Leadership, especially for women in male-dominated workplaces, is often met with moments that test your resolve and your wit.
“I walked into a boardroom at a listed company, and the founder pulled me onto his lap,” Lourandi shares, recalling one of her most surreal professional experiences. “He asked me something highly inappropriate and I took a step backwards. I just looked at him and said, ‘I’m here to manage your securitisation funds of hundreds of millions of rands. Maybe you should take a look at my credentials.’”
To Lourandi, this was an early reminder that confidence and composure are powerful tools, especially when others underestimate you.
Redefining what leadership looks like.
Stepping into a CFO role at 29, surrounded mostly by men, came with another challenge: unlearning what she thought leadership should look like.
“I believed that being a woman in a leadership role meant I had to be tough, maybe even masculine. That to succeed, I had to show up in a way that didn’t come naturally,” she says.
But over time, she discovered a more authentic path — one that embraced intuition and emotional intelligence. “We have such strong intuition as women. If we nurture it and lean into it, it can add immense value to how we lead.”
The women behind Sweepsouth’s success.
In every sense, Sweepsouth is powered by women, and our numbers speak volumes.
“I’m most proud of the impact we’ve made,” she says. “We’ve created 2.7 million work opportunities for the most marginalised women in South Africa. And we’ve placed nearly R700 million directly into their hands.”
From our female founder to our investors, board members, and the SweepStars themselves — women are at the heart of our platform’s purpose and progress.
Advice for young women in male-dominated spaces.
Her message to the next generation of women leaders is clear:
“Start early. Surround yourself with smart, curious, capable women. Whether it’s a mentor, a wise advisor, or a sisterhood to lean on, build a circle that reminds you of your power, and cheers you on when you need it.”
These relationships, she believes, are as important as any qualification or title.
The future is female & oh so fierce.
At Sweepsouth, women don’t just lead — they transform. With empathy, insight, and courage, they’re breaking stereotypes and building a future where feminine leadership isn’t the exception, it’s the standard.
And if the past is anything to go by, the best is yet to come.
ALSO SEE: CELEBRATING THE POWER BEHIND THE PURPOSE THIS WOMEN’S DAY.
