In this episode of Vastly Sage, host Amanda Dambuza speaks with Nomonde White-Ndlovu, a senior technology executive at a multinational bank, about the lived realities of Black women in corporate environments. Nomonde traces her career back to an early setback: she failed a subject while studying politics and law and had to find work to recover financially and complete her degree. That detour became her entry into technology, starting on the front line as a help desk consultant at UCS Solutions, where senior women recognized her potential and moved her into a junior service delivery management role.

Nomonde describes how exclusion and bias show up in everyday moments, including being shut out of meetings conducted in Afrikaans and being tested for competence and belonging. She explains the “stubbornness” sometimes required to survive, and how mentors who combine high standards with protection and advocacy can change a young professional’s trajectory. From there, the conversation expands into systemic challenges, especially pay parity. Nomonde and Amanda discuss how historical underpayment becomes a benchmark that keeps Black talent permanently behind peers, and why leaders should stop perpetuating the gap by relying on prior payslips instead of paying the role fairly.

A major thread is the role of spirituality, values-driven leadership, and the cost of always performing strength. Nomonde shares a difficult season of burnout and mental strain while juggling an intense executive role, an MBA, parenting, and additional family responsibilities during the pandemic era. She identifies warning signs leaders should watch for, including emotional shutdown, appetite changes, irritability, and isolation. She emphasizes asking for help, building supportive relationships, and practicing intentional self-care that restores joy and sustainability.