From adversity to triumph: Lesley Saunders' inspiring marketing journey

August is Women's Month and at IOL, it's the launch of our Elevate Her campaign which seeks out strong, courageous and inspirational women who are re-shaping mindsets and changing narratives. 

Meet Lesley Saunders, head of marketing at Broll Auctions and Sales who speaks to us about how she got into her career and how she's overcome so many challenges so far. 

What first inspired you to do what you do – and what was the moment that really changed everything for you?

I’ve always had a love of words, stories and adverts, as a child I would get lost in them and invent my own. At school career day back in primary school, there were various institutions explaining afterschool courses and degrees. I happened to chat with someone from the IMM and boom – marketing is the word for what I want to do.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced on your journey, and how did you push through it?

The biggest challenge was the end of 2022 when my now husband was out of work, our lease on our home was up and the company I worked for had retrenched me. We found ourselves jobless and homeless with children to support. I used my severance package to spend some much-needed time with my children and family who I had neglected over the years as I carved out my career. I leaned into letting go of worrying about what now, what next and put my belief into knowing that the right thing would come along, and it did. I think the lesson I needed to learn was that you cannot control everything all of the time – it’s exhausting and unhealthy.

What achievement are you most proud of, the one that still makes you smile when you think about it?

Being a mother but it’s deeper than that. I would say managing to raise my children as a single mom without emotional or financial support from their father, having the strength to push through all those hard times with my kids as my ride or die crew and seeing just how wonderful they are today makes my heart smile and beam with pride at the young men they have become.

What makes your role or career path different or special in South Africa?

I work in very male dominated sector in commercial real estate and often come up against individuals who are resistant to change or disruption. Having said that though this means there is an opportunity to carve out and evolve this industry from within and that’s an exciting space to be in.

How do you think the work you do is making a difference – whether in your industry, your community, or for other women?

In our industry, I have pushed us to be disruptive, to be different to lead where others follow. Property forms such a cornerstone of all communities be it someone’s home, someone’s offices etc the transactions we are involved in influence the people involved in them.  I believe in mentorship and upskilling and ensure this is incorporated into our corporate culture and my personal life at every opportunity I can, to try and help another generation succeed and thrive.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to a young woman who dreams of following a similar path?

My best advice is boundaries – it’s something I wished I had put in place much earlier – the art of saying no, the confidence to back yourself and your ideas is liberating and while not an overnight process, when you have these in place you will be able to focus on and do the things you do best.

Who’s been the biggest influence or mentor in your career?

My biggest mentor would be my first boss, who ran her own PR and marketing agency in the construction and mining industry. Lorraine Immelman, Director of South Africa Selection at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - she still runs her own business today and taught me many things you won’t get from a textbook or lecture hall.

What’s one myth about your job or industry you’d love to clear up?

Marketing is glamourous, we spend our days wining and dining and making things look pretty. I think someone called it fluffy once. So not true. Marketing is incredibly strategic and takes a good analytical mind to ensure your tactics and strategies are hitting the mark, not just your creatives.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Stand up for your value within an organisation. Too often I would settle for the smaller salary with the “promise” of a review which never came. Know your worth to a company and make sure you’re compensated accordingly for it. Also, don’t work with people you don’t trust or like – you’re spending most of your time at work, make sure it’s the right fit for you.

When you think back to the subjects you chose in high school or what you studied afterwards, did you ever imagine you’d end up where you are today – and how did that journey unfold?

I knew I would end up where I am today, I just didn’t have the roadmap to get here. I left matric with a university exemption for a bachelor’s degree only to find my parents didn’t have the funds to send me to uni. I never let that stop me – opted for a cheaper and quicker tertiary qualification in PR and marketing that I could afford and then went out and got practical, hands-on experience. Where there is a will there will always be a way.

Read more about from our Elevate Her campaign here

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