In conversation with Celiwe Ross, Director of Group Strategy, Sustainability, People and Public Affairs at Old Mutual

Loading player...
Celiwe Ross is the Director: Strategy | Sustainability | People | Public Affairs at Old Mutual Limited. She started her career in the mining industry, after graduating as a mining engineer. She then completed her MBA before transitioning to a career in investment banking with Standard Bank, where she developed solid credentials in project finance, structured finance and origination in the mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors across the African continent.
Before joining Old Mutual, she spent two years with the global search and leadership advisory firm, Egon Zehnder, leading their financial services practice. Celiwe has worked with a wide array of financial services companies, advising on their leadership needs and team effectiveness. Following her appointment as Group Human Capital Director in 2018, her role was broadened to include the Group Strategy portfolio in 2022. Celiwe was named Top Woman Business Leader of the Year at the 2022 Standard Bank Top Woman Awards.
13 Feb 2025 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Leaky Pipelines & Broken Rungs: Fixing Gender Gaps in Investments

PPS Investments’ Fran Troskie breaks down why asset management still struggles with gender parity — from caregiving burdens to promotion barriers, wage gaps, and murky leadership pathways. A candid Women’s Month conversation on redesigning the industry for true inclusion.
18 Aug 1PM 16 min

Tax as Strategy: How Women Can Lead in a Volatile Economy

PwC’s Mbai Rashamuse joins our Women’s Month spotlight to unpack how tax can be a strategic lever for value creation — not just compliance. She explores financial sector shifts, inclusive leadership, and how women can shape Africa’s economic future through tax and governance.
18 Aug 1PM 16 min

Absa Delivers 8% Earnings Growth in Tough Conditions

Absa posts a resilient 1H26 performance with headline earnings up 8% to R12.8bn, ROE rising to 15%, and revenue growing 4%. We speak to Group FD Deon Raju about margin pressure, credit improvements, digital investment, and the bank’s outlook for FY26.
18 Aug 12PM 13 min

Sacci Confidence Edges Higher — But Is Sa’s Recovery Losing Momentum?

South Africa’s business confidence ticked up again, with SACCI’s July index rising to 125.4, its strongest level since March. Economist Richard Downing explains how the improvement was driven by higher new-vehicle sales, stronger merchandise exports, and lower energy prices, while inflation pressures and weaker precious-metal prices continued to weigh on…
18 Aug 12PM 10 min

Women Behind the Wheel: Breaking Barriers in Automotive Leadership

From SABC broadcaster to senior communications leader at Isuzu Motors SA, Iviwe Poti shares her journey through two male‑dominated industries: automotive and strategic marketing. She discusses navigating corporate spaces, shaping brand narratives across commercial vehicles, mentoring young women, and driving transformation in one of South Africa’s toughest sectors.
17 Aug 1PM 17 min