Palesa Ntoagae, Human Capital and Facilities Executive at Old Mutual Insure

The global workplace is evolving, and the future of human capital hinges on inclusion, adaptability, and deliberate investment in women's empowerment. This is the view of Palesa Ntoagae, Human Capital and Facilities Executive at Old Mutual Insure.

Ntoagae is passionate about pioneering transformative approaches to talent management. Her forward-looking philosophy centers on Employee Value Proposition (EVP) initiatives designed not only to attract and retain talent but also to unleash its full potential, particularly that of women in the workplace.

“Unlocking women’s potential is the key to driving future-ready human capital. This Women’s Month, we call on organisations to recognise that EVP initiatives are no longer mere corporate programs, but should be bold investments in women’s advancement, designed to accelerate gender equality and uncover untapped human potential that will power the organisations of the future,” Ntoagae explains.

This aligns with the 2025 Women’s Month theme globally, which is “Accelerate Action,” which is about highlighting the need to speed up progress towards gender equality and parity. The theme encourages global action to address persistent gender gaps and ensure equal opportunities for women.

At the heart of this approach lies a comprehensive, tailored EVP that addresses women’s unique needs and aspirations through a suite of inclusive benefits. These include flexible working arrangements that acknowledge and respect diverse life circumstances, comprehensive well-being support systems that prioritize mental and physical health, and proactive leadership development frameworks designed to nurture female talent at all levels.

"This integrated approach is not just about retention or recruitment but about building a workplace culture that is dynamic, diverse, and excellence-driven, one where women do not merely survive but thrive. It is an approach that promotes an environment where every individual feels valued, empowered, and ready to contribute at their highest potential," Ntoagae says.

She envisions a future-focused workforce that is inherently borderless, leveraging digital connectivity and global collaboration to harness diversity as a source of innovation and competitive advantage.

Ntoagae further believes that focusing on women’s advancement is not solely a moral imperative, but a strategic business priority that can unlock creativity, drive better decision-making, and enhance overall organisational performance.

Old Mutual Insure’s current EVP initiatives highlight best practices such as mentorship programs pairing emerging female leaders with senior executives, targeted career progression plans, and specialized resources supporting work-life integration. These initiatives have seen measurable success, contributing to increased female representation in the junior and middle management leadership roles and improved sentiment scores for women over the past 3 years.

Beyond corporate walls, Ntoagae is involved in several programmes that facilitate continuous learning and the breaking down of systemic barriers hindering women’s progress. She is actively engaged in cross-sector partnerships, and has been instrumental in leading the Human Capital function to enable the business turnaround along the four key strategic levers of growth i.e., mergers and acquisitions, optimizing efficiencies, organisation redesign of certain functions and reviewing capital and resource allocation of certain functions which has enabled a clear focus between businesses that continue to operate in the current construct, and redesigning those that are being turbocharged by technological advances like AI.

“As the future of work continues to evolve, corporate EVPs must also evolve. They must be fluid, agile so that they can continue to reflect on the changing aspirations of our people. They need to be more targeted.” Ntoagae concludes.