On 21 October 2025, Gauteng Women In Insurance (GWII) hosted another insightful Leaderwalk session, themed “Change, Continuity and Circumstance: The Chronicles of a Corporate Athlete”, at Norton Rose Fulbright in Sandhurst, Sandton.
The keynote was delivered by LeRoy Munetsi, Executive accountable for Business Operations at Absa Insurance, who shared his leadership journey and explored the risks and opportunities that accompany corporate change, career transitions, and leadership mobility.
Key takeaways
The central theme of LeRoy’s talk was that change is inevitable. Some changes may be intentional and within our control, while others are incidental and beyond it. Individuals and organisations must consider alternative perspectives and continuously make choices to navigate the implications and impact of change effectively. With time and experience, one can begin to accept change as constant and unavoidable, developing a positive and progressive mindset that enables handling change with confidence. This confidence allows leaders to see the choices available and identify the opportunities that change brings. Appreciating the duality of change helps balance risk and reward, as well as uncertainty and potential.
LeRoy emphasised that the risks and opportunities within change are inseparable. The biggest risks and opportunities lie in how one chooses to perceive change. For example, a company implementing a restructuring may create uncertainty and fear for employees, but the same process could result in new roles, innovation, and a stronger, more resilient organisation. At an individual level, pursuing a new career path involves stepping into the unknown - where the danger of failure looms large, but so does the possibility of discovering a passion, unlocking personal fulfilment, and achieving new heights of success.
Reflecting on his own career, LeRoy shared that two elements have been key in helping him remain adaptable and resilient. Firstly, his childhood involved frequent moves, which taught him to accept and make the most of change. Secondly, having mentors and guides along the way helped him learn from others’ experiences, manage challenges, and navigate his own journey with confidence.
The theme of the “corporate athlete” resonated deeply with LeRoy personally. Inspired by a colleague’s initiative to help younger colleagues leverage the experience of seasoned professionals, he adopted the corporate athlete metaphor as a mantra for being a proficient, balanced, and impactful leader - one who loves learning and from whom others can learn.
When balancing stability with change in organisations, LeRoy stressed the importance of courage. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is being able to act despite it.” Organisations that pursue change courageously are more likely to overcome the debilitating effects of uncertainty and capture opportunities embedded in failure. He referenced Steven Bartlett’s formula: Failure = Feedback = Knowledge = Power, highlighting how taking risks, learning from mistakes, and applying that knowledge leads to success.
LeRoy also shared a personal example: in 2017, after over 21 years as a corporate athlete, he lost his job unexpectedly. Leaning on his family, friends, and corporate network, he identified an opportunity to pivot into a more entrepreneurial path. He reflected, “Collective thinking can be a powerful source of problem solving and support.”
To navigate mobility across roles, companies, or industries successfully, LeRoy emphasised being comfortable with change from an early age, seeking mentorship, recognising fears and limiting beliefs, and maintaining a learning mindset. Developing a personal vision and identifying the drivers of motivation helps avoid complacency and fuels courage, resilience, and drive.
Mindset, he stressed, is the anchor that keeps leaders focused. Positive and optimistic mindsets reveal opportunities, while negative ones are overwhelmed by risk and uncertainty. Personally, he protects his mindset vigorously, avoiding inputs contrary to what he believes is constructive and meaningful.
LeRoy also encouraged leaders in insurance and financial services to leverage change to grow their leadership presence and impact. Just as products, processes, and technologies risk obsolescence, so too can leaders lose relevance if they fail to stay up to date with developments and changes at both personal and corporate levels.
For emerging leaders striving to remain relevant, resilient, and impactful, LeRoy’s advice is clear: “Work to understand your relationship with change and then invest in developing the courage and optimism to unlock the opportunities within it.” As Bernard Kelvin Clive famously said, “Either you adapt to change or be changed by it.”
Thank you, facilitators
We thank our facilitators (below) for accepting our challenge to facilitate discussions:
- Annemarie Sinclair (Hollard)
- Andrew Chislett (BAIR Recruitment Group)
- Candice Pillay (Norton Rose Fulbright)
- Clyde Troup (Old Mutual Insure)
- Johanni Jennings (Auto and General)
- Khanyisile Zikalala (Mashapa) (Absa)
- Lucian Carciumaru (Camargue)
- Rene van Schalkwyk (Aon South Africa)
Closing and thank you
GWII extends its gratitude to LeRoy Munetsi for sharing his wisdom, experiences, and practical advice with our members. His reflections left attendees with valuable tools to embrace change with confidence and lead with resilience.
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for making this Leaderwalk possible:
- Main Sponsor: Absa
- Co-Sponsor: Norton Rose Fulbright
- Table Sponsors: AON and Bair Insurance Recruitment
In collaboration with Business Engage and the 30% Club Southern Africa.
Together, we continue to empower to grow, connect, and lead.
See photo album here