Perspectives: Women in Leadership – Unicorns in Capital Raising

Polo Leteka is the Founder and Chair of IDF Capital - a South African based entrepreneurial financier and advisory firm. An accountant by training, she has a varied experience in both the public and private sectors of South Africa which includes accounting and auditing, corporate finance, investment banking, public policy formulation, venture capital and private equity in the SME sector. At a fairly young age, Polo was tasked with leading the process of developing South Africa's first ever Codes of Good Practice on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment which is a government policy seeking to transform the South African economic landscape to be more reflective of its population demographics. Polo is the current President of Association of Black Securities and Investment Professional (ABSIP).

Thandi joined Standard Bank in 2019 as Head of Distribution for Investments. She was appointed as Head of Investments South Africa in January 2021. Prior to this, Thandi spent 11 years in the asset management industry where she was Head of Private Clients and Head of Strategic Markets at Allan Gray, with the latter seeing her take on the responsibility for developing distribution strategies and investor education for Allan Gray’s Strategic Markets. Thandi has also held senior roles within Old Mutual PFA and Old Mutual Bank and spent some time legal practice. Thandi holds a BSocSci LLB LLM, Post Graduate Diploma and Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning. She is a Certified Financial Planner® professional and an admitted attorney.

Tanya van Lill is the head of investor relations and impact at Metier Investment and Advisory Services. Prior to joining Metier, Tanya was the CEO of the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA). Tanya holds a BCom Informatics and Honours degrees, as well as an MBA. Tanya’s interests lie in both human and organisational development. Tanya is a motor and fitness enthusiast and has represented South Africa at the World Powerlifting Championships.

Chevon Marupen, a senior associate in the Investment Funds practice at Webber Wentzel, focuses on the formation and structuring of alternative investment funds across all asset classes, with a specific emphasis on funds investing in Africa as well as advising sponsors on team incentive arrangements. Her experience extends to advising Africa focussed fund promoters relative to their fundraising process, in particular, negotiations with investors spanning a broad range of African institutional and other investors such as, international development finance institutions, pension funds, commercial investors and high net worth individuals, in order to achieve successful close.

Knife Capital is an independent growth equity investment firm focusing on innovation-driven ventures with proven traction. My goal is to prove that South African founders and the companies they build can compete on a global level. Simultaneously I want to prove that Venture Capital as an asset class in South Africa can work. Both goals require persistence, an understanding of the why and the how. I see myself as a business builder and a business partner, captivated by founders who have a deeper motivation and embrace the journey. I know that one needs an ecosystem to succeed, and I am trying to play my part in building that.