1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
When I am not kitted up in a boardroom, I am generally listening to all genres of music, watching South Korean dramas, or cooking and baking. I have two kids, big kids, who keep me young at heart and dynamic in my soul. They try me, test me, and refuse to call me cool! I enjoy speaking to people from all walks of life with unlimited curiosity only because I want to know more and learn more. My ongoing mission in life is to keep my eye out for inspiration that will lead to the next big thing!
2. What work do you do?
I am the CEO of GroupM Sub-Saharan Africa. GroupM is a part of the WPP global group of companies and a leading agency network around the world. Simply put, we do media! We craft media that captivates, engages, resonates, and connects people to brands. I have the interesting and exciting role of bringing all the moving parts and people of our business together across Sub-Saharan Africa to deliver exceptional media results and performance for our clients.
3. How long have you been in the industry?
I started in the industry over two decades ago as a journalist. I found passion points along my journey that enabled me to grow into the role that I am in today.
4. Has your work always been your passion? Tell us why.
When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. I see my work as an opportunity to do something great every day and make a meaningful contribution to the business and our people. I find joy and fulfillment in bringing my purpose into the workspace which is to “pay it forward” by giving people continuous feedback that enables them to grow and learn. I am incredibly passionate about turning the biggest challenges into the best opportunities and I am in constant pursuit of delivering excellence. My work is a part of my story, a story that enables me to push boundaries and set new benchmarks for success.
5. Being a woman in the industry – what does it take?
A strong sense of purpose, self-awareness, and resilience. You’ve got to be able to accept defeat when things get tough but rise tall the next day knowing exactly what you stand for and advocate for yourself. The pressure is on for women in our industry, everyone is watching, everyone is waiting to see your next move, and the next evolution is already here!
You’ve got to talk to yourself, know what you want, and don’t ever quit. To become greater means that you must know your value and what you want in your career. Then own it, and walk the journey of learning, developing, and building a strong network of people to support you. The road to growth for women is tough, but if you put in the time and effort, setbacks will become valuable lessons on the journey to success.
6. What has been the most difficult challenge of your career?
Having a seat at the table was tough because of implicit bias. It was exhausting to prove my worth in every conversation to try and gain some recognition just because I didn’t meet the executive stereotype. There was also the age-old myth that women could not balance work and family responsibilities. These experiences made me resilient to keep going no matter the adversity in the workplace. It shaped who I am today and the approach I take.
7. What advice do you have for other women in your industry?
My advice would be to focus on three key elements to grow as a woman in leadership:
- Build yourself from the inside out – talk to yourself, and understand what you want and what you are worth first. Thereafter, use the power of your voice, the power of networking, and the power of your strengths to demonstrate your value. You need to believe in yourself first before anyone else can believe in you.
- Keep learning – Never let your title or your role stop you from studying, asking questions, or getting mentorship.
- Show up and earn your growth – don’t ever leave your career development plan to someone else including HR. You need to own it, be present, and show intention for growth. I believe that growth is painful, but it is worth it if you want better opportunities.
8. Who inspires you in your industry?
I have had different people inspire me across the life stages of my career e.g. when I started in Journalism, Ferial Haffajee’s tenacity and integrity were everything! Today, I get inspired by people who share the same core values that I have. Regardless of their roles or age, I am blown away when I see people challenge the status quo, take a positive approach to life, and remain resilient. These individuals help me navigate my journey with greater insight and stronger purpose.
9. What’s the best advice you’ve received from your industry peers?
I am a firm believer in, ‘you are who you associate yourself with’. And in saying that, I was fortunate enough to get similar advice from multiple thought leaders and mentors. Their advice was simple; Growth is painful – nothing in life is easy. You must put in the time, effort, and passion to get what you want or need in your career.
10. What is your leadership style?
Over the years I have developed myself into a leader who is authentic and inclusive. I prefer being transparent with the people around me to enable them to grow, yet at the same time I share my flaws and weaknesses openly. I believe that this builds trust and allows people to see a softer side of leadership. I value diverse perspectives and always aim to create a space where people can be heard. I believe that people have different strengths and if used and nurtured strategically, we can create a positive and dynamic work culture.
11. Have you experienced failure in your career, if so, what lessons did you learn from that?
I have never seen my challenges or mistakes as failures. I have always treated those experiences as learning. Over the last two decades, I have learned a lot. I learned how to be resilient when I wasn’t allowed to be a journalist for a long time after getting my qualifications. I learned how to be adaptable when being asked to take on roles like New Business when it was not a part of my core skillset. I learned how to take the negative feedback after losing 10 pitches straight and turn that into opportunities to win massive African pieces of business. My learnings play a crucial part in my career development.
12. What are your plans for the future?
Many people have put their faith and trust in me in my new role as GroupM SSA CEO. For now, I am focused on key strategic initiatives to drive our organization forward in Africa. I am so excited to work alongside a new caliber of leaders who truly bring fresh perspectives and energy for the future. I want to travel some more, especially to places that I haven’t visited before such as Turkey and Switzerland.
Short bio
Claudelle Naidoo is the new Chief Executive Officer of GroupM SSA. She has more than 20 years of experience in the Media, Marketing, Research, and Advertising industries. Before being named CEO of GroupM, she was the CEO of EssenceMediacom. Claudelle considers herself to be a visionary leader dedicated to inspiring and adding value to brands and people seeking growth in Africa.
If you want to contact Claudelle, you can connect with her on LinkedIn under the name Claudelle Naidoo.
