One of the most inspiring things to see, at least for me, is black women leading big corporations that were traditionally dominated by men. This dominance did not stop Taelo Mojapelo, CEO of bp Southern Africa from claiming her place at the top .

I sat down with her at the Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference this week to discuss her leadership journey, steering through the global oil crisis, advancing transformation, harnessing AI, and her commitment to empowering women in business.

Q. It has been 5 years since you took over the helm at bp Southern Africa. How has it been?

It has been a humbling experience, I must say. Why do I say humbling? Because when you are entrusted with leading a large business, it requires you to dig deep within yourself, stay focused, and bring people along on the journey. Fortunately, I found a strong and capable team in the business.

Yes, we faced our challenges, especially during the global oil crisis in 2020. We embarked on a recovery journey, and it has actually been an exciting one. We’ve turned the business around, grown our market share along the way, and most importantly, ensured that our employees feel valued.

Q. You are the second Black woman CEO at bp Southern Africa and a champion for transformation. What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered along the way?

Transformation is fundamentally about mindset. Interestingly, the challenges are often not internal. I’m grateful to my shareholders, who understand that in every market we operate in, we must reflect the demographics of South Africa. That understanding keeps us grounded in the transformation process.

However, the challenges we face are often external. We work with service providers and suppliers who, in some cases, may not fully grasp why transformation makes business sense. Personally, I try to move away from the word “transformation” and instead focus on “equity and inclusion,” because those concepts make good business sense — and research supports this. Ultimately, it’s a matter of mindset, and we all have a role to play in influencing it positively.

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Q. Speaking of influence, Artificial Intelligence is shaping decision-making across many organisations. Is this also the case at bp?

I must admit, I come from a generation that wasn’t exposed to AI. Approaching 50, I found myself wondering, “How do I relate to all of this?” But what I’ve learned is that AI can be used to take care of mundane tasks and significantly improve productivity in the workplace.

As a result, our team now uses the time saved for strategic thinking, innovation, and creativity. It has been incredibly helpful.

Q. It’s finally August – National Women’s Month in South Africa. What are the top 3 lessons you’d like to share with young women aspiring to reach your position?

The first is: own your truth. Too often, we let voices that don’t truly know us shape how we see ourselves. Know your strengths, understand your limitations, and use that awareness as a foundation for growth.

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Second: build alliances. Find mentors and sponsors. In corporate spaces, people often move forward through hard work, yes — but sponsors are key. They’ll advocate for you, recognise your efforts, and push you to grow.

Third: integrity. We live in a time when integrity is in short supply, and that’s unfortunate. But if you operate with integrity, the universe has a way of rewarding you. Catch the rest of the interview here;