18 August 2026
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Story Tshepo Tsotetsi
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Photo Supplied
The UFS celebrates alumna Dr Pulane Modiha, Chief Operating Officer for Home and Structured Lending at FNB, whose leadership continues to create opportunities for others through mentorship, teaching, and purpose-driven leadership.
Every Women’s Month, we celebrate the strides women have made across leadership, business, education, and many other fields. Representation matters, but it cannot be the finish line. The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Women’s Month message, ‘
Beyond Representation: Empowered Women Empower Women’, shifts the focus to what happens after women reach positions of influence – and whether that influence creates opportunities for others.
As the University celebrates women whose work is creating opportunities for others, one of the stories being recognised is that of UFS alumna
Dr Pulane Modiha. Today, she serves as Chief Operating Officer for Home and Structured Lending at First National Bank (FNB), lectures and supervises MBA students, mentors emerging leaders, and continues to invest in the growth of others through speaking, writing, and leadership development. Across these different roles, one idea has remained constant: success means little if it does not make room for someone else to succeed.
“For me, leadership is not defined by how high we climb, but by how many people we lift as we rise. That is how we move beyond representation and create lasting impact,” Dr Modiha says.
Leadership measured by the opportunities it creates
Dr Modiha completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialisation in Accounting at the UFS between 1997 and 1999, before beginning a career that would take her from multinational consulting into banking. Along the way she built expertise across accounting, risk management, business solutions, and data and analytics, while continuing her studies and later earning both an MBA and a PhD.
Despite all these impressive achievements, when she reflects on her career, executive titles are not the first measure of success she points to. “Rather than focusing only on titles, I am most proud of the impact I have been able to make. Perhaps my greatest achievement is seeing people I have mentored become confident leaders in their own right.”
That outlook has shaped the way she leads. Her influence extends beyond the boardroom into lecture rooms, mentorship conversations, leadership platforms, and the Brilliance in Action with DrP podcast, where she shares stories of resilience and purpose. Later this year she will add another platform through her forthcoming book, From Boundaries to Brilliance: Turning Barriers into Purpose, Impact, and Leadership.
Looking back, Dr Modiha says every stage of her journey reinforced the value of resilience and continuous learning. “I have learned that resilience is not about never falling. It is about always rising with greater wisdom.”
For Dr Modiha, this year’s Women’s Month theme reflects a responsibility that comes with leadership. She believes representation creates possibility, but real progress depends on what women choose to do once they have the opportunity to lead. “Representation opens the door, but empowerment ensures that the door remains open for others. As women, we have a responsibility to intentionally mentor, sponsor, advocate for, and amplify one another’s voices.”
She believes empowering women is not about giving special treatment or competing for limited opportunities. It is about creating workplaces and communities where talent can thrive and where more women can see themselves as future leaders. “When women support one another, we build stronger organisations, develop more inclusive leaders, and inspire the next generation to believe that their aspirations are possible.”
That belief continues to guide her work, whether she is leading large teams, teaching postgraduate students, or mentoring young professionals beginning their own careers. “My personal philosophy is simple: success is meaningful only when it creates opportunities for others to succeed as well.”
As the University of the Free State continues to celebrate Women’s Month, Dr Modiha’s story reflects what this year’s theme calls on all of us to consider: not only how far we have come, but what our leadership, our influence, and our success make possible for someone else.