Zoya Sisulu, Head: Financial Institutions, Client Coverage Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Bank

Creating Pathways For Women To Thrive

By Zoya Sisulu

Over the course of my career in banking and finance, spanning more than two decades, I have witnessed significant transformation. When I entered the industry, the presence of women, particularly Black women, in leadership was rare. Today, I am proud to be part of a different reality, one where formidable women lead from the frontlines and redefine what leadership in African finance looks like.

But this shift didn’t happen by accident. It took intention, courage, and the generosity of those who invested in me. And now, it is my responsibility, and my deep privilege, to do the same for others.

Paying It Forward

I am acutely aware that I stand where I am today because others made the time to teach, mentor, and guide me. That sense of grace has stayed with me and fuels my commitment to open doors for women, especially younger professionals coming into the industry.

I make it a priority to engage with women in a meaningful way, not only to understand their ambitions but also their origin stories. That context helps me support them in ways that are both formal, like creating development opportunities, and informal, such as being a sounding board. Despite the progress we’ve made, the attrition rate for women in finance remains troublingly high, especially as they move through different life phases. I try to offer encouragement and perspective during these moments, sometimes just showing up as someone who sees them and understands.

Returning to Standard Bank has been particularly rewarding. I now lead a team that includes some very impressive women. It brings me joy when clients comment, often with surprise, on the strength of the all-woman teams they encounter across the Bank. It’s a far cry from the early days of my career, when walking into a meeting as the only woman, or person of colour, was the norm.

Redefining Success: When Inclusion Becomes Standard

To me, true success is not found in titles or accolades. It’s when the representation of women becomes so integrated into the fabric of our organisations that it no longer feels novel. It’s just how we operate.

I’ve loved watching the transformation in banking over the years, from a space that once struggled with diversity to one where cohorts of young women support and uplift each other. It is deeply encouraging. But we’re not done yet. Success will be when we no longer have to design gender-specific interventions, create “special” programmes, or incubate women’s leadership as a separate exercise.

That future is possible, but it requires that we embed representation across every level and every function as a core business standard. And while gender is important, this commitment to inclusion must extend across all forms of identity and background.

Anchored In Purpose: The Values That Guide Me

My leadership journey has always been underpinned by a sense of community and responsibility to the greater good. This is something I inherited from my family, many of whom were deeply involved in the struggle for a just and free South Africa. I grew up watching the daily sacrifices they made for the sake of others, and that sense of mission stayed with me.

I’ve carried that into my professional life, ensuring that the work I do has broader social relevance. Much of my focus has been on financing projects that support sovereign and social infrastructure, solutions that tangibly improve people’s lives. When I reflect on Standard Bank’s slogan, “Africa is our home, we drive her growth”, I see it not just as a corporate vision, but as a personal call to action.

The Progress We've Made, and The Work Ahead

Looking back on the early years of my career, I remember the deep sense of isolation that came with being one of the only young Black women in the room. I would sit in meetings mentally tallying how many women, how many people of colour, how many people under 30 were present. It was my way of searching for a sense of belonging.

Over time, as I built relationships and earned trust, I realised that many people genuinely supported my journey. Today, I see so many more women who look like me, not only at Standard Bank but across the industry. This gives me hope. Still, a major challenge remains: the drop-off of women from mid-career to leadership. We must find better ways to support women through life transitions, especially motherhood, so that the talented young women we hire as graduates are still with us in the boardroom ten or twenty years later. This is both a systemic and societal issue, and we all have a role to play in fixing it.

Changing The System: What Needs To Shift

There’s no single solution to the systemic barriers women face in banking, but there are areas we can target. On a societal level, we need to challenge outdated norms around family responsibilities and advocate for a more equitable division of labour at home.

Institutionally, while we’ve made progress in fostering inclusive cultures, we still need to expand women’s networks beyond their immediate teams. These connections are crucial for mentorship, sponsorship, and ultimately visibility. It’s also time to reframe how we support women during key life stages, especially as flexible working arrangements become more widespread.

Importantly, we must examine the data. Where are we losing women? How are promotions being managed? Are we encouraging diverse candidates to step into the process, and are we transparent in how we do so? And let’s not forget the gender pay gap. We have to be honest about where disparities exist and take action to eliminate them.

Inclusion As A Driver Of Growth

Women are central to African communities, not only as caregivers but as economic contributors. Yet, they remain underrepresented in formal employment.

We need targeted policies, financial education, and product innovation to better serve women, particularly those in informal employment or with inconsistent income due to family duties. Studies have shown time and again that financial inclusion of women leads to economic growth, better household stability, and stronger financial institutions. Inclusion isn’t just good ethics, it’s good economics.

The Power Of Mentorship and Sponsorship

In banking, we often speak about the apprenticeship model, and with good reason. No one climbs the ladder alone. Mentorship and sponsorship are critical, not just for women, but for anyone aspiring to lead. When I mentor, I encourage women to identify key influencers in their ecosystems and develop a plan to engage and build a gives me the most hope for the future is the confidence and boldness I see in the younger generations relationship with them. Visibility matters. But we also need to challenge our current leaders to expand their sponsorship beyond their comfort zones. We need sponsors who are intentional about knowing and advocating for the full talent pool, not just the familiar faces and loud voices.

Hope In The Next Generation

What gives me the most hope for the future is the confidence and boldness I see in the younger generations. African women are no longer waiting to be invited into the room, they’re walking in, speaking up, and taking up space across business, science, technology, the arts, and beyond.

Their courage makes it just a little easier for the women who will follow. And that’s how progress is made layer by layer, voice by voice.

A Message To Young African Women

To every young African woman aspiring to lead, disrupt, and redefine the world: know that you have something meaningful to contribute. The demographics of our continent favour us, we are not a minority, and our perspectives matter.

Be brave. Participate fully. Speak your truth. Don’t shrink to fit the space. Don’t edit yourself for the comfort of others. And most importantly, take control of your story. Our continent needs your voice, your ideas, and your leadership. Let’s create a future where those who come after us walk through doors we have held open with pride and purpose.