SmartHotGirl: Refilwe Moloto

At JUCY there is nothing we like more than a woman who is ms Smarty pants, does well in her chosen field and happens to be extremely beautiful. She's the girl we admire, look up to and want to be like when we grow up. Meet our SmartHotGirl for this week, Refilwe Moloto. She is a Birkin bag carrying, investment banker extraordinnaire, laugh out out funny and all round lovely person.


What do you do?

I'm in business development - which broadly entails the sale of asset management propositions to the country's largest pension funds and the management of our company's relationship with those funds & their boards of trustees. That's a little under half of my job. The other 60% is focused on strategic economic / market commentary on behalf of the company to our broad (institutional and retail) client base, and the general public.

How did you get to where you are?

I've been involved in financial markets for the past 6years, mostly on the sell side of the 'Street'.I worked Merrill Lynch for 5years as an economist in the Joburg office, then in institutional sales for Emerging Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EEMEA) on Wall Street. I left the industry to reassess my goals, and returned to South Africa. It was in my conversations with head hunters that the notion of venturing onto the buy side came up - I explored its merits, and the organisation, and the opportunity weighed up well against other offers and approaches either in other parts of financial services, or back in New York or other parts of the world.



You've worked at huge corporation in the US, what is the best part of your experience?

Sjoe. Are you asking what the best part is of working at the heart of one of the world's most recognisable brands and most successful (and disastrous) financial services firms through the biggest boom in emerging markets (and biggest crash in global markets), advising, daily, the most influential emerging markets portfolio managers on what investments to make & dealing with the most prominent CEOs in EEMEA, travelling with them across the most exciting new markets in the world - from Turkey, to Russia, to Abu Dhabi, to Nigeria - but based in, arguably, the world's greatest city as one of the #1-ranked 20-man globally-integrated EEMEA sales team at the age of 25...? And getting paid for it?

Because, if that's what you're asking, I wouldn't know where to start! But my question hazards an attempt. I've been extremely blessed within a very short career.

There is a perception that women struggle in the big bad corporate world. True/false?
True for some, false for others. We're not in the 80s anymore - we can't have a blanket shoulder-padded, power-suited solution for ladies. It comes down to the individual.

Do you ever have to deal with narrow-minded stereotypes ?
Absolutely! But it's usually those very perceived 'weaknesses' that arm women with the finesse & charm to unwind those unjust perceptions.

That "sixth sense" many refer to in women, for example, isn't a weakness, it's a highly valuable savvy that allows you to read situations quickly - its strength lies in whether you react appropriately & professionally. It's also a highly sought after business skill in both men & women, but your HR department is more likely to call it "EQ". So, spin it to work for you as you choose.

What challenges are there for a young woman working in finance?

The biggest challenge may be their own chips on their shoulders. It informs their internal dialogue, and thus their approach to, not just the job, but their style. And if what I answered before is true, your professional style is critical to your being taken seriously & revered, but still being viewed as an approachable team player, without apology.

I remember, so clearly, a day several weeks into my arrival in the New York office. It was extremely important to me to "unwind the stereotype" I thought existed in the workplace a) amongst white people about black people, b) amongst men about women, c) amongst Americans about Africans & South Africans. Now, there's no doubt they do exist in certain cases, but are not overtly the norm in an environment like I described to your earlier question, that's filled with intelligent, well-travelled and -exposed people.

Anyway, in trying to 'lay my boundaries' & 'stand my ground' on big, bad Wall Street, I was very firm and excessively hard in my tone in meetings, on conference calls & the like. Basically, my voice & demeanour put on the 80s power suit - shoulder pads and all!

At the end of one meeting, a very candid, very senior colleague who remains a dear friend and professional guide today, caught up with me stomping my heels down the hall, put his arm around my shoulders, and whispered in my ear, "You know... Raf... We aaall think you're amazing. That's why you're here. We sometimes just wish you knew it as well." Never forgot it.

Calm confidence is what he inspired in me. The ability to laugh at oneself and still be taken acutely seriously is the greatest gift a person who needs to lead can nurture - in my opinion. And, as a youngster & outsider, advising seasoned investment professionals, was actually at the core of my successes with my client base.

Advice for women who would like to do what you are doing?

I dunno, Nzinga... there's no formula, man.

If you mean for financial services in general, I'd say:

1. Buy what you're selling.

2. Work twice as smart, and half as hard.

3. Know, and demand your worth.

On one level the first means have the courage of your convictions. On the other, I really mean it almost - literally for the sake of your reputation in the business. It's smaller than you think, and as a woman you stand out more on a pure numbers game (though I'm certain that's changing).

