A woman’s worth is about perspective: Rentoza Chief People Officer, Judy Holding, provides a woman’s perspective on corporate inclusion at the highest levels
When Judy Holding was appointed as Chief People Officer at on-demand subscription company, Rentoza, she was holding a torch for success up the corporate ladder for women. Although Rentoza can be categorised as a medium-sized company, it is growing at a phenomenal rate as it seeks to revolutionise the way South Africans consumer electronics. As a tech company, Holding’s appointment to this position provides a ray hope for women in tech and seeks to foster the inclusion of women at all levels.
From some of the biggest corporates in the country, to an SME on the rise, Holding is a woman that believes in people. She was instrumental in bringing Cotton On into the country and cementing its place in the clothing retail landscape, so she knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed as a woman in small, medium and large enterprises.
“I am driven by the unconventional,” says Holding. “We need to realise that what we did in the past is not always what works today. Agility is a key competency, especially when it comes to people, but then again, so is perspective.”
In a people-centric role, Holding believes women are more emotionally intelligent and intuitive, which is key for a position that deals with the growth of a workforce. “As women, we are courageous and have the confidence to step into discomfort. This is a key skill in a fast-moving age and comes from our history of finding our voice in male-dominated environments.”
According to Stats SA, Women accounted for 43,4% of total employment in the second quarter of 2021. Of those in managerial positions, 66,9% were men compared to 33,1% of women. Overall, close to a third (30,1%) of all people who had jobs in the 2nd quarter of 2021 were employed in Elementary and Domestic work occupations.
In a smaller company like Rentoza, Holding has felt validated as a woman as she is brought into many discussions on a strategic and executive level, just to understand her perspective. “It is not just my knowledge, but my experience that my partners value. As women, our perspective is useful in all facets of business development, so it’s amazing to be a part of a male-centric leadership team that recognises the value of a woman’s perspective.”
As the Chief People Officer at Rentoza, Holding’s role is primarily focused on supporting employees and building a progressive work environment. Additionally, she will also be responsible for fostering a culture that motivates employees to be themselves and collaborate to achieve the company’s vision.
“Rentoza is a growing digital platform and I feel privileged to be part of a business that is changing people’s lives in various ways,” says Holding. “My mission is to meet the evolving needs of today’s youth especially women while driving productivity and spearheading learning and development. I am excited about the opportunity the company has given to me and believe in me to change other people’s lives.”
To commemorate women’s month, and to spearhead the growth of women in tech, Rentoza has developed an e-commerce graduate programme to invite more women to get into the digital and technology space.
Commenting on the idea of building an inclusive South Africa and opening executive and managerial levels of industry to more women, Holding says, “If we want to build a successful and progressive economy, we need to start getting the youth and the women of this country involved in more economic activities and providing them with opportunities is a good starting point.”
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.
Press Release Views since 1 July 2022: 148
