We are shaped not only by how we see ourselves but also by how others see us. The gap between these perspectives is real—yet it can become a powerful bridge to bigger and better things.
In 2012, I was persuaded by a trusted friend, Heidi Breuer, to join the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA) board. I suspect she saw two things: my potential to contribute to the marketing fraternity and the chance for me to grow beyond the title that my company had given me—Marketing Director. Accepting that challenge became one of the most transformative moments in my career. Since then, I have chaired other boards and expanded my influence far beyond what I initially imagined.
At a recent breakfast hosted by our mutual friend Abey Mokgwatsane, Heidi ordered a cortado while I, still reluctant to leave my comfort zone, ordered the familiar cappuccino. She encouraged me to try the cortado, reminding me that change often starts from the outside, but our openness to new ideas is what allows transformation. The moment to explore new ways of thinking and doing is always now—what matters is your conviction to embrace it.
Shortly after, during another breakfast, a fellow charted marketer, Cholofelo Obasi, asked me a simple but profound question: “Do you think you have realised your full potential?” Instead of answering immediately, I asked, “Why do you ask?” Some questions aren’t meant to be answered right away—they invite deep reflection. As I savoured that cortado, she shared her perception of me as a businessperson whose presence can shift conversations and influence outcomes.
This brought me back to the gap between self-perception and external perception. For leaders, it is crucial to understand both views clearly. Your worth to your clients should be authentically reflected—not only in the value you deliver but in the prices or discounts you offer. Undervaluing yourself or commoditising your skills risks eroding your professional worth.
Muzi Kuzwayo, another mentor, often says, “If you don’t know what you know, how will you price your service?” He suggests figuring that out first before stepping into the marketplace, where your worth will be affirmed, because otherwise, you could devalue yourself.
Listen to external, trusted voices to challenge and refine your understanding of yourself and the lens through which you see your own potential.
Returning to Cholo’s question—have you realised your true potential? I asked Yola Motsieloa, my confidant (she is way more than that to me) for her opinion. Her answer was simple: “Look at the people you surround yourself with and what they are becoming. If what they are becoming and are doing excites you, that’s fine. But if not, maybe it’s time to move from your cappuccino comfort zone to the stronger, bolder cortado.”
For leaders ready to take the next step, the message is clear: mind the gap between how you see yourself and how others see you, use trusted feedback to stretch your boundaries, and recognise when it’s time to evolve. The future belongs to those who know their worth—and dare to grow beyond it.
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