So, if for no other reason than the fact that you like to sleep soundly at night with no regrets or guilt, then for the fact that you'll be easily remembered, and in a competitive space people are always looking for your Achilles heel: Guard Your Integrity. Don't give anybody a reason.

That kind of ties in with #2. It's a trying business, and in some parts of it it's easy to burn out. Don't slack off, but at the same time, you aren't the first person in the world to do this job. Have the confidence in yourself to ask for the blueprint to the wheel instead of reinventing it yourself.

That definitely ties in with #3: As women we have a tendency to avoid delegating and also have this "Nice Girl" / "Martyr" complex that makes us take on unreasonable work burdens, often other peoples', on the expectation of some proverbial pat on the head... or some such. It's simply not going to happen. Know your worth: it doesn't reside in everyone thinking you're "Nice". Only that they think you're Good. Demand your worth: Your boss, however supportive, represents a company, whose ideal outcome is high skill at low cost. You'd rather buy a designer sweater on sale, wouldn't you? So it doesn't behove your boss to tell you when you're due for a bigger bonus / pay raise. It's also not her job. You tell her whether you're designer or discount by naming your price & insisting on it.

As girls/women, a lot of our focus is on looking good, being cute. There is a belief that smart girls kind of neglect this side of themselves. What's your take?
Ha! Funny question. I remember a course at the NYC office that suggested women who wear makeup are better received than women who don't! HA! Interestingly, I actually agree... it speaks to 'looking after oneself' I guess... I can't take you seriously if you don't take yourself seriously.

So, my take is as follows: Firstly, there's a huge difference between looking good, and being cute.

Looking good, I would liken to looking professional & groomed. That's important, and I appreciate it. If an extra slick of mascara contributes to that - more power to you. And I actually don't believe smart girls neglect that.

What I think they neglect, is "being cute", which (maybe unintentionally on your part) sounds more like the dressing I reject, not just neglect. I find there's a spectrum of women who can't or won't deliver on aptitude, ability, diligence or delivery. And coincidentally, I find those often are the ones who look "cute": plunging necklines, ambitious belts instead of skirts, excessive makeup. OR, those who over-compensate in a 3-piece suit to work in a call centre. I mean, appropriateness and comfort are key in my opinion.

So I feel as though your question should rather be phrased, "There is a belief that girls who focus on looking cute at the office neglect the side of the job that involves being smart".

Hair. Straight. Natural. Unbeweavable. Why? Does it have any significance?

All of the above. My hair is one of each of these at least once a year.

It carries zero significance beyond aesthetics to me. I'm too assured of myself to carry my beliefs in a hairstyle.

I feel no less black in a weave than in the afro that is under that weave. If someone sees me otherwise, that really has more to do with their perspective (which itself may be marred by an insecurity) than with me - and they're completely entitled to that view.

Do you exercise? If so what type?

Nah... Not much at the moment.

I power walk (getting back to running), play squash, social tennis & surprisingly love weights / strength training.

I used to dance like a demon. Ahh... the early twenties...

What kind of guys do you date?

Huh? That's a weird question, what does that mean?

I guess, "different" guys?

Thinking of the last few guys I dated I can't think of any common theme, whatsoever... Different cultures, religions, nationalities, backgrounds, socio-economic standing.

Except, maybe, all incredibly intelligent, very laid back & self confident, hilarious guys who never took themselves too seriously.

There was one guy, a divorcee/ father I went on a few dates with recently that was just an idiot. Dumb. Boring. Had me pick up the tab, which isn't so bad - AFTER date 3 or 4. But mostly, not self-assured in the least. So insecure. So he doesn't fit the prior list at all.

Do you have any businesses that you run alongside your work?

No comment

Coolest book that you've read this year?

Over Christmas vacation into the new year, I finally caught up with Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. That was fun enough.



How much money is there in what you do?

There's a shitload of money to be made. Not play-play money either. It's difficult to give a number for people to start with because the upside resides almost entirely in your earning & performance trajectory, not your first stated salary.

Also, your trajectory is far more driven by your expenditure patterns than your income trend. But that's another conversation altogether.

What do you for fun?

Friends. Family. Food. Fun. Freedom. Festivities.

And then, a LOT of Me time. I really enjoy my own company. Whether to be pampered, to travel or shop, or to be still, to learn and regroup... It's healthy.

Isn't she awesome??!!