SAVCA ABSIP Women’s event
The Women in Private Markets Connect 2024 event, hosted by SAVCA in collaboration with ABSIP Women in Focus, African Women Impact Fund, and Riscura, took place on September 19th in Rosebank, Johannesburg. This dynamic event served as an empowering platform for women in private markets, finance, and investments to connect, learn, and support one another. The afternoon kicked off with corporate MC, Zoya Mabuto-Mokoditoa, who warmly welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to maximize networking opportunities.
SAVCA CEO, Tshepiso Kobile, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the event’s historical significance and the ongoing movement to address challenges faced by women in the industry. She acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various partners including ABSIP, Riscura, Standard Bank, and AWIF, and emphasized the need for continuous transformation strategies, such as SAVCA’s fund manager program, aimed at increasing black female representation in the sector. Through her findings, Kobile underscored the importance of addressing social and cultural biases and enhancing industry exposure through networking, mentorship, and training.
The insightful panel discussion featured industry experts such as Carl Thobejane (Global Markets Head, Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFI), Standard Bank), Puseletso Mbele (Co-founder and CEO, Moro Private Markets), Grace Chauke (Chief Investment Officer at Transport Sector Retirement Fund), Nicola Gubb (Non-Executive Director, SAVCA), and Samki Koti (Investment Network Manager, USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment Project), moderated by Cami Mbulawa (Executive, Riscura).
Carl Thobejane emphasized the critical role of banks in providing rigorous training and graduate trainee programs focused on asset and fund management. She highlighted the importance of these initiatives not only in developing the skills of female assets but also in encouraging them to establish sustainable asset management companies. Additionally, Thobejane noted that the Environmental, Social, and Government (ESG) programs implemented by Standard Bank have created pathways for sustainable career opportunities for women in the finance sector.
Puseletso Mbele addressed the challenges of fundraising, emphasizing that success requires perseverance even with thorough due diligence. She pointed out the importance of aligning fundraising efforts with investment strategies, brand equity, and core values, highlighting integrity and skill leverage. Mbele also stressed the need to embrace failure and advocated for networking as a crucial strategy for women in the industry to enhance their competitiveness in deal sourcing.
Nichole Gubb shared her experiences regarding the challenges women faced in the finance and investment industry, highlighting their efforts to break barriers by hiring female employees and managers and fighting for representation on nominations committees. “We worked hard to address the gender pay gap between females and males in the industry that has been dominated for a long time” she proudly noted. Additionally, Gubb emphasized the importance of preparing for unpredictable crises by implementing measures such as a working capital cover ratio of two times.
Grace Chauke passionately underscored the critical role of boards in championing women’s empowerment, highlighting that their support is essential for female ownership and representation. Samki Koti added that fund managers must clearly define their objectives when seeking grants and establish a strong leadership presence, backed by a reputable track record and solid corporate governance and risk management policies. She emphasized the importance of networking and innovative thinking to enhance visibility in boardroom discussions, as well as the need for a comprehensive understanding of asset education and investment processes to ensure effective skills transfer, particularly in deal sourcing.
The event concluded as a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and equipped with valuable insights to advance their careers in private markets.
