On Work and Revolution · 2026-01-28 · 51 min
In this first episode of the CEO Series, Debbie sits down with Jeanette Marais, who made history in August 2023 as the first female CEO of a large listed financial services group in South Africa when she took the helm at Momentum Group. Jeanette shares her journey from being a "girl from the Free State" to leading a 16,000-person organization, revealing the unexpected challenges of the role - from navigating 13 board members to making the bold decision to lead with purpose over profit metrics. She opens up about the gruelling seven-month selection process, her unconventional remote leadership approach (commuting weekly between provinces), and why receiving harsh feedback became her greatest gift. This conversation cuts through the typical CEO talking points to expose the real experience of stepping into the top seat, complete with 3 AM wake-ups and the courage to be "fundamentally unreasonable." Helpful Links: Follow Debbie on LinkedIn Follow Jeanette on LinkedIn On Work and Revolution podcast exposes the real forces reshaping leadership, talent, and the future of work.
Rui Morais, CEO Dis-Chem: Making Bold Bets. Disrupting the Healthcare Industry71 / 100Lee Naik, CEO TransUnion Africa: Why the Best CEOs say 'I Don't Know'Nonku Pitje, CEO of Discovery Corporate & Employee Benefits: A Masterclass in Growth Through StayingJurie Strydom: Leading the Old Mutual ResetAdvaita Naidoo: Take the F***king Break - Rethinking Leave