Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia

I am the Managing Director of NRF-SAASTA. In this role, I strategically lead and position NRF-SAASTA as the primary science engagement and engaged research unit of the NRF.

My responsibilities encompass the facilitation of a coordinated, effective, and resource-efficient implementation of science engagement initiatives across the NRF and the National System of Innovation. This involves implementing systems to support and enable science engagement through various sectors. These sectors include research-intensive institutions like science councils and universities, science interpretation centres such as science centres, and science and engineering professionals in general.

Additionally, foster partnerships as integral to the success of the national science engagement program, mobilising stakeholders within the system to contribute effectively to science engagement efforts.

What inspired you to become the leader that you are today?

I never set out to be where I am today as a leader. Interestingly, I shied away from leadership roles during my schooling and university days. I can safely say I was a late bloomer compared to those who exhibited their leadership skills early on.

In hindsight, a few experiences earlier on in my career nurtured my development into a leader. The first occurred during my time as a researcher when I volunteered as a part-time administrator for my then employer’s postgraduate bursary program. Upon taking over, I discovered that students’ stipends had not increased in over four years. Advocating for an annual increase was my first experience of influencing decision-makers, which resulted in management agreeing to raise stipends annually, which led more students to take up the bursary.

The second experience involved setting up a meeting with a Group Executive for HR, alongside two colleagues, to discuss challenges faced by female professionals in our male-dominated environment. Although the meeting did not yield immediate results, it was the catalyst for my commitment to champion women’s issues. This was significant as we were very junior, yet bold enough to approach a GE in Head Office to advocate for change.

The third significant moment was when I reviewed conditions of service for a new job and found unfavourable conditions for young women, especially in their first year of work in the company. I resolved to influence the change of conditions that disadvantaged women, impacting my then employer’s ability to attract young women of childbearing age. Successfully changing the maternity leave conditions to favour women became a highlight of my tenure.

These experiences have made me acutely attentive to workplace conditions and fuelled my desire to create an environment where people feel valued and motivated to contribute their best.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

These are some of the pieces of advice I wish I was given when I started my career:

• Believe in your abilities: It is common to feel like you are being done a favour by being in certain positions. The fact that you applied for a job, got short-listed and made it through the interview means that you are capable. Do not let anyone make you think otherwise.
• Embrace your uniqueness: women have unique capabilities that are invaluable in the workplace, such as effective communication and emotional intelligence. Do not change yourself to fit the mould; leverage your strengths to stand out.
• Seek mentors and mentor others: Identify mentors who can guide you through your career journey and open doors to new opportunities. Learning from those who have gone ahead can accelerate your growth. Also, give back by mentoring others. It is the right thing to do.
• Be visible to decision makers: Identify opportunities to talk about and/or present your work, especially when you have solved key problems in your space. Volunteer to participate in programs that will increase your visibility. Being known to decision-makers makes it easier to be part of important initiatives. This will in turn open doors for growth opportunities for you.
• Take care of yourself: While it is important to always deliver on targets, it is equally important to take care of yourself. Do not compromise your well-being in pursuit of achieving goals. Always strike a balance and make time to recharge!
• Be the boss you wish you had: Some women prefer to work with male bosses, sometimes due to the perception that female bosses need to be harsh to be effective. Instead, strive to be an empathetic leader who treats everyone fairly while maintaining high standards of excellence.
• Be a lifelong learner: Always seek new experiences and be open to learning. Pursue opportunities for professional development to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing world.