“VUT Chief Financial Officer Nthanyi Dhumazi reflects on resilience, self-belief and creating an inclusive environment in which people can contribute.”
19 August 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
3 minutes read time.
Long before Ms Nthanyi Dhumazi entered the workplace, she had already learnt one of the principles that would shape her approach to leadership: a person’s ability to contribute should never be determined by gender.
Growing up in a home where men and women were treated with equal respect gave the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) the confidence to enter professional spaces knowing that her voice and contribution mattered.
“There was a belief that everybody can contribute in any space where you find yourself, irrespective of the gender you are,” she recalls.
That foundation became particularly important when she entered the workplace. As both a young woman and the youngest member of her team, she encountered attitudes that tested her confidence and resilience.
“One of the challenges that I have come across in the workplace is being disrespected because I was the youngest in the team and a woman as well,” she says.
For many young professionals, being underestimated can quietly erode confidence. Ms Dhumazi chose a different path. She refused to allow other people’s perceptions to determine how she saw herself or the value of her work.
“I believed in who I am and the impact that I am making,” she says.
That self-belief did not mean ignoring the difficulty of the experience. It meant remaining grounded in her abilities and continuing to contribute, even when recognition did not come easily.
Today, those lessons shape how she leads at VUT. Although her role carries significant responsibility for the University’s financial stewardship, Ms Dhumazi does not view leadership as an individual achievement. She places considerable value on the people around her and credits the strong work ethic of her team for helping the Finance Division meet its responsibilities and achieve important goals.
This team-centred approach has contributed to tangible progress, including the timely submission of the University’s financial statements.
For Ms Dhumazi, leadership is not simply about occupying a senior position or holding authority over others. It is about creating an environment in which people understand the importance of their contribution and feel inspired to work towards a shared purpose.
Her story also challenges the assumption that resilience means enduring every difficulty alone. In her experience, lasting results are achieved when confidence is matched by collaboration and when leaders recognise the strengths of the people they serve.
As VUT marks Women’s Month, Ms Dhumazi’s message to the next generation of women leaders is rooted in the principles that have carried her through her own journey.
“To the next generation of leaders: believe in who you are and be true to who you are. Then you can lead and inspire the people that you work with.”
Her journey is a reminder that leadership begins with knowing one’s worth. Its true measure, however, lies in how that confidence is used to uplift others, build capable teams and create space for every person to contribute.