As businesses across South Africa navigate economic uncertainty and structural change, resilience is no longer optional; it is fundamental to long-term growth. Increasingly, inclusive leadership is recognised as a critical driver of that resilience.
In recognition of International Women’s Month, JDE Peet’s South Africa highlights the perspectives of four women shaping its direction across markets and functions: Banu Erkorkmaz, Country Manager South Africa; Rita Fernandes, Regional Marketing Director MEA; Domaine Rautenbach, Senior Brand Manager for Jacobs; and Hayley van Niekerk, Marketing Lead South Africa.
Their insights reflect a broader shift in how leadership is defined. Moving away from hierarchy and more toward influence, inclusion, and sustained impact.
JDE Peet’s South Africa was recently named a finalist at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards, recognising its ongoing commitment to gender equity and inclusive business practices.
For Banu Erkorkmaz, leadership begins with representation and voice. “Leadership is about creating space for others to grow,” she says. “It means ensuring women’s voices are heard in decision-making rooms, and that talent is recognised for what it brings, not for fitting into outdated expectations.”
That philosophy has helped shape a culture where women are encouraged to lead authentically, balancing commercial outcomes with empathy and collaboration.
Domaine Rautenbach believes leadership today carries both opportunity and responsibility. “Opportunity to shape brands and businesses, and responsibility to model what inclusive leadership looks like for the next generation.”
She notes that diverse perspectives have strengthened collaboration and encouraged more innovative thinking across functions.
For Hayley van Niekerk, resilience is built through strategic clarity and intentional brand leadership. As Marketing Lead, she views inclusive leadership not only as a people priority, but as a business imperative that shapes how brands remain relevant in a changing market.
“True leadership is reflected in the strength of the culture you build and the clarity of the decisions you make,” she says. “When women are empowered in leadership roles, brands benefit from broader perspectives and more considered thinking. This ultimately leads to work that is more authentic, more relevant and more connected to the people it serves”.
“Leading with intention means being deliberate about the stories we tell, the values we champion and the impact we want our brands to have. Inclusive leadership allows us to build brands that can adapt, evolve and remain meaningful over time.”
Her perspective reinforces a common thread across JDE Peet’s leadership: that resilience is not driven by hierarchy, but by clarity of purpose, diversity of thought and a commitment to long-term value creation.
For Rita Fernandes, business growth and social responsibility are inseparable. “You cannot separate growth from purpose anymore,” she says. “Brands that want to remain relevant must reflect the realities and aspirations of the people they serve, and that includes supporting women at every level of the value chain.”
At JDE Peet’s South Africa, inclusive leadership is embedded in how teams are built, how supply chains are managed and how long-term growth is pursued, not positioned as a standalone initiative.
“We don’t have to choose between performance and purpose,” says Erkorkmaz. “The most resilient businesses understand they need both.”
International Women’s Month provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made and on the continued work required to advance equity and inclusion across industries.
From boardrooms to coffee farms, women across the JDE Peet’s value chain are contributing to solutions that strengthen both business and communities.
Advancing women in leadership is not symbolic; it is strategic to the resilience of business and society alike.