Give to gain: empowering through knowledge sharing, capacity building and supporting others
Carla Gillham, Executive Head, TRUM AFRICA
“Like the matriarch elephant, our role is not only to guide the herd, but to leave the land, the community, and the next generation stronger.”
Across Africa’s landscapes, the matriarch elephant leads her herd not through force, but through memory, experience, and quiet confidence in the path ahead. To me, the theme Give to Gain reflects a similar principle of leadership.
In insurance, particularly across Africa where markets can be complex and evolving, progress has rarely come from individual success alone. It comes from sharing knowledge, supporting others, and building capability within the teams and communities around us.
Early in my career I benefited from people who were willing to share their experience and challenge my thinking. That generosity of knowledge is something I believe we have a responsibility to pass forward.
When we invest time in mentoring others, sharing expertise, and creating opportunities for people to grow, we strengthen the industry itself. The real gain is not personal recognition; it is seeing others develop the confidence and capability to lead.
Looking back, my leadership experiences has reinforced the belief that for women executives, transformative leadership often means stepping forward with courage while remaining open to learning from those around.
Insurance is ultimately about responsibility. We are trusted to navigate uncertainty, solve complex problems, and protect people and businesses when things go wrong. Leadership in this environment requires resilience, clarity of thinking, and the ability to make decisions when not all the answers are obvious.
Like the matriarch elephant navigating uncertain terrain, leadership often means stepping forward with courage while remaining open to learning from those around you.
Women in leadership roles sometimes face the added pressure of needing to prove themselves repeatedly. My experience has been that the most effective response is to stay focused on competence, integrity, and delivery. Over time, consistency builds credibility.
“Resilience is not about pushing through everything alone. It is about knowing when to seek insight, when to listen, and when to stand firm in your convictions.”
Inner strength and clarity are essential in an industry built around managing risk and uncertainty. Cultivating a self-empowering mindset as a female executive in the African insurance industry is foundational to lead the change we so much desire as an industry.
Inner strength and clarity are essential in an industry built around managing risk and uncertainty. Leaders are constantly required to assess complex situations and make decisions that affect businesses, communities, and livelihoods.
For female executives, developing a strong internal compass helps ensure that confidence comes from capability rather than external validation. It allows us to engage with challenges directly rather than hesitating because of perceived barriers.
At the same time, maintaining curiosity and openness to learning is critical. The risk landscape across Africa is evolving rapidly, from climate-related exposures to emerging liability risks, technological change, pandemics, and even war.
Strong leadership therefore requires both conviction and humility: the confidence to make decisions, and the willingness to continue learning.
Words of wisdom to female executives and the next generation of leaders.
Leadership is rarely about individual achievement. It is about the responsibility we carry for those around us and those who will follow.
The matriarch elephant provides a powerful analogy. She guides the herd through uncertainty, remembers the paths that ensure survival, and prepares younger elephants to eventually take on that responsibility themselves.
Women in insurance have a similar opportunity. We can be brave in our decisions, bold in our thinking, and generous in sharing knowledge with those around us.
At the same time, our role extends beyond our organisations. Insurance plays an important part in supporting resilient communities and protecting the environments that sustain them.
If we mentor others well, remain open to learning, and lead with integrity, the next generation of women will take this industry further than we ever could.
Like the matriarch elephant, our role is not only to guide the herd, but to leave the land, the community, and the next generation stronger.
