Q & A VODACOM
In this interview, Cassim shares her passion for financial and digital inclusion across Africa, discussing the personal and professional hurdles she ' s faced as a woman in a maledominated industry.
Tell us a bit about yourself – your name, title, and professional background?
I’ m Mariam Cassim – a wife, mom to two kids under 13, a daughter, a mentor and a fun-loving friend. Professionally, I’ m the CEO of Vodacom Financial and Digital Services.
Could you share some insights into your academic background and the degrees you’ ve earned?
I’ m a qualified Chartered Accountant and hold an MBA from the University of Cape Town’ s Graduate School of Business, where I graduated Cum Laude. It sounds impressive, but it wasn’ t an easy journey. I grew up in a modest household where my parents made significant sacrifices to ensure my siblings and I received a good education. While they did their part, it was up to us to excel academically if we wanted to go further. Through hard work, I earned bursaries and scholarships that helped me navigate my academic path.
As the CEO of a fintech business within a telco, I’ m committed to advancing financial and digital inclusion across Africa.
What key experiences have shaped your career journey?
I began my career in audit, which was part of the journey to qualify as a Chartered Accountant. After qualifying, I pursued a path in corporate finance and M & A, spending the first half of my career in that field. It provided a solid foundation, giving me a deep understanding of business valuation, financial analysis and the key drivers that matter to shareholders. However, over time, I found myself drawn to the excitement and hands-on nature of being involved in a business operationally. I then decided to pursue an MBA when my first child was just four months old, and upon graduation, I shifted my focus entirely to business operations.
My journey led me to join Vodacom Financial and Digital Services when I was seven months pregnant with my second child. I took on the challenge of transforming a loss-making entity into the multi-billion-rand business it is today, contributing significantly to Vodacom’ s revenue diversification strategy. Balancing the demands of motherhood and leadership was not easy, but it became a pivotal time in my life, shaping my perspective on both business and personal growth.
Why are you so passionate about financial and digital inclusion and what challenges have you faced?
As the CEO of a fintech business within a telco, I’ m committed to advancing financial and digital inclusion across Africa. My journey has had its share of challenges, both as a woman in a predominantly male industry and as someone who grew up in a financially disadvantaged household. I experienced firsthand how the lack of access to financial services served as a barrier for my parents, limiting their opportunities. This background has profoundly shaped my perspective and strengthened my resolve to make financial inclusion a reality for others.
In my career, being a woman in a male-dominated industry has come with its own set of obstacles. From navigating unconscious biases to proving my expertise repeatedly, I’ ve found myself needing to stay resilient and focused on the larger purpose I serve. Early on, I realised that the way forward was to build a network of mentors and advocates who understood and valued my contributions.
On a broader scale, bringing financial inclusion to Africa has required us to overcome significant challenges, such as limited infrastructure, digital literacy and mistrust toward financial services. It’ s been a journey of learning, listening, and co-creating solutions that make a tangible difference in people’ s lives. For me, this mission is both personal and professional: by expanding access to financial services, we’ re enhancing convenience and empowering millions of people.
Can you list some of the offerings from your portfolio of solutions that are close to your heart and why?
Several of our products are particularly close to my heart due to their transformative impact. Our consumer fintech solutions stand out by offering easy, fully digital access to funding, removing traditional barriers and eliminating the need for cumbersome paperwork. Our insurance products are equally meaningful, providing essential security that helps consumers recover quickly after losing an asset. I’ m also proud of our SMME solutions, which empower small businesses through cashless payments and accessible funding options to fuel their growth.
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