“VUT’s Maureen Rathopo reflects on authenticity, ambition and why every woman who rises should make space for another to follow.”
19 August 2026 | Story by: Tshepiso Kaibe | Picture: VUT
3 minutes read time.
Women’s Month often celebrates women who have broken barriers and claimed their place in spaces once closed to them. For Ms Maureen Rathopo, however, progress is not measured only by how far a woman rises, but also by whether she creates room for others to rise with her.
As Manager in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Ms Rathopo understands that leadership is not always about standing at the front. Sometimes, it is about opening a door, offering encouragement or helping another woman recognise the strength she already carries.
“Being a woman means making space at the table for other women to join,” she says. “It means creating opportunities for others to develop, to grow and to find their own path.”
Her message is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: another woman’s success is not a threat. There is enough room for women to support one another, celebrate one another and succeed together.
“It means uplifting one another and understanding that another woman’s success does not take anything away from our own,” she says.
For Ms Rathopo, womanhood is also about having the confidence to remain true to oneself, even in environments where women may feel pressured to shrink themselves or conform to the expectations of others.
“Being a woman is also about authenticity, having the courage to be yourself and not being afraid to be different,” she says. “It is about not being afraid to be ambitious, to reach for your goals and to pursue the things that matter to you.”
Her words carry particular meaning for young women preparing to enter professional, entrepreneurial and leadership spaces. Ambition, she suggests, should not be something women feel compelled to apologise for. Neither should they have to abandon their individuality to be taken seriously.
This message reflects the kind of institutional culture VUT seeks to nurture through Strategy 2033+, one in which diversity, creativity and an ethic of care are lived values. While strategies provide direction, it is often the everyday actions of people that give those ambitions meaning. A word of encouragement, an opportunity shared or a door opened can change the course of someone’s life.
This Women’s Month, Ms Rathopo also honours the women who have shaped her own journey.
“I celebrate the women who made space for me, those who walk beside me and those who will come after me,” she says.
Her reflection is a reminder that no woman’s journey is entirely hers alone. Behind every achievement are often women who offered guidance, encouragement or an opportunity when it mattered most.
For Ms Rathopo, finding one’s place in the world is important, but what one does after arriving matters just as much.
“Being a woman is not only about finding your own place in the world, but also about leaving enough room beside you for another woman to find hers.”