Seasoned business lead Nonkululeko Gobodo has called on women leaders to embrace their authentic selves, recognise their strengths and use their collective power to create opportunities for the next generation of women in business.
Women leaders should not feel pressured to fit into traditional corporate moulds but instead embrace their authentic selves and use their growing collective influence to reshape the workplace, according to business leader, chancellor and author Nonkululeko Gobodo.
Speaking to a room filled with women executives at the 2026 ExCo Women’s Dinner in Johannesburg, Nonkululeko reflected on her own career as a pioneering woman in business and the challenges of entering spaces where there were few women to serve as role models.
“When we talk about the power of presence, it starts with the individual,” Nonkululeko said. She encouraged women to use every challenge and opportunity in their careers as a chance to discover more about themselves, build confidence and develop their presence.
For Nonkululeko, that journey began early in her career when she was often the only woman in the room. Rather than allowing other people’s perceptions to define her, she developed a strong sense of self. “I was never going to allow that to happen to me again. I used to say, ‘Your opinions of me do not define who I am’,” she said.
Finding your authentic leadership style
Nonkululeko warned that women can sometimes feel compelled to adapt themselves to environments designed around traditional ideas of leadership.
Some may attempt to fit into established corporate cultures, while others may adopt behaviours traditionally associated with male leadership in an effort to gain acceptance, but she argued that authenticity is ultimately more powerful.
“You have to bring your authentic self to the workplace,” she said, adding that leaders who constantly try to fit into a prescribed mould will struggle to bring out their best.
She also encouraged women to understand their natural strengths and seek roles where they can use those strengths to make a meaningful contribution. “Whenever you are doing something that talks to your natural gifts, you will shine,” she said.
Turning presence into collective power
Nonkululeko acknowledged that women continue to face double standards in the workplace, where behaviours considered strong leadership in men can be interpreted differently when demonstrated by women.
However, she believes the growing number of successful and confident women in leadership is beginning to change this dynamic.
“We now have this critical mass of powerful, successful, confident women,” she said. “We are developing the blueprint right now.”
That critical mass, she argued, creates an opportunity for women to move beyond individual survival and actively create space for others.
“For a very long time, women were surviving in corporations. But now that we have this critical mass, we’re no longer there. Let’s use this power that we have to support one another,” she said.
She called for women to move beyond simply offering encouragement and instead open doors, create opportunities and protect one another when facing resistance. “We cannot wait for people to fight for us,” she said. “We have to change it.”
Seizing the moment
Nonkululeko also urged women to recognise the progress that has already been made while remaining committed to driving further change.
Reflecting on the gathering of hundreds of professional women, she noted how different today's landscape is from the one she entered at the beginning of her career.
“It was nothing like this, a room full of professional women. No, we didn’t exist. For me , the progress is worth celebrating, but it also comes with responsibility. We’ve come very far. Let’s celebrate, and let’s understand that yes, it is a journey, it is a process, but we’re going to get there,” she said.
