7 AUG 2026Leading beyond the limits of traditionM&G Reporters6 min read

Women’s Day is often marked by flowers, speeches and commemorations but for many women who have shaped the country’s political, business and academic landscape, the day carries a far deeper significance. It is a reminder of those who fought before them, an acknowledgement of the progress that has been made and a challenge to ensure that future generations inherit a society where equality is not aspirational but lived. From boardrooms and universities to government and art galleries, these women reflect on leadership, resilience, justice and the respon sibility to continue creating spaces where women can thrive.

Their perspectives reveal that while much has changed since the historic 1956 Women’s March, the work of achieving true gender equality is far from complete. Mavuso said many women have had to navigate structures where they were underrepresented, underestimated or expected to adapt to leadership models that did not reflect who they were. In her experience, she said, “women lead differently and it is precisely that difference that makes leadership teams stronger”.

According to the Women in Business 2026 report, South Africa has 47.3% women in senior management, above the global average of 32.9%. The report notes that the country is approaching leadership parity as one of the few countries globally reporting no businesses with all-male senior management teams. “Women often bring a more collaborative style of leadership, greater emotional intelligence, deeper listening, long-term relationship building and an ability to navigate complexity by connecting seemingly unrelated issues.

[paywall]

These are often described as soft skills, yet in today’s world of geopolitical uncertainty, organisational complexity and social division, soft is the new hard,” said Mavuso. At the same time, she added, the business sector should not underestimate the resilience women have developed by succeeding in environments that were never designed with us as top of mind. “That journey builds resilience, adaptability and perspective.

But it also comes at a cost. Women are judged more harshly, continue to earn less than men for comparable work and the World Economic Forum estimates that closing the gender pay gap will take well over a century if current trends continue. That should concern all of us,” she said.

Mavuso said the modern challenge for women is not simply to increase the number of women around the table but subsequently create environments where women do not feel compelled to fit into moulds that were never designed to accommodate them. Mavuso highlighted that leadership should not require women to suppress what makes them different: “In fact, it is often those differences that create the greatest value”. “As we celebrate Women’s Month, I hope we move beyond seeing inclusion as a compliance exercise. It is an economic imperative.

[/paywall]