Building tools to lead change
Werna Groenewald’s story is one of quiet, disciplined leadership, the kind built in the everyday moments most people overlook. Raised in Pretoria’s northern suburbs, shaped by Afrikaans warmth, community values, and the unspoken South African rule that you help because you can, she has carried ubuntu into boardrooms, helpdesks, and high-stakes system rollouts.
Her journey moves from administration and healthcare support into insurance, IT, and business enablement but the throughline is constant: serve well, improve what you touch, and leave people better than you found them.
When life tested her through loss, she turned grief into grit, completing demanding qualifications while continuing to lead with empathy and calm under pressure.
I was born in Pretoria and grew up in the city’s northern suburbs, shaped by the rhythm of Afrikaans at home and the warmth of a South African community that believed everyone has a role in making the world better, even if it’s as simple as picking up litter to keep our streets clean.
Family has anchored me for as long as I can remember. My grandparents were all from the Cape, and every December we gathered there. Those Christmases, noisy, full of food and stories, stitched together my sense of belonging, gratitude, and joy. In our world, a braai was never just a meal; it was where neighbours became friends, where values were affirmed, and where you learned that being present matters.
Sport became another thread in my story. I was blessed with coaches who insisted on discipline and heart, the kind of people who teach you to aim higher while staying humble. Those lessons stayed with me long after the game ended: show up, do the work, and don’t let confidence become arrogance
Being South African to me means living ubuntu: “I am because we are.” It is the courage to serve, the habit of gratitude, and the conviction that purpose is lived daily. My heritage carries lessons from generations: work hard, stand together, protect the vulnerable. Since childhood, I’ve had a soft spot for animals in need, and that compassion remains a calling to defend the defenseless wherever I can.
Life hasn’t been easy, but it has been rich with learning. “Waar daar ’n wil is, is daar ’n weg” where there’s a will, there’s a way. If I become a better me than yesterday, it creates a ripple for the better. I hope to pass on that ripple: faith in purpose, pride in our roots, and a steadfast belief that small acts of care can change our shared world.
My career began in the heart of Pretoria, where I first stepped into the world of administration and support services. Early roles exposed me to the importance of precision, empathy, and teamwork, especially in healthcare and staffing environments. Handling everything from patient data to international client requirements taught me something quickly: every detail matters, and service is not soft — it is serious work.
When I transitioned into insurance and IT, it felt like stepping into a faster current. I joined as a Training Officer and quickly advanced to System/Portfolio Manager. It was there that I discovered my love for technology and process improvement: training brokers, managing systems, working with developers, and constantly asking, “How can we make this better?”
Those years shaped me. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of continuous learning. I was inspired by mentors and colleagues who believed teamwork and integrity weren’t buzzwords — they were standards. And as I moved into IT management roles and later Business Support Manager, I carried those early lessons with me: lead with empathy, strive for operational excellence, and uplift the people around you.
“Success is not just what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.”
My educational path began at Overkruin High School in Pretoria, where I matriculated in 1995. The school’s sense of community and discipline laid the foundation for my work ethic.
I pursued a National Diploma in Human Resource Management because I cared about people and systems, how organisations work, and what makes teams thrive.
Later, I recognised the growing importance of technology and business integration and completed a BCom in Information Technology Management, which equipped me with the technical foundation and strategic thinking to operate confidently in IT and insurance administration.
Most recently, I completed an Advanced Diploma in Management Development at UCT (2024–2025), focusing on leadership, change management, and stakeholder engagement. Each phase of study wasn’t just “more education.”
It was a step toward becoming the kind of leader who can hold complexity, guide people through uncertainty, and still deliver. My journey has been one of steady growth — not rushed, but intentional.
A pivotal milestone was my promotion to Training Officer and later System Portfolio Manager. Those roles gave me my first real taste of leadership: guiding others, managing complex systems, and seeing how small improvements can transform outcomes.
Later, moving into IT management and then Business Support Manager became a new phase. Leading helpdesk operations nationally, supporting infrastructure projects, and driving change management initiatives required strategic thinking — but also emotional steadiness. Projects like Agile-based system rollouts and disaster recovery governance taught me that transformation is never only technical. It’s human.
Through it all, my leadership style has been shaped by servant leadership: empower others, nurture talent, and create environments where people can do their best work without fear.
Completing my BCom in IT Management and the Advanced Diploma within three and a half years is a milestone that lives close to my heart, not just because it was academically demanding, but because it happened during one of the hardest seasons of my life: losing my mom.
She was my biggest fan and my steadfast supporter. And even in her absence, her voice stayed with me like a compass: “You can do this, keep going.” That refrain turned perseverance into purpose. It taught me that excellence isn’t a straight line, it’s the quiet discipline to keep showing up, learning, and growing, especially when life feels heavy.
Today, when I mentor, deliver tough projects, or hold space for a team under pressure, I carry her message with me: Be brave. Keep moving. What defines my career legacy is the lasting ripple of positive change I strive to create in my field, my teams, and my community.
I want to be remembered for championing a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, empowering others through mentoring and building morale, helping shape resilient organisations through projects like Agile rollouts, disaster recovery governance, and process improvements, and cultivating a culture where gratitude, integrity, and servant leadership are real — not just spoken about.
One of my biggest challenges was learning to believe in myself enough to step beyond my comfort zone.
When the opportunity came through INSETA to enroll in the Advanced Diploma in Management Development at UCT, I hesitated. I wasn’t sure I could carry the demands of study while balancing work and family. Saying yes changed me.
The programme was rigorous. It required discipline and courage. But as I committed to it, I saw my confidence grow, not just in what I knew, but in how I showed up, how I spoke, and how I engaged. The lesson was clear: the biggest obstacles are often internal.
The pivot that changed my career came when I was nominated for the INSETA-funded Advanced Diploma at UCT. Saying yes felt bold, it meant rigorous study while leading teams and delivering business-critical work. The decision, made in early February 2024 became my line in the sand: to redefine purpose and step forward with conviction.
It didn’t just change my CV. It changed my voice, my resilience, and my leadership. I emerged clearer, calmer under fire, and more intentional about mentoring, driving change, and speaking up for the shifts our teams needed.
My vision is to keep empowering others, building teams and communities where every person feels valued, inspired, and equipped to reach their potential. The impact I hope to leave is a legacy of servant leadership: systems improved, people uplifted, and a ripple effect of positive actions that extend far beyond my own career.
I aspire to be remembered not just for what I accomplished, but for the opportunities I created, the lives I touched, and the example I set for those who come after me. “The true measure of our success is the difference we make in the world and the hope we inspire in others.”
