In the spirit of Women’s Month, we turn our attention to some wonderous Calleo women who continue to inspire us. 

What is Calleo? The Latin definition is “to be skillful or wise by experience” and we believe these group of women embody these traits wholeheartedly. Without further ado, allow us to introduce Dana Jedrisko. 

We’d love to get to know you. 

I’m a manager in the marketing department at BankservAfrica. I began my career as a tracer draughts lady and personal assistant. Since then, I’ve held various managerial and leadership positions at international and national companies in various sectors, including engineering, information technology, mergers and acquisitions, and now, payments.  During my career, I’ve gained experience in general management, leadership, marketing, strategic planning, customer value, brand management, marketing, media, and public relations.

With a strong networking ability, I believe in developing solid teams and collaboration, promoting women’s growth and development, and the importance of expanding personal and professional networks to establish long-term relationships.

In my personal capacity, I have been involved in various fundraising initiatives and community forums – ‘’small acts of positive change, can create a great ripple effect”.

Could you share a memorable moment or project that showcased the positive impact of efforts by women that inspired you? How did this inspire you or influence your perspectives?

Thank you for the opportunity, this certainly was unexpected. To be honest, there is not one specific moment, but many.  In my life, it truly started with the gift of becoming a mom, my mom, my family and some truly great close friends. My family is my backbone and part of my drive and determination. With this said, I have had the honour of working with phenomenal women across various sectors who have showcased their ability to drive change in an often male-dominated environment. They showcased that change could happen with good intent by taking the first step, silencing fear, continuous conversations and deliberation.

As a successful woman in a leadership position, what advice would you give to other women who want to pursue their dreams?

• In my opinion, it is important to have passion for what you do – and keep an open mind. Yes, we tend to have unconscious bias. However, with an open mind, you may be surprised at how that passion can be transformed. Be authentic – there is only one you, embrace yourself and know that you matter and you have a purpose
• Show your vulnerability – you are human
• Listen – a skill I continue to develop
• Trust your instinct
• Quieten your mind when there is a ton of noise, observe and breathe
• Set boundaries and time management, it may be tough at times to do, however, these are invaluable tools (one step at a time – it can be done)
• Leadership is a combination of mentorship, coaching, building safe environments that engender trust, growth and open engagement; and making people responsible for their roles and actions
• Take ownership of your mistakes – No one is perfect (other than nature)
• Have fun and bring humour – it truly does not all need to be monotone
• Age is just a number – keep your mind (and body) active (a work in progress)
• Share knowledge and be open to learning. Stay curious. I learn something new every single day – and often, it’s about myself.  What a privilege!

As a woman in South Africa, what are you looking forward to when it comes to the advancement of women?

There has been a substantial shift in the advancement of women, however in my opinion, we are still lagging and it needs to be quicker. It would be great when we stop having these types of conversations and the change is seamless with recognition and rewards truly on par.

As a woman who has achieved so much in the payment industry and has earned her position, what advice would you give to aspiring women looking to pursue their dreams?

Embracing and accepting me, is a true game changer – and yes, it certainly did not happen overnight and has come with many conversations; and still does! Voicing my thoughts and opinions, sharing my knowledge and skills, and my ability to connect – I realised that makes me invaluable.

Empathy is what women can bring to an often hostile world.  Life experiences have unintentionally and thankfully taught me resilience and determination. Failure and making mistakes are inevitable, however, it’s getting up and trying new approaches or reaching out to others to help you see things clearly and never giving up.

Bring balance by taking time out (in nature, travelling, art, yoga, dancing to loud music (whatever your personal tonic is). It’s not failure, it’s another opportunity. Humility is a great asset, and leave ego at the door.

Strive for personal excellence – we all have a different version of what that is; and if you truly know that you did your best – well, you have already won. Treat people with dignity and respect.  Sometimes, the person that you perceive to be your enemy; becomes your closest ally and friend – when you take the opportunity to have a tough conversation when the time is right, and you listen to one another.

Everyone plays a vital role in building successful teams, companies and communities. You may encounter many closed doors, however, do not let that stop you from putting your hand up and asking questions. Never let a NO stop you and stand up to bullies – their behaviour often reflects how they are feeling inside. Learn, inspire and aspire.

As a woman who has achieved so much in the payment industry and has earned her position, what advice would you give to aspiring women looking to pursue their dreams?

Women continue to forge a path in the industry towards building solid foundations for empowered, connected communities.

Payments have evolved from the times when we could only use the bank we banked with to an interoperable system. This said, as users / normal citizens on the street – we are interested in accessing our hard-earned money without fuss and ensuring it is absolutely secure and yes, without paying huge fees.

There is still tremendous disparity towards true financial inclusion in a complex world. My hope is to see access to facilities for those who do not have access to the digital environment, and this starts from an early age (pre-school), irrespective of location. With the always-on, digital world where Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are part of everyday discussions, there is an even stronger need for the private and public sectors to collaborate more towards creating opportunities and closer interaction between the formal and informal economies.

Finally, as women, we need to acknowledge our contribution, actively participate, connect, engage and contribute. Celebrate our successes, embrace our uniqueness and I am a huge believer that kindness goes a long way.  You may be surprised who you may inspire; and the lives you change!