MORE THAN A MOTHER: A proud mom & attentive leader

Janice McKenley, Group Chief Financial Officer, VM Group

Children: Rachel, 33; Joseph, 29 and Anna, 27

Janice McKenley is the group chief financial officer of VM Group and is responsible for the group’s programme management office, procurement and finance strategies and teams. Her role includes formulating and delivering on corporate direction and strategic goals; financial reporting; transforming business processes; talent management; improving financial reporting time frames; budget preparation and regulatory reporting as well as coordination of external audits and risk management.

“I had the example of my late mother, Louise Beecher, who was also a professional who harmonised home, work and all aspects of life,” she said.

“I seek to establish clear priorities and live by them every day. I pray and have faith in God, asking him for strength and wisdom to meet daily challenges. I am a lifelong learner. When mistakes are made, I seek to learn from them. I have learnt, especially at work when colleagues have differences or uncertainties to ask, ‘how can we’.

“That helps everyone to focus and usually helps resolve the matter. It also facilitates innovation and doing things differently to get desired outcomes.”

She said embracing being “more than a mother” means being a wife, friend, leader, coach and mentor.

“It means exuding skills that were learnt and refined by being a mother to my three wonderful children.

I pride myself in being “loud and clear” with my love, being attentive to those around me and to the finer details, showing and having commitment to a cause, persevering when the going gets tough. I plan and strategise to achieve my goals and help those around me. I do frequent check-ins to make sure my people are OK and seek to be the greatest advocate and defender and having the back of my family, friends and team.

I’m a proud mom; I believe in Christ and seek to positively impact every part of life.”