About our Founder & Chief Optimism Officer

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Having being recently recognized as a Finalist in the prestigious Top 35 under 35 Chartered Accountant by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) for 2023 I bring over a decade of experience in both internal and external audit, I specialize in providing exceptional service to clients in the healthcare sector, public sector, mining, and metals, as well as energy and resources sector. Having earned the CA(SA) designation, I bring an unparalleled level of expertise to every project I undertake.
 

But for me, being a Chartered Accountant is about more than just the numbers - it's about using my skills to help those who need it most. As a passionate advocate for gender equality and human rights, I believe in being a voice for the voiceless and a servant to my community.
 

Through my work and my advocacy, I strive to empower women and help them claim their rightful place in society, because when women have assets - they can own their power and control the trajectory of their future. I believe that CA’s are thought leaders and I would like to impart my knowledge trough sharing of some of my lived experiences. The way I see it - mentorship is a catalyst that we can use to empower the next generation of leaders.
 

When I'm not busy changing the world, I'm always learning - I consider myself to be a forever student of life. And when it's time to unwind, you can usually find me with a good book, watching a documentary or a gripping series, or sharing a drink and a laugh with friends and loved ones. Above all, though, my proudest job is being a mother - a role that has taught me more than any professional pursuit ever could on values of humility, patience, empathy, and kindness.

I currently work at Netcare and am leading transformation within the organization as the Chairperson of the Head Office Transformation Committee and also serve on the board audit committee of the Netcare Medical Aid Scheme as well as the International Women’s Forum – South Africa (IWFSA) Risk and audit committee. I am also the Co-chairperson of Young leaders Connect (YLC) which is a program of the IWFSA whose mandate is to create a pipeline for the next generation of women leaders. I am also leading transformation at Netcare as the Chairperson of their transformation committee.

Lerato also seats on the international board of The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation where she is also the chairperson of the Africa Regional Board.