Page 57 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

It’s critical and pivotal that if you want to grow and aspire into leadership

roles to have a fully rounded education and knowledge around critical aspects.

Executive Head of Insurance, Asset Management and services world, and couldn’t even think of pursuing there has been very little social reform to actually
Fiduciary, Standard Bank, KwaZulu-Natal a legal career. “It would have been career suicide for assist and protect women, leaving them vulnerable and
me to go backwards and would have affected me exposed in society.”
ano Singh says that she is proudly financially in terms of changing paths at that moment
Creating work life balance
associated with the Standard Bank in time.”
Group within KwaZulu-Natal. She A solution, says Mano, in terms of creating work life
In reflecting on challenges that she has encountered
Mdescribes herself as a perfectionist, balance and allowing women in the workplace to progress
along her career path; Mano says that this decision
who puts all her passion into ensuring that she delivers in their careers, is education. “One of the things that is
caused her ideological conflict. She had to decide
whatever is required with excellence. essential in terms of validating oneself, as a woman firstly,
whether to pursue a legal career, or to remain in an
is to be able to study. I think that education is never wasted.
Mano’s professional journey was driven by her desire exciting industry that had shaped her and in which
It is always going to give you the edge in terms of peer
to enter the work force. She said, “I was desperate for she was confident, and which had served her well over
groups and it’s critical and pivotal that if you want to grow
an opportunity to enter the work force, just waiting for the years. She commented, “I’ve come to realise that
and aspire into leadership roles to have a fully rounded
that one break, that one door to open to get me started. I am really embedded in the financial services world,
education and knowledge around critical aspects. This is
The adage of saying that the more things change, the and it has given me the ethos to be who I am, and
especially relevant with the Fourth Industrial Revolution
more they stay the same rings true even today as our I have actually grown through the process in this
that commands or demands certain skills in this world for
youth strive to enter the world of work in an effort particular world.”
you to perform optimally.”
to earn a living. Work is essentially access to dignity.
While progressing through her career, Mano has headed
While there appears to be meaningful change, many Staying true
up many specialised areas in the financial services industry,
underlying fundamentals are very much the same.”
which have given her the confidence and the skills to be Commenting on her journey, Mano says that she has
Focus on the future able to progress into senior leadership roles. always looked to individuals who have inspired her to
be who she is today. “My father will always remain my
Consequently, Mano started working as a branch Future goals inspiration, highly intelligent, but the system failed him,
secretary in an insurance company within the financial and so many others like him, in many ways. He taught
Mano has already started working on her future goals,
services industry. Mano found that starting off her me values that have shaped who I am today, ensuring
which are to mentor and coach young leaders. These are
career in this position was humbling. So, after hours, in that I always stayed true to my core, living within certain
individuals who are at cross-roads in their career and
order to keep her mind busy, and to be able to have a principles, especially integrity, that were not negotiable,
life journeys, who she can assist in terms of fulfilling
seat and a voice at the table, Mano studied law. and treating all beings on this earth with care, respect
their career aspirations.
“The one thing I learnt is that I had to focus on the and love.
An issue very close to Mano’s heart is that of gender
future and studying gave me the opportunity to do a In addition, said Mano, her mother showed her the
violence and the marginalisation of women in our society.
menial and tedious task during the day, but at night strength that she could gain from prayer – an eternal gift
Mano commented that the imbalance that we currently
pursue my first love, which really was law. I was this
of love that lights the way in her darkest moments.
person, like a mason chipping away at a block of stone, face working from home has placed a lot of the social
burden on women. “Sadly, our society is a patriarchal “The third piece is that I’m married to my soul mate.
trying to carve a future for myself.”
society and when you look at the corporate world then My husband has been a pillar of strength in terms of
The ethos to be who I am this disposition translates into the composition of the supporting me and journeying with me and assisting
However, by the time she had completed both of boardroom, which in turn marginalises women further. me, lessening the burdens along my daily life, to ensure
her legal degrees, she was immersed in the financial When you look to government there’s little progress; that I achieved my goals,” concluded Mano.

55