“Be Unstoppable in Your Pursuit of Success” – Khanya Matshaya

I think Khanya Matshaya’s story deserves a movie. Netflix must hit her up. She could well be the number’s genius of this country. This Q&A with her has to be one of my favourites in the history of this blog. Let me not spoil it for you. Let us close the Women of SATT blog series and Women’s Month in style. Here we go:

Sibusiso Nkosi: How did you find yourself in the Finance space?

Khanya Matshaya: Growing up I had a liking to Maths. I would sit in the car whenever I went to town with my mother, silently multiplying car registration numbers to train my brain to work answers out without using a calculator for basic maths. Till this day, I can multiply, divide, add, subtract with ease. Naturally, in high school I added Accounting. It was a lot easier to solve for answers where numbers were involved and with little effort. When time for university came, I knew that I wanted to do something that would allow me to work with numbers. My dad, who had enjoyed a career spanning many years with the AGSA (SA) in Audit, influenced my decision to pursue a career in Finance. It was organic and when the going did get tough, I always remembered “my why.”

Sibusiso Nkosi: How important is financial knowledge in organizations, households, and society in general?

Khanya Matshaya: Extremely! In general, when we understand the basics of finance, it is always beneficial. In an organization, an understanding of income and expenses is what enables business leaders to make accurate and informed decisions on how the organization is performing. One does not need to be an expert, but this is an important skill to have.

In a household, it is no different. Alignment is critical when it comes to how money is spent and can differentiate between a well-run household financially and one that is not. A budget not only applies to an organization but to a household as well. Single or dual income household same applies. When one understands the basics of finance, they can make accurate and informed decisions about many aspects of the household finances. For example, what is a favourable interest rate charged on home or vehicle finance, whether one can negotiate a better rate or whether one takes the first rate they have been offered could have an adverse financial impact if not fully understood. It is also important to teach kids from a young age how to save money, not only to spend money and to model a healthy relationship with money that will aid them as adults.

In any society, across race, religion and in all parts of the world, an understanding of good financial principles, budgeting (and sticking to it), living within one’s means, investing and saving, minimising debt except for where it cannot be avoided can alleviate a lot of the pressures society faces on a day to day.

Sibusiso Nkosi: In your view, what does good leadership look like in the finance field?

Khanya Matshaya: Agility, foresight, and the ability to learn from others is what good leadership looks like in my view. In an ever-changing world, being agile is key. As a leader in finance, numbers are no longer just numbers. They need to tell a story on which you can base decisions on. It is equally important to make a decision, upon realising it is not the right decision or that the circumstances have changed, have the flexibility to change course where necessary, and make a new decision based on information available at  a point in time. Being agile allows the leader to foresee what lies ahead. While the past view is important, it does not always inform the future. It is important to listen and learn from other people from all walks in life. Do not be stuck in what you know and have seen. Use other people’s insights to leverage and create efficiencies across people, processes and technologies, and staying ahead of the pack.

Sibusiso Nkosi: What are some of your career highlights?

Khanya Matshaya: In March 2024, I graduated from the Duke Fuqua School of Business, obtaining the Middle Management Development Programme certification. The programme was focused on women leaders within the Finance sector. I gained valuable insights on being a female leader, truly and an opportunity of a lifetime!

I was also approached and appointed as a Board member of NPO called Lesebo Motheo. I am very enthusiastic about bringing my financial expertise and skill sets to spaces I am privileged to be in, and what better way than to do that within an organization that is committed to empowering the marginalised of our country through skills development?

Sibusiso Nkosi: What advice do you have for young women wishing to become leaders in finance one day?

Khanya Matshaya: Do not focus on being liked, focus on being undeniable! No one ever made history by doing the ordinary. The corporate world is still challenging to navigate for women but as the doors close in your face, find a window, break the glass, and get inside. Be unstoppable in your pursuit of success, however you define success for yourself.