South Africa, Aug. 5 -- From assimilation to authenticity

Bonita Christie, BUD, Digitas, is a senior business leader with 20+ years' experience driving organisational performance, business growth and integrated marketing excellence across Southern Africa.

When I started my career in marketing in the late 1990s, many women entered the workplace believing that success meant fitting into leadership models largely shaped by men.

The expectation wasn't spoken, but it was understood. At the same time, the workplace reflected broader societal attitudes. Female brand ambassadors were often selected according to their appearance before their capability.

Conversations about women frequently focused on how they looked rather than the value they ...