#WomensMonth: Siphiwe Ledingwane, director of PR, comms & projects at Ipasa on resilience

Meet Siphiwe Ledingwane, the dynamic director of Public Relations, Communications, and Projects at the Innovative Pharmaceutical Association South Africa (IPASA). As an African woman, Ledingwane has faced numerous challenges such as being overlooked for positions, but she believes her unwavering resilience has been the key to her success.

With over eight years of experience across private healthcare, non-profit, and entrepreneurial sectors, she’s been a pivotal force in shaping strategic approaches for the Graca Machel Trust, CDE Healthcare Group, and Black Umbrellas, the enterprise entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. 

 

What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

From a very young age, I have always believed in the power of effective communication to drive change. In the early stages of my career at a healthcare organisation, I quickly realised that this path is not just about the bells and whistles of brand positioning; it is far more meaningful than that.

It’s ultimately about making small changes within the organisation I serve that contribute to a broader and more significant positive socioeconomic impact. As cliché as it may sound, it’s not just about me; it’s about the change and impact one can make. This realisation has always guided my career, leading me to seek opportunities to be a catalyst for change within my profession.

 

As a woman, what are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?

Being overlooked simply because I am a woman, the margin became even smaller in some instances when considering that I am an African woman of colour. To overcome these hurdles, I prioritised resilience. I committed to approaching every task with determination and excellence, ultimately earning a ‘seat at the table’. However, along the way, I faced a tougher decision at times which was applying this resilience and still recognising when it was time to proactively seek out new opportunities that aligned better with my aspirations.

 

As a woman, how do you approach leadership? What do you believe are the key qualities of an effective leader and how is being a woman an advantage and a disadvantage?

In my eyes and simply because I am surrounded by amazing women leaders – professionally and personally, being a woman is never a disadvantage. As leaders, we can create, analyse and compelling strategic plans that are inclusive but also focused on the organisation’s key objectives.