SAPICS Corporate Member, DSV, launches LeadHER programme in South Africa to advance women in leadership
Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 August 2025 - DSV is proud to announce the official launch of LeadHER, a programme designed to encourage, support, and empower women in South Africa to step into leadership roles.
The programme marks a significant milestone in advancing DSV’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the goal of building a stronger internal female leadership pipeline at all levels of the organisation.
Jan M. Jensen, Vice President, Learning & Development at DSV Group, said, “At DSV, we don’t launch initiatives like this because it looks good — we do it because tapping into the full talent pool and building diverse leadership teams makes us stronger and drives better business outcomes”.
Through a carefully designed curriculum, participants will explore their personal strengths, build strong professional networks, engage in one-on-one mentorship sessions, and gain insights from seasoned leaders within DSV to overcome barriers and unlock their full leadership potential.
Purpose of the programme
- To motivate women to pursue and advance in leadership roles.
- To strengthen DSV’s internal pipeline of female leaders across all levels.
- To provide inspiration, mentoring, and practical tools to navigate career challenges.
- To support DSV’s goal of achieving greater representation of women in leadership positions.
The vision behind LeadHER
The name LeadHER reflects the programme’s mission, which is to place ‘HER’, being women, at the centre of leadership development. It is both a commitment to building leadership skills and empowering women to lead with confidence.
The programme is also represented visually through a powerful image. The rearview mirror symbolises reflection, honouring the journey so far and the lessons learned along the way. The forward-moving car on a road represents progress and growth, highlighting the next stage of development for future women leaders. Together, these elements convey DSV’s encouragement for women to value their past experiences while embracing the road ahead.
Freda Venter, Vice President for Finance in Sub-Saharan Africa and Executive Sponsor of LeadHer, shared, “What you allow today will become tomorrow's standard. These words capture the essence of LeadHer. It’s a transformative leadership initiative empowering women to shape their futures, influence their environments, and set new benchmarks for leadership excellence through conscious choices and actions."
LeadHER structure
The programme features interactive modules, including:
- Personal strengths and development planning
- Inspiration and storytelling from female leaders
- Building professional networks
- Stakeholder management and power bases
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Next steps in career development
The programme incorporates globally recognised leadership development tools designed to strengthen participants’ self-awareness and influence, such as DiSC and power bases. It is also supported by a team of executive sponsors, trainers, and mentors, including senior directors, general managers, and specialists across DSV. Their guidance will ensure participants gain both strategic and practical insights to help shape their leadership journey.
“At DSV South Africa, we recognise that diverse leadership, including more women in leadership roles, drives innovation and sustainable growth. The LeadHER programme is a direct investment in women leaders of the future,” said Samuel Chakela, Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at DSV South Africa and LeadHER Trainer.
Mandisa Goba, Assistant Logistics Manager and LeadHER participant, shared, “Being selected for this programme is both an honour and an opportunity I deeply value. I am excited to strengthen my leadership journey, learn from inspiring women, make possible lifelong connections, and contribute to building spaces where others can thrive.”
Over the next six months, DSV will follow the journeys of the sixteen LeadHER participants from across South Africa, sharing stories of their experiences, growth, and achievements. These updates will highlight the impact of the programme and serve as inspiration for other women pursuing leadership opportunities.