On the 7th August, two days before Women’s Day, I stood triumphantly at the roof top of Africa with a group of about 20 women from all over the world. The group included 2 local women guides who helped the team summit Uhuru Peak, highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 meters; only free standing mountain in the world. This summit has been part of a series of mountain peaks for me, figuratively & literally. A week earlier, on July 29, I had summited Mt Meru, 5th highest mountain(4566m) in Africa. Both of our expeditions were led by Saray Khumalo (ACG), a phenomenal woman who pushes boundaries as the 1st black African Woman to summit Mt Everest. I first met Saray at our Software AG SA’s 2021 inspirational talk, under the global theme – “summiting your own mountains”. during an incredibly difficult time as the world was grappling with aftermath of the Covid-19. Her passionate talk ignited my enthusiasm for mountaineering & I could not imagine best way to venture in this adventure without one of the most revered women mountaineers in the world in the lead. Since then, I have been part of groups that summited the highest mountain in South Africa, Mafadi; highest mountain in Southern Africa, Thabana Ntlenyana,with Saray in the lead. We reached the highest mountains in all of Africa, all because of a woman! As I soak in the emotions & reflect on the success from our summits, the profound lyrics of the great Annie Lennox & Aretha Franklin’s epic women empowerment song, “Sisters are doin’ it for themselves, standin’ on their own two feet and ringin’ on their own bells”, come to mind. I cant help but add, “ringing on their own bell from the top of Africa”, an ode to our profound all women summit. Despite our achievement on Uhuru Peak, & the other peaks, I am cognisant of challenges faced by women in our country today. We can all agree that it is not yet Uhuru for many women, in a country where 37,3% of women are currently unemployed; in search of their own Uhuru peaks; & battling with scourge of gender based violence (GBV). As we reflect on our own personal struggles, sacrifices & also soak in our achievements, let’s not forget to stand together, so we can all ring our bells together, as emancipated women. Michelle Obama perfectly encapsulates this spirit of sisterhood when she says: “We should always have three friends in our lives – one who walks ahead who we look up to & follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; & then, one who we reach back for & bring along after we’ve cleared the way.” An all women team summited the highest peak in Africa. I’m aware of my responsibility to also clear the path for other women. As I commemorate Women’s Day, & reflect on our summit in the past two weeks , let’s continue to support each other & clear path in preparation for our own Uhuru peaks, to experience the high that comes with being at the very top, true women’s emancipation! Asante Sana! #womenempoweringwomen
During the chaos, it became clear that we needed ethical leadership guided by integrity, empathy, and responsibility. It was a call for all of us to stand up and make a difference. I saw the invitation to serve on the HBS Global Alumni Board as a call for ethical leadership. It reminded me of Eleanor Roosevelt’s words: “Good leaders inspire confidence in their leaders, while great leaders inspire confidence in others”. The world needs greatness to bring out the best in everyone and achieve common goals, and common good.
For decades, HBS’s mission has been clear: to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. I benefited from this commitment while studying the PLDA (Program for Leadership Development) Executive Program #pldeverywhere in 2016-2017. During those two years, I was a regular on the long flights between Johannesburg, South Africa, and Boston, USA. On campus, I would walk through the impressive buildings, admiring the blend of traditional and modern architecture that fuelled the buzz and energised the vibrant student community. I would pore over the case studies and anticipate robust debates with my cohorts and the living groups with whom I forged lifelong friendships and built lasting business networks. After a long day, I looked forward to letting my hair down and taking in the rich culture at the restaurants and bars across campus. These are some of my most treasured memories. I was grateful for the privilege of being part of the Harvard community.
Aware of my responsibility to give back, I didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to serve on the HBS Alumni Board arose. The Alumni Board reflects the diverse HBS community, including a broad geographical base and a balance of MBA, Doctoral, and Executive Education graduates. Members come from active alumni worldwide, such as club officers, class correspondents, fund and class agents, and reunion volunteers. Accepting the nomination came with a huge responsibility – one that I did not take lightly. HBS is a beacon of hope. The role required commitment, the right mindset, and the best effort to pay it forward. As the only representative from Africa in my cohort, I had to represent my PLD community #pldeverywhere, region, continent, and the organisations I’ve represented at the time, including SAP where I am currently. Despite the weight of this responsibility, traveling across different time zones and participating in workgroups between the Alumni Board meetings, the experience has been invaluable, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
This journey has brought me back to my roots – starry-eyed young Kholiwe (whose name means one who BELIEVES) who grew up in a small village surrounded by beautiful mountains in the picturesque Mt Ayliff, in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. While the odds seemed to be stacked against this little girl, I remained curious. Even when I did not have a full picture of what the world looked like, I wanted to be on top of it, just like my quest, in later years, to summit the highest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro. I was hungry for knowledge, for opportunities and knew the road would be long and even lonely, not dissimilar to the frequent travels from Johannesburg to Boston to attend Board meetings. Yet, that did not stop my dreams and desires. I also knew that with great ambition came great responsibility, requiring resilience, tenacity, and courage. I never lost sight of the vision, despite the many hurdles encountered along the way. It is this spirit that has also guided me throughout the four-year journey.
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