The Gauteng Women in Insurance (GWII) hosted another impactful instalment of its Trailblazers Leaderwalk Series on 18 September 2025 at Deloitte in Midrand. The session, themed Leading from Where You Are: How To Cultivate Influence Without Authority, brought together industry professionals for an afternoon of insight, inspiration, and meaningful networking.
The keynote speaker, Terashni Pillay, CEO of Swiss RE Corporate Solutions Africa, shared her expertise on building trust, shaping outcomes, and driving change without relying solely on positional power. Her address inspired attendees to embrace influence through collaboration, personal leadership, and strategic relationship building.
GWII extends its gratitude to main sponsor Bryte and table sponsors Absa, Camargue, Santam Corporate Property (Pty) Ltd (formerly known as Emerald Risk Transfer (Pty) Ltd), and Envirosure, whose support made the event possible.
To keep everyone refreshed during the session, National Salvage Brokers generously sponsored bottled water – a small touch that made a big difference.
The key takeaways
Terashni delivered a powerful message about the essence of leadership in her address, urging attendees to rethink traditional notions of power and influence.
“The core message was simple: leadership is not about titles or job descriptions - it is about how you show up every day. I wanted people to see that leadership is rooted in service, trust and influence, not hierarchy. It is about making your current seat - whether junior, middle or senior - a platform for impact rather than waiting for permission or a formal role. Because if we wait for titles to lead, we may never get there.”
Pillay stressed the importance of credibility, consistency, and communication in influencing outcomes without formal authority.
“People listen when they know you consistently deliver, when your actions match your words. From there, influence grows through listening, asking thoughtful questions, and framing ideas in ways that matter to others. Influence opens the door - but persuasion invites people to walk through it with you.”
She noted that in today’s rapidly evolving business environment, leadership at all levels is not just valuable - it’s essential. “Organisations today are too complex and too interconnected for leadership to sit only at the top. We need people who step up, take ownership, and drive progress without waiting for formal authority. The future belongs to those who can lead from wherever they are.”
Reflecting on her own journey, Pillay shared that vulnerability and authenticity have been central to her leadership style. “The experiences that have shaped me most are the ones where I had to choose courage over comfort. Leadership is not about projecting perfection or having all the answers - it’s about showing up with honesty, owning your mistakes, and staying committed to finding a way forward.”
“People are inspired not by leaders who seem untouchable, but by those who are real, grounded, and authentic. When you lead with that kind of openness, you create trust. You give people permission to bring their full selves to the table. And that is where true influence is born - not through authority, but through the courage to be human.”
She highlighted several key traits of individuals who excel at leading from where they are: “They are connectors who bring people together, they speak up with courage, they lift others rather than chase the spotlight, they stay curious instead of judgmental, and they model resilience in difficult times.”
Speaking directly to women in insurance and financial services, Pillay encouraged them to take ownership of their voices and expand their circles of influence. “Trust your own voice - don’t wait to sound like everyone else at the table. Influence grows when you bring your authentic perspective. Build networks of support and sponsorship that extend beyond your immediate team. And lift others up - because when women celebrate and promote each other, we multiply our influence in rooms where power is concentrated.”
She emphasised that strategic relationship-building is a foundation for lasting influence.
“People may admire your skills, but they follow you because they trust you. I focus on consistency - showing up when it matters, delivering on promises, and taking time to understand what truly matters to others. Strategically, I invest in relationships across silos, not just upward. That way, when the moment comes to influence an outcome, the trust is already there.”
Reflecting on a pivotal career experience, she noted: “Early in my career, I didn’t have the authority to make strategic decisions, but I discovered the power of influence. I started by asking the questions others weren’t asking, connecting dots that others hadn’t noticed, and offering ideas that made conversations richer. Slowly, people began to turn to me, not because I had a title, but because they saw I could add value.”
For emerging leaders, her advice was grounded and practical: “Start small but start with intention. Deliver on your commitments - reliability builds trust faster than anything else. Speak up with ideas, even if your voice shakes, because courage inspires confidence. Celebrate others and shine the spotlight on them - real leaders lift as they rise.”
She closed her remarks with a call to lead with impact and integrity, regardless of position:
“See leadership as service. Your role is not to be served but to serve others - to make things better for your team, your colleagues, your clients. If you lead with that mindset, with accountability and courage, you will create impact and build influence, regardless of what’s printed on your business card.”
Thank you, accelerator facilitators
We thank our accelerator facilitators (below) for accepting our challenge to facilitate discussions:
- Jennifer Porteous, Camargue
- Patience Baloyi, Absa Insurance Company
- Temwa Nyirenda, Santam Broker Solutions
- Thato Serapelo, Bryte Insurance Company Limited
- Wayne Moorcroft, Amicos Insurance Enterprises t/a Klippies Steenkamp Brokers
Connecting, engaging, and empowering
Once the session concluded, a cocktail hour with snacks and networking took place, offering attendees the opportunity to connect, engage, and empower each other.
As the session came to a close, attendees left with new insights and a deeper understanding of collaboration, personal leadership, and strategic relationship building, thanks to Pillay’s inspiring discussion.
Thank you, to all who attended!
See photo album here