From Alexandra to FirstRand: The Remarkable Rise of Mary Vilakazi
By Blossom Ukoha “Growing up I would not have said I would be CEO of the largest bank in South Africa, but it is [the outcome of] a series of opportunities I was fortunate to have. I always say I was not the brightest or the most gifted, but I managed to get opportunities… without access to them I would not be here.” For Mary Vilakazi, becoming Group Chief Executive Officer of FirstRand is not a story she attributes to a single defining moment. It is the result of opportunities accumulated over time, combined with preparation, performance and the willingness to take on increasingly complex responsibilities. Her journey from Alexandra township in Johannesburg to the leadership of one of Africa’s largest financial groups illustrates how access to opportunity can transform ambition into executive leadership. Vilakazi became FirstRand Group CEO on 1 April 2024, succeeding Alan Pullinger. Her appointment made her the…
What Does Lytania Johnson’s Rise to FNB CEO Mean for Women in Banking?
By Blossom Ukoha “My trajectory [was] an accumulation of different chapters across finance, risk, human capital, and corporate management.” For Lytania Johnson, becoming Chief…
Emrie Brown: How a “Jungle Gym” Career Led Her to the Top of RMB
By Blossom Ukoha A career does not always move in a straight line. For Emrie Brown, it has looked more like what she calls…
8 Hindrances Keeping Women-Owned Businesses from Scaling
By Blossom Ukoha A woman can build a profitable business, attract loyal customers and create jobs, yet still struggle to take that business to…
The Home as Her Power Base: Creating Spaces That Support the Woman You Are Becoming
By Janet Coin At the end of a demanding day, a woman walks through her front door, drops her bag and exhales. Work can…
The New Definition of a Successful Woman: Career, Family or Freedom?
By Blossom Ukoha For generations, society has offered women a familiar formula for success: build a career, get married, have children, care for the…
9 Remarkable Things to Know About Professor Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu, the New Dean of a Canadian Law College
By Blossom Ukoha From Lagos to the Canadian Prairies, Professor Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu’s journey is a story of intellectual curiosity, unexpected opportunities and academic excellence.…
International Day of Peace: Can We Build Lasting Peace Without Investing in Women?
By Blossom Ukoha When 26-year-old Angel Musiime wakes up for work in Uganda’s Kyegegwa Town Council, peacebuilding does not begin in a diplomatic conference…
Dubai’s Women-Led Power Story: Beyond Luxury, Into Business and Influence
By Blossom Ukoha She is not there as a guest. She is not there to represent a family name or add diversity to a…
Equal Pay Day: Who Gets to Decide What Women’s Work Is Worth?
By Blossom Ukoha She sat across from her manager, salary review letter in hand. Her responsibilities had grown. She was leading projects, mentoring younger…
Women and AI: Who Gets to Lead the Businesses of the Future?
By Blossom Ukoha Artificial intelligence is creating some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying opportunities in the global economy. But as the technology accelerates, another…
South-South Cooperation: Why Women Must Be at the Centre of the Global South’s Next Power Shift
By Blossom Ukoha The Global South is gaining economic weight. But who gets to shape the power that comes with it? In 2026, only 28…
