Inspirational Women
She’s found the balance between motherhood and big business An inspiration in the corporate sector since 1980
SASFIN Business Banking thrives on unlocking efficiencies for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Its value propositions are tailormade to suit and service a business’s working capital and Linda Frohlich is the Executive Head: Business Banking.
The three businesses that make up her division: Trade and Debtor Finance, Capital Equipment Finance and Rental Finance, are geared to fund working capital.
As such the 47 year old wife and mother of two boys handles multi-million rand portfolio of clients heavily involved in the development of the South African economy.
She shares her story, “I started off as a ‘Girl Friday’ for a rental finance company supporting an account executive. Although I was always passionate about exploring a career in sales, my boss told me I would never make it.
“From this I learnt never to allow negative opinions from people to shape my future. I worked hard. Nothing was too hard for me to achieve.
“Having the right attitude, passion and treating people with respect has got me , to where I am today.
“My philosophy is that we are all the same but we just have different jobs to do. People are primary to the success of a business, creating the right culture and opportunities will lead to success.”
Asked what her differentiators are, she responds, “I stay true to myself, helped by THE Businesswoman of the Year Award has since 1980 been South Africa’s premier award for women achievers in business. Presented by the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa (BWASA), it has emerged as the premier event of its kind in the country, an inspiration to women of all ages and a highlight of the South African business calendar. The objectives are to:
To create a mechanism for applauding and celebrating women’s contribution to the economy.
To recognise the success of women leaders in business, thereby creating a cadre of female role models whose achievements will inspire other women to raise their sights and reach their goals.
To raise funds for the BWASA bursaries offered to women pursuing business studies.
Over the years, some exceptional business women have been nominated by their peers – women in the marketplace and workplace who have made their mark, inspiring and empowering those around them to develop their potential and reach their goals.
Entries have always been open to all racial and ethnic groups and the early winners – when the glass ceiling was far thicker and racism was institutionalized – included Dawn Mokhobo (1993), senior Human Resources manager at Eskom and the now deceased Marina Maponya (1982), Director of the Maponya Group.
Other early inspirers included: Val Mickleburgh, Marketing Director, Total determination and the right attitude. The only way to grow is to listen to constructive criticism and work on changing what’s wrong.
“I never stopped learning. I am not a women trying to compete in a man’s world – I am a woman in a business world.”
She speaks of Sasfin’s pipeline for women to take up positions of leadership. “There is no gender differentiation. We recognise and empower women.
“They bring different attributes to the SA (Pty) Ltd (1980); Margaret Lessing, Director, TWS Communications (1981) and Reeva Forman, Managing Director, Reeva Forman (Pty) Ltd (1983).
There were also Dr Anette v d Merwe, Jane Raphaely, Joan Joffe, and Pru Pfuhl.
Current winner in the corporate category is Nosipho Damasane Siwisa, first woman CEO at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBTC).
Appointed to the position at the worldclass global facility responsible for the export of coal for all the coal-mining companies in South Africa four years ago she is the first woman to hold the strategically important post.
Interestingly, a year after her appoint- table because they are nurturing, emotionally intelligent and have the ability to multitask. My leadership team comprises of five women and a man.”
The company is in the process of launching a Women’s Forum to identify promising women in the organisation and mentor them.
Her greatest challenge has been to find the balance between business and motherhood and Sasfin has given her the space to do that.
Her formula for success being: “You always have to bounce back fast, the world will throw things at you and you have to let them go. Deal with it and move on.
“You need to have the right passion, the right energy and persevere. Always be humble – it’s about serving the people you lead.”
As parting words of wisdom, she quotes: “Effective leaders develop a sense of purpose by pursuing goals that align with their personal values and advance the collective good.
“This allows them to look beyond the status quo to what is possible and gives them a compelling reason to take action, despite personal fears and insecurities.
“Such leaders are seen as authentic and trustworthy because they are willing to take risks in the service of shared goals. By connecting others to a larger purpose, they inspire commitment, boost resolve, and help colleagues find deeper meaning in their work.” ment she went undercover to find out what it is like to be part of the on-the-ground workforce at RBCT. Looking back, she feels she learnt a great deal.
This included small things such as placing a microwave into work stations where people are operating round the clock. It makes a big difference to their lives and it shows that leadership is conscious of their needs.
Her various management qualifications, obtained from around the globe, include a B.Com Accounting from the University of the Transkei.
She attended the Senior Executive Programme in Singapore and London and has an MBA. Source: www.bwasa.co.za/bwya