Although Women’s Month is almost over, there is always good reason to celebrate the exceptional women leaders who are associated with BLSA and contribute to its success in different ways.

BLSA member and CEO of BP Southern Africa, Mrs. Taelo Mojapelo, discusses the value of teamwork, her recognition as the Standard Bank Top Women Business Leader of the Year 2023, and South Africa’s pressing issue of youth unemployment.

What made you decide to become a member of BLSA?

BLSA is a forum that enables corporates with a keen interest of ensuring a conducive business environment of the highest ethical standards to contribute towards social and economic prosperity in South Africa. This aligns very well with bp’s beliefs on “who we are” as we strive to make a positive impact everywhere we work as well as collaborating with our partners, suppliers, customers and communities.

What do you consider your greatest achievement/s?

We never achieve the best as individuals, and we are always better when we function as teams. Leading bpSA and navigating through various challenges at the height of the CoVID-19 pandemic and

guiding the business out of the crisis has been a humbling yet rewarding experience. It was also humbling to receive the much-coveted Standard Bank Top Women Business Leader of the Year 2023.

What keeps you awake at night?

Social inequity in South Africa and the many outcomes that confront us daily.

What is the best advice you were ever given?

“Be bold & courageous, the universe will reward you”. I was much younger when I received this advice and I found it daunting, somewhat impossible. However, over the years, I’ve learnt realized that we all need courage to take us through our moments of discomfort and helps us along our growth journey.

Please name a woman you particularly admire and why.

I’ve been inspired by the former PepsiCo CEO, Indira Nooyi’s life experience. She speaks a lot about leaders assuming positive intent to get the best out of people. She also speaks about how conscious and unconscious bias strips one of their confidence, and ultimately impacts competence.

What advice would you give other women aspiring to positions of leadership?

“Own your truth and live courageously”. Very often, we are presented role models as we start our corporate careers, and we all run the risk of wanting to emulate them. This is the biggest mistake one can make. We are all unique individuals and it’s important to take time to understand oneself deeply in order to show up at your best. In so doing, clarity of purpose starts to emerge.

What is the single biggest problem you think needs to be addressed in South Africa and why?

South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate will continue to be a significant contributor to our social ills. Employment provides a sense of independence and identity which has a positive impact on societal outcomes. Reducing this unemployment rate will help foster social cohesion and reduce inequality.

Ms Taelo Mojapelo is married, with two boys aged 19 and 14