As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, the spotlight often falls on visible leadership. Yet some of the most important decisions shaping a business happen behind the scenes—where strategy, investment and financial discipline come together.
For Keamogetswe Mphephu, working in Finance at UD Trucks Southern Africa means looking beyond the numbers to understand what they are telling the business about where it is today, and where it needs to go next.
In a commercial vehicle industry shaped by economic pressures, evolving customer expectations and rapid technological development, strong financial management plays a critical role in helping the organisation remain resilient while continuing to pursue growth.
“Finance is not only about reporting what has already happened. It is about understanding the story behind the numbers and using that insight to help the business make better decisions for the future.”
That means balancing opportunity with responsibility. From managing resources and supporting business planning to evaluating investments, the Finance function helps UD Trucks Southern Africa make informed decisions that strengthen the business and support sustainable growth.
For Kea, this is also closely connected to the principles that underpin UD Trucks’ approach to business—people, customers, performance and long-term progress.
“A sustainable business is able to continue investing in its people, its customers and the communities around it. Good financial decisions today create opportunities for tomorrow.”
Her role also highlights the value women bring to spaces where commercial and strategic decisions are made. Across the automotive and transport industries, greater diversity of thought is helping businesses challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives and approach complex decisions differently.
Kea believes confidence is particularly important for women building careers in traditionally male-dominated environments.
“You need to understand the value you bring and be prepared to use your voice. You may not always have the loudest voice in the room, but your perspective can still influence the direction of the conversation.”
That thinking reflects the wider philosophy behind UD Trucks Southern Africa’s Women in Leadership series: successful leadership does not have one look, one personality or one career path.
For Kea, Going the Extra Mile means approaching every decision with a long-term view—understanding that the choices made today ultimately influence the organisation’s ability to support its employees, dealers and customers tomorrow.
This Women’s Month, her story is a reminder that women do not simply belong at the table where business decisions are made. Their insight, perspective and leadership are helping shape where the business goes next.
Because behind every strong number is a decision—and behind every great decision is someone prepared to look beyond it.