Page 85 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

You need to be clear about your objectives,

why you are where you are and what it is that you want to achieve.

Success is inspirational too busy to attend social gatherings like “breakfasts
Chief Executive Officer, for moms” and is too busy for tasks like personally
at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry Palesa attributes her success and where she is today
to her Christian faith, hard work, and dedication. dropping her boys off at school. This results in
ALESA PHILI became the CEO of the Durban Numerous people assisted her along the way and she her not knowing many of the moms, but Palesa is
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has had a number of different mentors for different fortunate that her husband helps with most of the
Pafter a very successful corporate career. This aspects of her career and life who have helped her. parental tasks. Her support structure is important to
included being in an executive role with a computer Success inspires Palesa. She adds, “One does not her. “Without their assistance, I would not be able to
company looking after the organisation’s services in want to be around something that is negative or do everything I need to do and achieve a work-life
the southern, eastern and central regions of Africa, does not work.” Successful people across the country balance,” she adds.
being the executive head for Vodacom Business in and across the world attract her attention; what they Looking back at herself when she was younger,
KZN and then the regional head for MTN. are doing attracts and inspires her. “I try to see what Palesa would advise herself not to take things at
I can do personally, in my own way, to add to the face value but to analyse these and ensure that she
DCCI represents the business community. As CEO,
Palesa oversees the organisation, ensuring good betterment of my city, my province, my country, and makes the right decisions. She explains that she
governance and that the Chamber fulfills its mandate the world at large.” would react spontaneously when she was young so
which is to look after its members, who are mostly Keep your eye on the ball, the rules for women she would tell herself to listen more before making
from the business community of the Durban region. are different decisions.
The Durban Chamber identifies government policy “Women definitely need to approach business There is much more to achieve
relevant to organised business in Durban by am- differently to men,” says Palesa. And thinks the Compared to what she would still like to accomplish,
plifying core issues that impact on business with existence of “The Boy’s Club out there” cannot be Palesa does not think that she has achieved much. If
short, medium - and long-term perspectives. At the denied and that women cannot fit into the club. “As she looks back at her corporate background, Palesa
heart of this unit are industry-specific forums and area a woman, typically, as you grow in your career, as you says what she did was mostly target driven to make
forums (Western, Northern, Southern, and Central) go higher, you become more of a loner as there are profits for an organisation.
very few women up there.” Palesa adds that males are
that engage on a monthly or bi-quarterly base.
still in the majority at the top of the corporate world Her involvement with the Chamber does, however,
“Our forums provide the coal face of interaction and that the rules for women are very different. “As a give her a greater purpose and this enables her
between our members and the Durban Chamber. woman, you need to be clear about your objectives, to achieve more of what she wants to achieve. It
This is where we get city officials and provincial why you are where you are and what it is that you enables her to make a difference and impact on
policy makers to interact with our members in want to achieve.” many people.
terms of any plans that are being put in place as Palesa says one of her mentors told her that one is Palesa explains, “I always had a thing in me, even
well as business opportunities that are available,” at work to do work, not to make friends, and you when growing up, to give back. In everything I do I
says Palesa. need to make sure the job gets done. Her advice to try and give back in my own small way. I would like
Advocacy is central to the role the Chamber women is, “When you encounter corporate politics, it to look back in five years from now and say this is
plays and partnership approaches to complex is important to keep your eye on the ball, understand the number of jobs I helped to create, and this is the
and problematic issues affecting business are the rules are different for you as a woman, and then number of entrepreneurs I have assisted to grow and
promoted. The Chamber’s extensive networks also you should be fine.” get where they are.” She adds she would like to see
connect members both with local and international As she is a wife and the mother of two boys, achieving measurable growth, and only once she gets there
organisations. a work life balance is not easy for Palesa. She says she is would she be happy with what she has achieved.

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