In this episode of Leaders Unscripted \u2013 an EY Transformative Podcast Series \u2013 Absa Group Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Punki Modise discusses the importance of a customer-centric growth strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modise is responsible for integrating business strategy and sustainability measures at Absa Group \u2013 including overseeing the implementation and effectiveness of the Group\u2019s ESG agenda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is also a member of the Absa Group Executive Committee and sits on various internal governance structures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before her current position, Modise served in several important roles at Absa \u2013 including CFO of the Retail Business Bank, Head of Transactional Banking, Chief of Staff in Retail Banking, CFO of Distribution Channels, and CFO of Card and Consumer Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modise holds a BCom degree from Wits University, a master\u2019s degree in Financial Management from the University of Johannesburg, and has completed the Stanford Executive Program (SEP) at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this interview, Modise explains what a customer-centric growth strategy looks like in the modern business climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She explains how growth strategies must balance short-term customer acquisition with long-term customer value creation \u2013 all while leveraging digital transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modise then unpacks the biggest mistakes South African businesses make in terms of how they treat their customers, before revealing how local organisations can remain customer-centric even in such a diverse nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also talks about AI \u2013 highlighting where it can drive customer happiness, and where organisations must be careful to ensure the technology doesn\u2019t disenfranchise these clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modise concludes the discussion by providing her biggest pieces of advice to South African strategy professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watch the full interview with Punki Modise, below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n