Latest news with #ReshniSingh
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Reshni Singh's journey: Empowering South Africa's youth through leadership
BPESA CEO Reshni Singh Image: Supplied Reshni Singh, CEO of BPESA, is focused on tackling unemployment by creating career pathways for South Africa's youth. As a female leader navigating gender and racial barriers, she has built a diverse team and an inclusive environment that turns opportunity into impact. This Women's Month, she reflects on her journey and the leadership lessons she's learned. What first inspired you to do what you do – and what was the moment that really changed everything for you? Being exposed to the harsh reality of unemployment in my home and in my community. With unemployment come social challenges, such as poverty alcoholism and drug abuse. At the time I had a job in government, which gave me the platform to make a difference by creating opportunities that provide hope to millions of young unemployed people who so desperately need it. What's the biggest challenge you've faced on your journey, and how did you push through it? As a woman leader, one of the greatest challenges I've faced is being underestimated or having to prove my credibility more than my male counterparts. There have been times when I've had to say things twice to be heard once, or when my authority was questioned in ways that had little to do with my actual experience or capability. I've learned to overcome this by leaning into my strengths, speaking with clarity and confidence, and letting my work speak for itself. I've also built a strong support network of mentors, peers, and allies who've helped amplify my voice and advocate for me when I wasn't in the room. Most importantly, I've committed to mentoring other women, because creating space for others is how we change the system. What achievement are you most proud of, the one that still makes you smile when you think about it? One of the achievements I'm most proud of as a CEO is building a team that reflects true diversity, not just in optics, but in thought and experience. I can still remember the moment I looked around the room during a strategy session and realized we had created something powerful: a team where every voice had space, and where different perspectives were genuinely valued. It fundamentally changed the way we operated, from how we solved problems to how we showed up for our members. That moment still brings a smile to my face. What makes your role or career path different or special in South Africa? As a female CEO of Indian origin in South Africa, my journey has been shaped by the dual challenge of navigating both gender and racial barriers. Rising through leadership in a country still healing from deep inequalities meant I often had to work harder to prove myself. What makes my path unique is the purpose behind it. My success isn't just about reaching the top; it's about opening doors for others. Each step forward is part of a larger story of transformation and women empowerment, and I carry that responsibility with pride. As I continue to rise, other women, irrespective of race will rise with me. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading How do you think the work you do is making a difference – whether in your industry, your community, or for other women? The work I do is driven by purpose and impact. We create an enabling environment and ecosystem in which unemployed youth can be trained and transitioned from learning into earning opportunities, where they can grow and develop their careers from contact centre agents into managers and executives of global brands. What's the one piece of advice you'd give to a young woman who dreams of following a similar path? Believe in yourself, own your ambition and never give up…your time will come. Don't wait for permission to lead, and don't shrink yourself to fit expectations. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, learn relentlessly, and when you walk into the room, remember: you belong there. The title 'CEO' starts with believing you can! Who's been the biggest influence or mentor in your career? Surprisingly, my greatest mentors have been my children. They taught me more about patience, resilience and perspective than any leadership book ever could. Being a working mother forces you to prioritise what truly matters, to be fully present and to lead with both strength and empathy. My kids remind me every day, why I lead - to help create a world where they can dream big and know it's possible. They keep me grounded, honest and motivated to be the kind of leader they'd be proud of. There's no bigger reward than being a role model to your children… What's one myth about your job or industry you'd love to clear up? One myth I'd like to clear up about being a CEO is that you should have all the answers. You don't have to be perfect or know everything to lead. What matters more is being willing to listen, learn, and make confident decisions, even when the path isn't clear. Leadership is not about knowing it all, it's about showing up, taking responsibility, and trusting your instincts. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: Stop doubting yourself or your seat at the table - you earned it. You don't have to over-explain, overwork, or over-apologize to prove you belong. Trust your instincts, speak up even when your voice shakes, and know that your perspective is your power. The things that make you different now will be the reason you lead later. When you think back to the subjects you chose in high school or what you studied afterwards, did you ever imagine you'd end up where you are today – and how did that journey unfold? No, definitely not. My journey was rather unexpected. I would never have imagined I'd be in this role, even five years ago. I was just committed to working hard, to collaborating and co-ordinating with partners and stakeholders, being honest, consistent and ensuring that I was focused on delivering impactful outcomes. The rest is history….
