terry-anne solomons: a woman of capitec

In celebration of Women’s Month we spent some time with Terry-Anne Solomons , retail marketing manager at Capitec, to find out which women have had an impact on her life and what Women’s Month means to her.

Who is your biggest female role model, and why?

I have two important female role models in my life: my mom and my grandmother. I always say that I'm a strong woman because I was raised by strong women. If I look at my family, many of us are a first generation of something.

My grandmother grew up during Apartheid. Her dad was white, her mom was coloured and she lived through the experience of being unable to be seen with her dad in public. She grew up on a farm but moved into the city where she went on to manage her own butchery. At the time, women of colour simply didn’t run their own retail stores!

Her daughter, my mom, was the first female in the family to get an education. She didn’t have the opportunity to study straight after school or even to take a gap year. Instead, she took every opportunity throughout her career to apply for internal bursaries to study further and work her way up to a management position.

My mom opened the door for me, and I got the opportunity to study and travel. What I've learned from them is to open the door for others, for those who are coming after you. Even if you're the first person in a place or to have an opportunity, make sure that whatever impact you make enables the next person to do better.

What’s the best advice you've ever received?

I've received a lot of advice over the years but the one piece that sticks with me is something my mom always says: If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything. I believe this speaks to your integrity as a person, the way you show up in the world and the impact you can make.

What does Women's Month mean to you?

It's such an achievement! Being a woman is difficult for so many reasons: concerns for our safety, sexism, and the gender pay gap. I think it’s great that we have an opportunity to be recognised during Women’s Month. I know that many of the complaints are: But why isn’t there a Men’s Day? My response is: Because you've always had what you have now.

As women it also gives us the opportunity to lift each other up and appreciate each other a bit more, which we should be doing daily. We are the change, and the future is definitely female. It's about pushing the narrative that women can do anything men can do — but in heels. Women’s Month allows us to voice our challenges and have conversations to find solutions.

If you could have dinner with 4 influential women, who would they be?

My grandmother passed away when I was young, so I’d jump at the opportunity to spend more time with her. She was my best friend and mentor, and she believed in me. I know there’s so much more she could teach me. My mom is always invited because I don’t need an excuse to spend time with her!

I’d definitely like to sit down with Michelle Obama. She's probably had one of the most difficult jobs as a woman. If you've read her book, Becoming,?you'll know that she almost had to put her life on hold to support Barack. Fortunately, she had a husband who supported her, pushing her to be the best version of herself. Thuli Madonsela would take the final seat at my dinner table. She’s an incredible woman of integrity who is firm in her beliefs and my values align with hers.

And finally, what advice would you give your younger self?

I have so much advice to give my younger self. Firstly, don't dim your lights. I think that when we find ourselves in male-dominated environments, we tend to dim our lights to fit in, trying to become one of the boys. I’d also tell myself to continue to take risks and keep opening the door or making a space for anyone else coming after you. It’s something I live by, but I would have liked to have been more intentional about it from a younger age.