts.

“I’ve witnessed more companies implementing concrete change strategies towards more inclusive environments where women can thrive.”

In her personal and professional capacity, Sekhukhune-Chamayou strives to lift women up the corporate ladder or improve their situation in their communities.

“I believe it’s important to help women feel comfortable, and reduce imposter syndrome. I’ve found that a combination of mentorship, sponsorship, and professional development opportunities are most effective in empowering women. Women must also take charge of their lives, continually seek out career growth opportunities and tackle areas that challenge their thinking – but reject roles they feel don’t empower them to succeed. “Women must be inspired by leaders who will help them adopt the correct behaviours in their endeavours to get to the top. However, I believe it’s not about getting to the top, but about the lessons learnt as we grow; the character we are shaping; resilience we are building. This is what readies us to be leaders and of service to our companies and communities.

“I have never been obsessed with reaching the top, preferring to do things I truly love and believe are transformational.

“My objective towards advancing women is to create a level playing field where women can contribute and reach their potential. I want to see strong, empowered, collaborative, innovative, accountable women reaching high levels of leadership so we can all profit from diversity of thought and lived experiences. “This Woman’s Day month, my message is to believe in yourself and your abilities. Take calculated risks and step outside your comfort zone. Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Be unafraid to ask for help – having a strong support network is essential for success. Don’t become obsessed with the minutia of life – take time to smell the roses and schedule time to do what brings you joy.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving work-life balance. Identify what works for you and set boundaries even though it’s hard these days to separate our personal from our professional lives.” Sekhukhune-Chamayou says social negatives like unconscious bias and stereotypes are still prevalent, which can lead to negative behaviours by women.

“Some women feel they have to over demonstrate their leadership qualities or emulate men, believing empathetic leadership can be seen as a weakness. Some adopt an aggressive approach, believing in a show of assertiveness or strength. Some fail on authenticity because their environment prevents them showing up as their true selves.

“Stay focused, confident, determined and undiscouraged by setbacks. Advocate for yourself and don’t be afraid to voice your ideas and accomplishments. Above all, don’t be afraid to be you and believe in your authentic self,” she concludes.

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