The moment a top executive stopped chasing perfection
Success at the top of corporate South Africa often comes with an expectation of perfection. But one leader says that mindset can hold you back.
Success at the top of corporate South Africa often comes with an expectation of perfection.
But in the latest episode of When Shift Happens, Old Mutual Group Chief Operating Officer Zureida Ebrahim reflects on the moment she realised that perfection was never the goal.
Speaking to host Saray Khumalo, the Everest summiteer and business leader behind the JacPod series, Ebrahim shares how one of the most defining shifts in her life did not happen in a boardroom.
It happened at home.
ALSO LISTEN | READ: When Shift Happens: She stepped away from success and rebuilt her life
There’s no leadership programme or any book that I’ve read that gave me the significant amount of growth that I’ve had in my life as when I became a parent.
Like many leaders balancing demanding careers with family life, Ebrahim says becoming a parent forced her to rethink what success actually looks like.
Rather than trying to be everywhere and do everything perfectly, she began focusing on the moments that truly matter.
My children didn’t need a perfect mother. They wanted a present one in those moments that matter.
That realisation also reshaped how she approached work.
My career didn’t need me at every single moment. It needed the best of me in those moments that really mattered.
The conversation also explores how leadership itself is changing.
For Ebrahim, the idea that leaders must always appear polished and have every answer no longer resonates with modern teams.
Find out more in the latest episode of When Shift Happens. Listen at the top of the page, or directly below:
More about Zureida Ebrahim
Zureida Ebrahim is the Group Chief Operating Officer at Old Mutual, where she leads the organisation's technology, digital, data and AI strategy. She is responsible for driving transformation across one of South Africa’s largest financial services groups. With more than two decades of experience spanning banking, insurance, wellness and digital platforms, Ebrahim has built a reputation as a thoughtful leader focused on innovation, customer experience and organisational change. She holds degrees in Economics and Law from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with executive education from Wits Business School and IESE Business School in Spain. Ebrahim is widely respected for her perspective on modern leadership, authenticity and the evolving role of executives in complex organisations.
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Meanwhile: From rural KZN to boardroom leadership
In the previous episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo speaks with Zakhele Mkhize, founder and chairman of Entsika Consulting.
Raised in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Mkhize built one of South Africa’s respected advisory firms. His leadership philosophy is simple: success means very little if it does not create opportunity for others.
Listen to the full conversation with Zakhele Mkhize here.
About Saray Khumalo
Saray Khumalo is an award-winning mountaineer, business executive, speaker and author. She made history as the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest and has also completed the Seven Summits challenge, climbing the highest mountain on each continent. Beyond mountaineering, Saray has built a successful corporate career and is the founder of Summits With a Purpose, an initiative that raises funds and builds physical and digital libraries in disadvantaged African communities. Through her partnership with Jacaranda FM, she now brings her leadership insights to audiences through When Shift Happens, a JacPod Original podcast dedicated to helping others navigate change and realise their potential.
Missed an earlier conversation? Explore the full When Shift Happens podcast series here.