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Youth unemployment crisis: 5,787 new jobs created in South Africa's global business services sector
Unemployed graduates In the face of a youth unemployment crisis, 5 787 jobs for young people have been created in the global business services (GBS) sector, a catch-all phrase for outsourced services that support business operations across multiple locations or regions. Image: Phill Magakoe AFP In the face of a youth unemployment crisis, 5 787 jobs for young people have been created in the global business services (GBS) sector, a catch-all phrase for outsourced services that support business operations across multiple locations or regions. People employed in this sector provide services in aspects such as finance, HR, IT, and customer service. According to the October to December 2024 GBS Sector Job Creation Report by Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA), 6 290 new net jobs for international companies were recorded between October to December 2024, with 92% of these being for younger South Africans. For the 2024 calendar year, the GBS industry created 20,518 jobs, having grown three-fold in just five years. BPESA CEO, Reshni Singh, said that the 'continued growth and job creation are a testament to our industry's commitment to building careers for South Africans, especially our youth and those from marginalised communities'. Around 10 million South Africans aged 15 to 24 encounter significant challenges when entering the workforce, with unemployment rates notably higher than those of older youth. 'For many young South Africans, landing a job is more than just a milestone, it is a crucial step toward economic independence and inclusion. Yet for millions, this first step remains out of reach,' Statistics South Africa said in a data print released mid-month. Half of all citizens between 15 and 24 years of age were unemployed in 2015. Ten years later, this number has jumped to 62.4%, said Statistics South Africa in its research. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading BPESA's report showed that most of the jobs created as a result of expanding GBS activities into South Africa were in the Western Cape at 49.7%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape. Cape Town is South Africa's business process outsourcing capital. Statistics South Africa's research showed that the situation regarding unemployed youngsters is worse in the North West and the Eastern Cape provinces, where 'the plight of unemployed youth deepens into economic exclusion'. In the first three months of 2025, the North West province recorded a youth unemployment rate of 58,8%, while only 43,0% of its young people aged 15 to 34 were active in the labour market. In the Eastern Cape, the picture is similarly serious, the agency said. 'With an unemployment rate of 54,3% and the lowest youth labour force participation rate nationally at 39,8%, fewer than four in ten young people are either employed or looking for work,' Statistics South Africa said of the situation in the Eastern Cape. Singh noted that BPESA was in ongoing discussions with the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition around a revised incentives package for the industry and was 'confident that with the right level of support the sector will drive further economic upliftment while showcasing South Africa's distinctive flair in servicing international customers'. The current GBS incentives include a rand-value grant per job over a five-year period and can be as much as R280 000 for every seat filled by an international company that relocates operations to South Africa. The bulk of the jobs were created in the utilities and energy sector, followed by retail and eCommerce and then insurance, BPESA's report showed. IOL
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
The SA job sector that is actually growing: global business services
Statistics SA announced that the unemployment rate in South Africa was 32.9% for the first quarter of 2025. After the bad news about unemployment on Tuesday, there is good news about one sector that is contributing to jobs growth: the global business services sector, that boomed in 2024, creating thousands of jobs for local youth. According to the latest Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA) Global Business Services (GBS) Sector Job Creation Report, the industry added 6 290 new international jobs in the third quarter of 2024 and contributed $101 million (approx. R1.8 billion) in export revenue, reinforcing its role as a powerhouse for economic and social transformation. From January to December last year, the sector added 20 518 new international jobs, amounting to $328 million in export revenue. Youth jobs accounted for 92% of new hires in the third quarter and 90% for the full year of 2024. ALSO READ: The dark picture of youth unemployment in South Africa Global business services surging in South Africa Reshni Singh, CEO of BPESA, says the global business services sector continues to surge, delivering significant job growth and boosting the country's export revenue. 'A key driver of this growth is impact sourcing, an initiative that actively recruits individuals from marginalised communities, offering life-changing employment to young South Africans from low-income backgrounds. 'These inclusive hires made up an impressive 42.8% of new jobs created for the quarter, helping individuals to secure stable careers while proudly representing South Africa's talent on the global stage. Singh says youth employment remains the backbone of the sector, with 92% of new hires people between the ages of 18 and 34 years. Most positions (71%) were frontline, voice-based contact centre roles, addressing global demand in sectors such as utilities and energy (30.54%), retail and e-commerce (18.30%) and telecoms (13.73%). She points out that the United Kingdom remained the largest market for outsourced services during the third quarter of 2024, accounting for 48% of new jobs, with the US contributing 32% of new hires. ALSO READ: Jobs bloodbath as unemployment increases by 1% in first quarter Skills development part of global business services 'Beyond job creation, the sector is prioritising skills development, with 26 876 workers trained between October and December 2024. BPESA is spearheading initiatives to reskill and upskill employees through career awareness programmes, leadership bootcamps and work-seeker support services, ensuring South African workers remain globally competitive.' Singh says the broader economic impact of the sector is remarkable. 'With the sector growing three-fold in just five years, South Africa is now firmly positioned among global offshore service leaders. The continued growth and job creation are a testament to our industry's commitment to building careers for South Africans, especially our youth and people from marginalised communities. 'We are encouraged by ongoing discussions with the dtic regarding a revised incentives package for the industry and remain confident that with the right level of support the sector will drive further economic upliftment while showcasing South Africa's distinctive flair in servicing international customers.' Singh says with strong government and private sector support, favourable business conditions and a skilled, empathetic workforce, South Africa's global business services industry is proving its mettle on the global stage, ensuring that the country remains a preferred destination for outsourced services worldwide.' NOW READ: Global Business Services sector committed to creating 500 000 jobs by 2030
