Bidvest Bank is making significant strides in empowering its female employees through its strategic Mmamollo programme. Launched in August last year during Women’s Month, Mmamollo, which means “to ignite with fire,” aims to develop the bank’s most promising female employees, building a pipeline of talented women ready to take on executive positions.
The Mmamollo programme includes a cohort of 20 women and focuses on developing critical soft skills necessary for leadership roles, equipping them with the confidence and abilities needed to excel and succeed in the banking industry.
Building a culture of learning is a core value at Bidvest Bank, and the Mmamollo programme is a testament to this commitment. “It is important that we are intentional about learning and that it is built into the culture of our bank,” emphasises Hannah Sakiki, CEO of Bidvest Bank. This initiative aligns with the bank’s employee value proposition (EVP) of growth and development, showcasing Bidvest Bank’s dedication to nurturing and growing its people, with a focus on women.
One of the key initiatives of the programme was an event held recently, where the participants gathered at a mentor session led by Dr Vumile Msweli, an internationally certified career coach. Msweli who is passionate about helping people achieve their highest potential. “As a proud African I am an advocate for women’s empowerment and I believe the right conversations shape our world and disrupt our thinking for the better,” said Msweli. Her session focused on teaching the ladies how to be the CEO of their own careers, advising them to create a ‘board of directors’ including coaches, managers, mentors, sponsors, and accountability partners to support their career aspirations.
Since its launch, the Mmamollo learning journey has covered extensive ground offering in-depth alternate monthly sessions on vital topics such as career management, strategic intelligence, personal mastery, personal branding, networking, navigating corporate politics, mindfulness, and a session on being heard. The energy in the sessions is palpable, with each four-hour learning segment filled with teaching moments and inspirational exchanges.
Driven by the bank’s CEO and Head of Human Capital Palesa Matoli, Mmamollo is already yielding positive results. “The feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many applying their newfound knowledge and skills in their roles. We are definitely noticing that these sessions are helping shape their career paths. They are also inspiring one another and building networks which were not apparent before Mmamollo,” said Matoli.
This cohort of women is set to graduate in September, marking a significant milestone in their professional journeys.
The next session will focus on financial literacy, led by women’s finance guru and author Mapalo Makhu. Her book, “You Are Not Broke, You Are Pre-Rich,” will serve as a foundation as she shares budgeting skills, investing tips, and other financial strategies with the participants.
Bidvest Bank’s Mmamollo programme is “a shining example of how intentional learning and empowerment initiatives can create a supportive and growth-oriented workplace, growing the next generation of female leaders in the banking industry,” concludes Matoli.
