Some GIBS women were privileged to have an intimate lunch gathering with this inspiring woman at the GIBS campus yesterday. Phuti emphasised the importance of protecting youth in their vulnerable stages and thanks her parents for the foundation they gave her in this leadership journey.

As guidelines she gave the following points to navigate your own course in leadership and management :

1. Always see beyond your circumstances as there is a much bigger picture and many great people have paved the way for opportunity.
2. It is important to be resilient – when faced with adversity it is easy to give up. As Thomas Edison, the man who invented the long lasting light stated: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not know how close they were to success when they gave up”.
3. You are never too young or too old to make a difference and, as Phuti put it, “the second half of your life must be more impactful than the first”.
4. Make use of every opportunity because many of us have the ability to dream, but few are willing to do what it takes to get us there.
5. How to know you’re getting paid to do what you love? When what looks like a job to others is a joy to you.
6. Always remember you don’t make the journey alone. Clients, colleagues and friends play a huge role in pushing, leading, moulding, challenging and believing in you. Admit that you need them and that no human is meant to do everything alone.
7. Give consideration to the people you choose to bring into your business and your life, because whom you partner with will bring you peace or pain – both great learning gifts.

This is an ongoing process of events to change mindsets on the role of women in business, government and society.