Acknowledgements

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, the same can be said for writing a book. While my name is on the cover, it took an entire army of people to make my vision a reality.

Had it not been for the sacrifices that my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents – Wayne, Barbara, Albert Sr, Elizabeth, Carrie, James, Lela, Bessie and Donnie – made for my education, I would not have been in a position to work in any of the organisations in which I learnt so many valuable lessons. Their love, hard work, faith, determination and resilience created the foundation for all of the experiences upon which this book is written.

Thank you Fungayi, for always making me laugh, telling me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever imagined and listening to me whine as I went through the arduous process of writing and editing this book.

I really wish everyone had a protector-best friend like my sister Jocelyn. Thank you for being the most ardent cheerleader a girl could ever ask for.

Many thanks to Dr Jennifer Madden for conceptualising the interviews for the book and encouraging me to write it when it was just a passing thought in my head. Special thanks to sound engineer extraordinaire Kahlil Pedizisai for professionally recording the interviews.

Special thanks to the entire team at Jonathan Ball Publishers: Aimee Carelse, who I sent my initial manuscript to; my publisher, Nkanyezi Tshabalala, for your tremendous support during this process; and my editors, Caren van Houwelingen and Alfred LeMaitre, for helping me structure my thoughts and sharpen my ideas.

One of the elements that makes this book so special is the rich and candid insights shared by so many people across the African diaspora whom I admire and respect. Thank you to all the individuals who gave of their time for interviews and quotes: Tina Taylor, Timothy Maurice Webster, Obenewa Amponsah, Thokozile Lewanika Mpupuni, Dr Puleng Makhoalibe, Neliswa Fente, Damany Gibbs, Fungayi Kapungu, Dr Jennifer Madden, Merafe Moloto, Kagiso Molotsi, Zimasa Qolohle Mabuse, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Alinafe Thupa, Asande Mahlabela, Amy Dove, Nadine Moodie, Tiyani Majoko, Ronald Tamale, Connie Mashaba, Penny Moumakwa, Tiffany Hinton, Shrey Viranna, Acha Leke, Nomfanelo Magwentshu, Aisha Pandor, Stefano Niavas, Ipeleng Mkhari, Refilwe Moloto, Simon Hurry, Rachel Adams, Artis Brown, Gary Watson, Shenece Garner Johns and Celiwe Ross.

I’ve always loved words, and my passion for writing as a child went dormant for many years until Khanyi Dhlomo gave me an opportunity to be a monthly contributor for Destiny magazine. Thank you for giving me a chance to kickstart that dream again. This is my first book, and without the help of my seasoned writer friends I would have had no idea what I was doing. Thank you Janine Jellars, Timothy Maurice Webster and Irene Ndiritu for your help during various stages of my book-publishing process.

During the hard times in my career, there were people who really helped me see these tests as part of my testimony. Thank you to my Pastors Craig L Oliver, André Olivier and Wilma Olivier for helping me to uncover my true identity, believe bigger and grow my faith.

Every woman needs a strong tribe and I definitely have mine. Thank you to my friends Takenya Taylor, Ashley Lee, Nakia Buckner, Kimberly Brown, Lakeshia Hunt, B.J. Wiley Williams and Denise Long, who supported me and provided a sounding board, and sometimes just a good laugh, during all the ups and downs of my career.

I would not have been able to write this book without the colleagues, mentors, sponsors and managers who have supported me, created opportunities and provided the very learnings that I speak of in this book: Martha Greenway, Marisa Greenlee, Chaka Booker, Ingrid Hamman, Agustina Mendez, Margaret Brooks, Lisa Rushing, Greg Whittle, Jackie Fitzgerald, Missy McNabb, Paula Coetzee, Lori Paulk Mintz, Eileen Laudadio, Donna Rachelson, Richardean Few, Lynn Liao, Akeshia Craven, Charlotte Houston, Peggy Hazard, Dr Frances Frei, Margot Zielinska, Tim O’Malley, Barry Callender, the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2010 and The Broad Residency Cohort 6 (special shout-out to my Advisory Group – Jeff Kang, Marnie Pastor and Cordell Carter).

A special shout-out to Rivers Church Team B, my real-life aunties and uncles – Katherine Stover, Albert Owens Jr, King Henry Brown Jr, Geraldine Claxton, Ronnie Claxton, Cherry Williams – and my aunties and uncles in my vivid imagination: Oprah Winfrey, Iyanla van Zant, Dr Robin Smith, Pastor TD Jakes and Dr Phil McGraw, who helped me manage my mindset and unpack and embrace my story.

I’ve had the honour of being part of the leadership journeys of some fantastic people – the McKinsey Leadership Programme Fellows, Bain & Company consultants, the Seed Academy and Orange Corners entrepreneurs, among others. Thank you all for the valuable lessons you taught me.