< Back Susan Abro Attorney and Sole Proprietor, Susan Abro Attorney Susan Abro is a seasoned attorney with a career spanning over 35 years. In 1995, she founded her own legal practice, Susan Abro Attorney, specialising in family law. Reflecting on the evolution of her field, Susan said, “It’s been a very interesting progression. For example, we only joined the Hague Convention on the Abduction of Children in 1994. Family law changes quickly because of issues such as surrogacy and same-sex marriage. As life and science change, so family law has to change.” Her work covers a range of matters. “Basically, I deal with issues from cradle to grave,” she said. “I do a lot of divorce work, but that includes financial issues and children, that’s my passion – looking after children. I’ve also been involved in protecting women from domestic violence and assisting them to protect themselves.” Susan’s leadership has earned her international recognition as a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and a former committee member of the International Bar Association (IBA). FINDING HER PATH Susan grew up on a farm, where she learned to respect everyone. She commented, “These are values that have stayed with me my whole life.” When asked how she chose family law, she smiled. “It sort of chose me.” She began her career at a large Durban firm, completing her articles in an all-male environment. “It was a wonderful experience because I had incredible training, but they were merging with another firm that didn’t want any women.” After completing her articles, she joined Woodhead, Bigby and Irving, one of Durban’s top firms. “I became a partner in my first year there,” she recalled. “But I’m very independent and realised I wouldn’t fit into the huge corporate world.” Five years later she opened her own practice. “I left on very good terms,” she said. “Then I got involved with the Advice Desk for Abused Women and the rest flowed from there.” Her work with the Open Door Crisis Centre, KZN Women in Business, the Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN), Afrika Tikkun and the Robin Hood Foundation reflects her deep belief in promoting gender equality and supporting vulnerable women and children. Running her own practice proved liberating. “I’m the one who sets my own fee targets,” she said. “I can do pro bono work whenever I want to. You set your own rules.” Her ambitions have evolved. “My biggest dream changes all the time,” she admitted. “I started off wanting to be a partner in a big practice. Then I opened my own firm. Thirty years later, I’m still here. My reality is to help people. That’s what I’m about.” Throughout her career, Susan has been inspired by remarkable women. “Judge Navi Pillay was one of my great inspirations,” she said. “She became one of the first judges of the International Criminal Court and later head of the UN Human Rights Council. I travelled with her to Germany for the launch of the Human Rights Prosecutor School.” She also mentioned mentors such as the late Professor Anshu Padayachee, Pat Moodley from the Department of Justice, current Judge President Toba and businesswoman Cindy Norcott. IMPACT AND ACHIEVEMENTS Over the years, Susan has made significant contributions professionally and within her community. She has served as president of the Jewish community, co-chairperson of the Law Society of South Africa, and first woman vice president of the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society. Her leadership extends beyond law. She has been a council member of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chair of the Durban Chapter of the Business Women’s Association of South Africa (BWASA), championing women’s advancement in business and leadership. Among her proudest achievements is serving as an acting judge of the High Court in Durban. “It gives you the view from the other side of the bench,” she said, “but I like working with people, so it wasn’t something I wanted to do permanently. Her firm was named South African Boutique Family Law Firm of the Year (2017) by Corporate Global International Awards, and she was honoured as Professional Businesswoman of the Year by BWASA. In 2024, she was a finalist in the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards, recognition that highlights her influence and integrity within both professional and community spheres. She has also received recognition from her alma mater, St Anne’s.A significant challenge came in 2009 when she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. “I only have peripheral vision now,” she said. “I stopped driving in 2016. Thank goodness for Uber and my wonderful staff.” Susan approaches her condition with courage and humour. “Losing your vision is difficult, but it’s something you can overcome,” she said. “I’m lucky because I have my own business. In a big corporate, you might not find the same understanding.”Susan’s advice to young professionals is heartfelt. “If your passion is law, find what your passion is within law. Don’t be put in a box. Find mentors and ask them for help – you’d be surprised how many people are happy to give advice. And never burn your bridges.” She also encourages women to network. “Find women’s organisations. Women network differently from men – with empathy and a desire to help each other.” LOOKING AHEAD Susan’s family has a legacy of long and fulfilling lives. “My mother and grandmother both worked until they were 86,” she laughed. “I can tell you right now, I’m not going to work till I’m 86.” Retirement, however, is not imminent. “I love what I’m doing, but I do want to travel more and do more NGO work. My goal is to see a few clients a month and spend the rest of my time helping others.” To maintain balance, Susan prioritises health and relationships. “People tell you to manage your stress – good luck with that,” she joked. “I have a personal trainer who comes to my office, and I exercise with my staff. Friends are the family you choose, and my family is very close-knit.” She is also a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society. “It’s an organisation for the enjoyment of the table,” she said. “We do a lot of good eating and drinking. I’ve always had an interest in wine – that’s my idea of fun.” Previous Next

