Of the 15 years I spent across various companies and industries as an HR Director, 80% was spent double-hatting with the Transformation portfolio—primarily focused on BBBEE and Employment Equity.

My passion for talent made me embrace this “combo” wholeheartedly. It allowed me to weave transformation into the very fabric of how we approached talent acquisition, development, and retention.

Along this journey, my teams and I helped several large corporates avoid hefty non-compliance fines, thanks to proactive, values-driven transformation strategies.

But here's what I've learned:
Transformation is a heart thing.
It’s easy to talk about equity and inclusion in boardrooms. But the true test comes in decision-making moments:

• Who do you hire or promote?

• Do you choose local talent over an expatriate?

• Are you willing to say no—even when it’s uncomfortable?

These moments reveal whether leaders are truly committed—or simply reverting to the comfort of familiarity and “sameness.”
Let’s be honest: many biases aren’t unconscious—they're unchallenged.

We also faced our fair share of internal resistance—leaders pushing for a certain BBBEE score “at all costs,” even if it meant tampering with job titles or bypassing due process.
But through robust dialogue and unwavering integrity, we ensured that what we reported was not just accurate, but also backed by realistic, actionable transformation plans.

🔑 My philosophy? Transformation must go beyond compliance.
We’re not here to tick boxes—we’re here to make courageous, heart-led decisions that build inclusive businesses, invest in overlooked talent, and ultimately, leave no one behind.

I must acknowledge that I’ve had the privilege of working with CEOs who championed this agenda without hesitation. They owned it. And because of that, the HR function never had to “justify” the call for change—it was driven from the top.
Unfortunately, in many environments, HR is left to “own” DEIB, when in fact, this is a leadership mandate.

💬 Transformation is not just a strategy—it is a leadership responsibility.
Leaders who are intentional about transformation don’t just comply—they inspire innovation, build lasting impact, and shape a legacy.

At Internal Locus of Control, we are proud to hold the mirror for our clients. We create safe-yet-challenging spaces to have the hard conversations that real transformation demands.

We’re all on a journey of becoming—and the first step is this:
👉🏼 Answer the call. Invest in the capacity, capability, and courage to transform—within and beyond.

#InternalLocusOfControl #Leadership #Transformation #DEIB #IntentionalLeadership #BeyondCompliance #HRLeadership #AuthenticChange #TransformationalLeadership #EquityInAction