The CFO role within MTN South Africa is quite operationally inclined in comparison to other CFO positions. As such Dineo Molefe is involved in the mechanics of running the business. ‘At a senior level, roles are how you shape them. You need to determine what your role will be in the organisation according to what interests you and the talents you perceive you have to better the company. I don’t position myself in MTN as responsible for only the finance function; I lead in such a manner that I am jointly responsible for the success or failure of the entire organisation.’
Given that everything the business does boils down to rands and cents, finance is an area that has its tentacles spread across the entire entity. Therefore, as the company’s chief finance leader, Dineo is an integral part of the strategic and operational direction of the business. According to her, one of the most important elements of a successful strategy is clarity.
‘It is important to be clear about what it is that you will do and what you will not do. Without that, there is the danger of people trying to do everything. Furthermore, there needs to be a common understanding of the dependencies; those that are overt and those that are hidden. The hidden dependencies require discernment as they can lead to a failure in the strategy if they are not checked.’
Having a pragmatic execution plan is also fundamental to the success of an organisation’s strategy, Dineo believes. This should include identifying the right people in the right positions to execute the plan. Furthermore, one should not be afraid of some experimentation before fully embarking on the steps laid out in the plan. And finally, one must be flexible as the execution journey moves along, depending on what you are discovering and learning in the execution of the plan.
This article is an extract from the Masters of Money book by KC Rottok Chesaina (JONATHAN BALL PUBLISHERS)