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I am energised by learning and sharing my knowledge; helping others build their own unique brand < Back Nicky Thompson Head of Prestige Banking for Standard Bank KwaZulu-Natal Nicky Thompson has had a long career with Standard Bank. After leaving school, Nicky joined Standard Bank in 1982, so 2022 will be her 40-year milestone with the bank. ”I joined the bank 40 years ago. I had just finished school and, financially, university was not an option at that time. As the bank has always been considered a very reputable organisation to work for, I remember my dad saying, ‘go and get a job in the bank’. I have been really blessed to work for Standard Bank and they have supported my growth and development.” Determination and hard work In her later thirties, Nicky was afforded the opportunity to study and qualify through the bank. “This provided a platform for my strategic development, and I was fortunate to continue my studies through Standard Bank’s continued support and investment in me,” explains Nicky. She built a solid foundation of both financial and operational skills, working through various banking roles and found her passion for people and leadership. Through determination and hard work, Nicky moved into managerial leadership roles at an early age. Following various branch manager roles, she was appointed the first female on the KwaZulu-Natal Executive in the early 2000s, as an area manager responsible for Personal and Small Enterprise across various metro regions in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2007, Nicky moved into a more specialist role of Business Support and was accountable for Sales and Service management. However, she says her leadership calling took her back to leading and managing large teams. In 2017, she was appointed as Head Personal and Business Banking for the Dolphin Coast and eThekwini areas and then moved into her current role in affluent markets as Head Prestige for KwaZulu-Natal. Nicky says that she has had an incredible journey. “I really have witnessed the digital transformation of banking and how it’s evolved over many years, and I can honestly say I have never ever been bored. I’ve always been challenged, and I am still open to learning new things. Banking has changed drastically over the years, so I think building the future ready skills that we are doing now and continuing the digital journey has been very exciting for me.” However, Nicky’s career has not been without its challenges. Being one of the first women on the KwaZulu-Natal Standard Bank Executive was very difficult as this was mostly unchartered territory in a male dominated industry at the time. She said, “Back in those days, the bank was a very male dominated environment, and it was a bit of a boy’s club. So, as a woman, it was very tough to be taken seriously, but when I reflect on those years, I’m thankful because they made me very determined and resilient, they made me really persevere and work hard to be able to prove myself. I think that’s where I adopted two different types of leadership styles. My natural leadership style is supportive and nurturing, so learning to be a bit tough in that environment brought through an assertive leadership style in me. I still, to this day, use both when necessary.” In reflecting what has motivated her career, Nicky says that it is ‘people and leading people to success’. “I am energised by learning and sharing my knowledge; helping others build their own unique brand. My passion is developing and growing individuals, especially female talent. It is encouraging to see how Standard Bank has transformed and I am proud to work for a company that now strives to drive gender diversity and female empowerment.” Nicky has often worked closely with the teams and individuals that show potential. She commented. ‘You have worked with them, you have coached them, you’ve given them those opportunities and to see them grow and achieve success is particularly rewarding for me.” This success, says Nicky, is especially poignant when the individuals have come back, many years later and they’ve said, ‘Thank you so much for the support or the encouragement or believing in me back then’. Her advice to young women following in her path is to take ownership of your own development. “Don’t wait for others to do it, just be confident in yourself. Be prepared to stretch and test yourself, to take yourself outside of your comfort zone and just be resilient and be fierce.” Great customer service Commenting on the demands of her role, Nicky believes that for her great customer service really is about treating the customers as individuals and not as numbers; really understanding what their needs are and what matters to them. “That is very important, and I think to treat every single customer with respect and dignity regardless of their appearance or their status.” In addition, Nicky says it is necessary to keep customers up to date, and to provide them with feedback, to avoid their frustration. She notes that businesses and individuals need to be able to be agile, to make sure that they are building those future ready skills so that they remain relevant to the industry, they remain relevant to customer demands, and adapt to the changes in the environment. Nicky is the proud mother of two lovely daughters, and she has a supportive husband who has encouraged her every step of the way. She concludes, “Standard Bank is an amazing company to work for, not only for their investment in my personal growth and development but also in recognising and rewarding my success through various Top Performers awards and incentive trips to travel to Greece, Turkey, France and Spain. My family have been truly blessed through the opportunities created and provided.”

