Last year, Leigh Solomon was chosen to be one of 20 young people participating in the Sanlam Future Leaders Development Programme. The intensive development programme includes time with Sanlam’s most senior executives, one-on-one coaching and Group-wide exposure. For Solomon, this exposure was priceless.

Extremely ambitious, Solomon has been promoted twice since starting at Sanlam as part of the Underwriting Graduate Programme in 2011. Now the youngest person at junior-management level in her team, she says confidence is key, “I want people to say I lead with courage. As a young woman of colour, I need to believe in my skills and not feel inferior to anyone else. Sometimes it’s hard to change people’s way of thinking – especially when things have ‘always been done like this’. Then it’s about presenting an alternative way of thinking, in ways that resonate with people.”

Solomon has had strong women backing her throughout her career, like her current manager. “Hedwig Robertson is the Chief Underwriter: Distribution Support and new Products. I look up to her. She takes herself seriously, so others take her seriously. She’s also not threatened by young women moving up the ranks – she supports us and our development.”

And that support is what Solomon wants for girl-children from a young age. “I belong to Sanlam’s Women’s Network. For the past few years, we’ve been providing girls with sanitary towels, so they don’t have to miss school. It’s so important we support young women in this way. I also think exposure is critical. More girl-children need to know that they’re capable of absolutely anything. They are going to change the world.”

Jana Lamprecht, Valuations Actuary at Sanlam Emerging Markets

As a new mom, Jana Lamprecht says her team has been extremely empathetic and understanding, which has made all the difference, “I think this is reflective of how the workplace in general has become more female-friendly, with a focus on transformation and the creation of an environment that’s more accommodating to women.”

While there’s more to be done, Lamprecht believes there’s an encouraging pipeline of exceptional women working their way through the ranks, “It takes a while for the turnaround to be seen, especially in the actuarial space I’m in, but there are many diverse young actuaries entering the profession. And a lot of this is due to investment and support from companies like Sanlam.”

Lamprecht joined Sanlam in 2013, following two years at a short-term insurance consulting company. She’s been with the group for five years and counting and says she won’t be leaving any time soon, “It’s a company which really invests in its people. I’ve been exposed to many opportunities for development. I was placed in a mentorship programme from the day I started at Sanlam and received individualised coaching as part of a Future Leaders Development Programme last year. I experience Sanlam to be an investor in its people to ensure each individual maximises their potential for growth.”