Chipo’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and empowerment. Currently a senior manager at Legal & General, she is responsible for managing financial risks related to increasing life expectancy, a key factor affecting the company’s pension liabilities. Her expertise lies in developing actuarial models that form L&G’s view of mortality risks, collaborating with pricing teams to ensure appropriate product pricing and communicating the results to a large variety of stakeholders. Chipo’s role requires a deep understanding of demographic trends and regulatory standards, allowing her to safeguard the company’s financial stability against the uncertainties surrounding longevity risks.

Having joined Legal & General in March 2024, Chipo's career reflects the power of transferable skills. Her journey spans continents, industries, and roles, embodying both personal and professional diversity. Prior to her current role, she was a senior consultant and manager at EY in the UK and an actuarial specialist at Liberty Life South Africa, bringing with her a wealth of experience that transcends borders. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Chipo’s early career began with an accounting internship at Deloitte. While her initial ambition was to become an actuary, the socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe at the time posed challenges, leading her to pivot to accounting. This early shift marked the beginning of Chipo’s ability to leverage diversity as both a strength and an opportunity.

Chipo’s journey has been a testament to her adaptability and determination. To further her career, she pursued higher education in South Africa, where she graduated with top marks and secured a position at Liberty Life. Despite her accomplishments, Chipo has never been able to escape the realities of systemic inequality. As a Black woman navigating historically white-dominated industries in Zimbabwe and South Africa and the UK, she faced the compounded challenges of racial and gender biases. Yet, these obstacles only fueled her determination. A graduate of an all-girls high school and youngest of three girls, Chipo has long been an advocate for women’s rights and gender equity, a cause that further motivated her in male-dominated workplaces.

While South Africa introduced Chipo to the realities of racial segregation, it also offered her a diverse environment that she came to appreciate. University life exposed her to the subtle divisions along racial lines but also gave her a space to challenge these divisions and build connections across cultures. In reflecting on her experiences, Chipo speaks to the importance of authenticity and individuality. Her upbringing, especially her mother’s belief that hard work and perseverance would lead to success, gave her the foundation to rise above societal constraints.

Chipo’s professional path took her from South Africa to the UK, where she was struck by the subtlety of British culture, where people tend to be more passive. She noticed the lack of open acknowledgment of the needs and challenges faced by Black professionals, but rather than conforming, she remained true to her identity, vocal about her experiences, and determined to bring her authentic self to the table.

Chipo reflects on her career as a continuous journey of breaking barriers, whether as a woman, a Black person, or as someone new to a team. For her, diversity is not just about representation; it is about creating a culture where differences are celebrated, not merely tolerated. While she has a variety of mentors, Chipo remembers one, for helping her embrace this mindset. Her mentor once told her, “Don’t try to find common ground when you are the different person in the room. You being in the room is the common ground, your difference is what makes you unique.” This advice became the cornerstone of Chipo’s leadership style.

As a leader, Chipo is not waiting for an invitation to bring her perspective into the conversation, she is determined to normalize difference. Whether advocating for equal parental rights from her experience as a mother or leading initiatives related to Black History Month, she believes in using her identity as a bridge for education and inclusion. At Legal & General, she has introduced an educational wing within her department, encouraging others to share their stories and knowledge. For Chipo, inclusion means more than checking a box; it’s about creating a space where everyone can bring their full selves to work, fostering empathy, and recognising that growth comes from collaboration.

Chipo’s narrative is one of a leader who embraces her individuality and strives to open doors for others. As the most senior Black person and only Black person in her team, she understands the importance of representation, not just for herself, but for those who come after her. She is committed to ensuring that the path she has walked becomes easier for others.

As she continues to grow in her career, Chipo is keenly aware that the journey of learning and achieving is never finished. She is still working on her own work-life balance, making time to be present in all spheres of her life. Her story is one of courage, strength, and an unwavering commitment to creating spaces where difference is not just accepted but celebrated. For Chipo as a leader she not only brings `her A-game she brings her swag`, a quote from Empowered Evolution, Marjorie Ngwenya. She encourages others to do the same; bring your ideas, bring your work ethic, bring your experience but bring you, your personality, your values, your identity. Chipo’s legacy is one of opening doors for others, ensuring that diverse voices are heard, and proving that success is possible for those who stay true to themselves. To those around her she says `Sawubona`, the Zulu greeting meaning I see you.