< Back Rashika Reddy Manager of Coastal Farmers Eshowe Rashika Reddy, manager of Coastal Farmers Eshowe, has built a remarkable 21year career in the agricultural sector, a journey defined by perseverance, leadership and a passion for empowering others. Coastal Farmers, a proudly established agricultural cooperative, will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, marking eight decades of dedication, growth and service to the farming community. The company supports a diverse agricultural environment, working closely with both large commercial and small-scale emerging farmers across KwaZulu-Natal. “Our business serves the farming sector with a wide range of agricultural inputs, including chemicals, fertilisers, animal feeds and general farm supplies,” Rashika explained. “We work with cane, macadamia and mixed-crop farmers, from Mtubatuba in the north, right down to Port Edward and Port Shepstone in the south.” Rashika’s journey with Coastal Farmers began at just 21 years old. “It was my third job, and I wanted to grow within a company where I could feel grounded and appreciated,” she recalled. Starting as a sales assistant at the Eshowe branch, her determination quickly set her apart. “After only six months, I was transferred to the Gingindlovu branch, where I was trained as an assistant manager by the person who is now my regional manager. As the years went by, I was promoted back to Eshowe as assistant manager and later became branch manager at Nkwaleni, inland near Melmoth. I managed that branch for five years before moving to the larger Eshowe branch in 2015, where I continue to serve today.” For Rashika each milestone represented more than a professional achievement, it reflected personal growth. “I’ve always wanted to be the chief executive officer of my own company,” she said confidently. “I love business, and I love being in boardrooms. Women belong in spaces of influence and decision-making. We are powerful and capable of transforming any environment we step into.” ROOTED IN FAMILY Rashika credits her grandparents as her greatest inspiration. “I was raised by my grandmother and grandfather from the time I was a day old. They taught me values that still guide me today and that I now pass on to my daughter,” she shared. “My grandfather taught me to be outspoken, resilient, and to never settle for less. It’s a pity he isn’t here to witness my achievements because I know he would have been so proud. Today, I can confidently say I am a woman of substance and worth.” At Coastal Farmers, Rashika has forged strong connections within the farming community. “Many of my clients own multiple farms and rely on me for advice and support. I also take pride in leading and empowering my team, inspiring them to grow and take on leadership roles. Seeing my staff develop into capable leaders is one of my proudest achievements.” Her dedication has earned her several accolades, including the Cedric Knight Trophy for top sales performance and Top Performer 2010. “Throughout my career, I’ve placed first, second, and third in both sales and expense management,” she said. “These achievements remind me that consistency and hard work always pay off.” FINDING HER VOICE In 2023, Rashika took a bold step into a new space by entering the Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide pageant held in Dubai. “I wanted to explore something more feminine,” she said with a smile. “I competed with 109 women from across the globe and was crowned the South African Country Winner. It was a phenomenal experience that reinforced my belief in the strength of women.” Her pageant journey continued in 2024 when she participated in the Supreme Queen Global Earth Africa pageant in Johannesburg, where she earned the title of Second Princess. She now serves as an Alumni Ambassador for the Supreme Queen Group. “Pageantry helped me discover my strength and substance as a woman,” she reflected. “For a long time, I was told what I couldn’t do or where I didn’t belong. But I learned to build my character and confidence. Today, I know that women are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to, we define our own worth.” Beyond her corporate and pageantry pursuits, Rashika is also a motivational speaker, leadership and development coach, and philanthropist. In 2023, she launched a period poverty initiative to support rural schools around Eshowe. “Helping young girls access basic hygiene products is something close to my heart,” she explained. “It’s about restoring dignity and ensuring that no girl misses school because of her period.” Her message to others is both powerful and personal: “Go after your dreams and never let anyone’s disbelief define your limits. When you believe in yourself and push through barriers, you will discover your strength and become a powerhouse that no one can take away from you.” INSPIRING CONFIDENCE In addition to her work and advocacy, Rashika is developing her personal brand, Atelier Rashika, a clothing and makeup line designed to inspire confidence in women. “My dream is to build a globally recognised brand that celebrates beauty and self-assurance,” she shared. “It’s not just about glitz and glamour, it’s about transformation. When a woman wears my design or uses my makeup, I want her to feel powerful and connected to my story.” Rashika also finds balance through movement in community. “I’m a Zumba instructor,” she laughed. “There are days when I walk into class exhausted after work, but as soon as I see the women in the room, I draw energy from them. It is not just a fitness class. It is a space where women come together, support one another, and remind each other that we are strong. We leave feeling uplifted.” As she reflects on her journey, Rashika feels gratitude for the women who walk alongside her. “It is such an honour to be among women who smile, empower, and motivate each other,” she said. “We are resilient, and we continue to climb higher together." Previous Next