South Africa has an abundance of talented women with the potential to lead. ‘The talent is already there,’ says Anisa Vallee CA(SA), CFO of Standard Investment and Asset Management, a division of Standard Bank Group. ‘It’s up to us to embrace opportunities, keep growing and use our strengths to make a meaningful difference. Often, the greatest growth comes from stepping into new challenges.’
ANISA HAS BUILT HER CAREER by embracing opportunities, particularly those that challenged her to grow. She relishes a challenge − not for its own sake, but because she believes that navigating complexity and uncertainty is how leaders develop. Throughout her career, she has consistently immersed herself in unfamiliar situations that have stretched her thinking and accelerated her growth.
It’s been that way from the beginning, when she decided to pivot from studying medicine to pursuing a career as a chartered accountant. This was after an accounting firm invited her, as the top achiever in her school, to learn more about the profession at a Women’s Day event. ‘It was incredibly inspiring to see women leading with confidence, intelligence and authenticity. They weren’t simply successful accountants; they were shaping businesses and influencing decisions. That made me realise accounting wasn’t just about numbers − it was a platform for leadership. Although I didn’t know much about accounting at the time, I left convinced that it was a career worth exploring, Anisa recalls.
Her appetite for learning was evident early in her career: her articles at KPMG laid the foundation for broadening her exposure and building a diversified portfolio because she ‘wanted to understand how different businesses operate and build a strong commercial foundation’. Her particular skills emerged early on, too. It soon became clear that Anisa had a natural aptitude for problem solving and leadership; teams increasingly looked to her to navigate complex problems and provide clarity during uncertainty − an early reflection of the leadership style that would define her career.
These traits earned her a senior role in KPMG’s technical accounting team; an appointment that led to her selection for KPMG’s London-based International Standards Group, giving her a chance to work with a high-performance global team comprising individuals from different countries and cultures.
The experience Anisa gained during this time led Sasfin to appoint her as Head of Technical Accounting. ‘That’s the power of the CA(SA) qualification. It unlocks opportunities and gives you the credibility, confidence and versatility to move across industries and tackle challenges that extend well beyond accounting,’ she comments. ‘I joined Sasfin during a period of significant transformation, where the business was navigating complex commercial, regulatory and strategic changes. Those experiences accelerated my growth because they required me to think beyond finance and become a trusted business leader.’ This experience positioned Anisa for her progression to Group and Bank Financial Director.
EXCELLENCE IS THE EXPECTATION
Recognised for her leadership capabilities, Anisa was approached by Standard Bank to take on her current role, which she started in January this year. The learning curve has been steep – but incredibly rewarding. ‘I’ve been fortunate to build a career around work I genuinely enjoy. I’ve always been passionate about what I do. I think it’s when you find meaning in both the challenges and the achievements that you are able to bring your best self to what you do,’ she reflects.
This passion has shaped the way Anisa approaches leadership and performance. ‘Excellence is the expectation. Passion is what determines how you show up every day. When you combine passion with purpose and understand your “why”, you create far greater impact − not only for yourself, but for everyone around you.’
Today, as CFO of Standard Investment and Asset Management, Anisa believes she has found a role where her passion and purpose intersect.
Investment and asset management is about far more than financial performance. Every investment represents someone’s retirement, education, legacy or future. The business helps people and institutions build, protect and transfer wealth across generations while directing capital towards investments that support economic growth across Africa. For Anisa, that makes finance deeply meaningful. Her role extends beyond producing financial results. It’s about ensuring that every rand entrusted to the business creates sustainable value for clients, shareholders, employees and society through disciplined capital allocation, trusted financial stewardship and strategic insight that enables long-term growth.
That said, living with purpose also requires intentional choices. For Anisa, who has two young sons, navigating the demands of a senior leadership role alongside family life has reinforced the importance of making choices rooted in her values and priorities.
Her values-driven approach to leadership has shaped how she defines success. That is why being named one of SAICA’s Top-35-Under-35s in 2022 held such significance. ‘This award is bestowed on people of all genders, cultures and even professions, so it’s truly about recognising excellence, wherever it may be. More significantly, it recognises that young people can achieve things that have traditionally been thought attainable only with time and experience. It showcases that success can take on many different forms.’
A PERSONAL DEFINITION OF SUCCESS
For Anisa, that experience also prompted reflection on what success really means.
‘Success isn’t about being everything to everyone all the time. It’s about being intentional with your time, your energy and your priorities.’
Anisa acknowledges that pursuing ambitious goals often requires thoughtful choices. This is especially true for working mothers, she says, where there is often a perception that you have to choose between career and family. ‘Whenever I’m faced with the next step in my career, my decisions are always guided by my values and the people who matter most. But I’ve learned that when your choices are rooted in your values and you are passionate about what you do, you can find a way to make it work.’
For Anisa, balance is not about giving equal attention to everything at every moment. It is about understanding what requires focus at different points in time and creating the structures that allow her to show up meaningfully in both her professional and personal life.
She believes organisations have an equally important role to play in creating environments where people can thrive. This is why Anisa has volunteered for initiatives such as her company’s Women’s Forum and continues to invest time in mentoring others.
‘Representation matters, but real progress happens when we actively create opportunities for other women to grow,’ she says. ‘I always encourage the people I mentor to look beyond where they are today and consider where they could go next. I want them to recognise their potential, understand how their strengths and experiences can create value, and embrace opportunities that allow them to grow.’
This message is particularly important for women, Anisa believes, as many continue to navigate the confidence barriers that can sometimes accompany stepping into leadership opportunities. ‘My advice is simple: don’t wait for perfection. Trust your capability and be willing to grow into the role.’
Looking ahead, Anisa is energised by the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than herself. ‘Finance has the power to shape economies, build businesses and improve lives. When we help people grow and protect their wealth responsibly, we’re contributing to stronger families, stronger communities and ultimately a stronger Africa. Knowing that the work we do helps create lasting value for future generations is what gives my role real purpose − and what continues to inspire me every day.’
Author
Lisa Witepski
