Ursula Chikane

What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt in your career? If things are going badly, find a way to breathe and work through them, but if the situation doesn’t improve, and your health and sense of self are under threat, change course. Then, when you find where you belong, commit fully.

What is the importance of family? Family will do what nobody else will do for you! Above all, I’ve learnt to value my parents and their unending wisdom.

Advice for tough times? Confronting wrongdoers was never my thing, but now that I’ve paid my dues and learnt tough lessons, I make it nearimpossible for anyone to exploit my time and reputation. My advice: keep your head in the game, your nose clean and side-step the drama.

What are your thoughts on the entertainment world right now? The game has changed totally! There are still shows with a pre-millennium gender stance (ones where women are eternally inexperienced, giggling Gerties), but there are so many fierce directors, singers, actors, dancers and writers who own their female greatness. And while female sports commentators remain rare, I enjoy watching the likes of Kass Naidoo roll out their own welcome mats and open opportunities for other women.

What is your message to young women? Don’t get trapped where you don’t belong; find your place and reason to excel. Don’t exile your ambitions out of fear, take chances on yourself, and be ready to try and fail, and try again. Whatever your industry, it’s important to get past rejection and to move forward. Sometimes, what others think of you is far less important than what you think of them. Allow them their opinions, then enjoy their reactions when they find out who you really are!