KC Rottok Chesaina Showcases South Africas Most Influential Women in Architects of Influence
Diana Kinyanjui 
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s SheInvests Conference has become one of South Africa’s signature Women’s Month events, and the 2025 edition was no exception. Held on 23 August at the Sandton Convention Centre, the sold-out gathering brought together more than 650 women to explore the theme Where Your Present and Future Meet. Amid keynote addresses from the likes of Professor Thuli Madonsela, Bonang Matheba, and Ncumisa Ndelu, another highlight came with the launch of a landmark book: Architects of Influence by author and Chartered Accountant KC Rottok Chesaina.
Commissioned by the JSE, Architects of Influence is a coffee-table book that profiles South Africa’s most powerful and pioneering women. The collection captures stories of leaders who have shaped the country’s economy and society — from Thuli Madonsela’s fight against state capture, to Maria Ramos at Standard Chartered, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe of the Motsepe Foundation, Mary Vilakazi of FirstRand, and Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa of Naspers, among many others.
KC explained that the book grew out of his earlier work. “I wrote a book called The CEO X Factor, and Dr Leila Fourie, CEO of the JSE, was featured in it,” he told South African Lifestyle Magazine. “She loved my work and said she had always thought of doing something like this. Two years later, we started working on it seriously, and I’m grateful to the JSE for partnering with me on such an important project.”
The project required an intense six-month timeline to meet its Women’s Month launch. “We started in December and worked intensely for six months,” KC said. “As we wrote, we were also editing and designing. These are very busy women, so it was a lot of emails and calls to coordinate photos and interviews. It was hard work, but incredibly rewarding.”
Beyond its striking photography and design, Architects of Influence is a celebration of progress — showing how women are increasingly stepping into positions of leadership in spaces once dominated by men. KC described the women he profiled as “pioneers and firsts,” noting that many were the first female CEOs of major institutions, from banking and mining to media and retail.
For KC, who built his professional foundation in accounting before moving into writing and speaking, the book represents the merging of technical skill and storytelling. “I always wanted to be a writer,” he reflected. “My mother is a literature professor. She told me there’s no money in writing, so I pursued accounting. But I’ve found a way to bring the two together — finance and storytelling.”
The book’s debut at SheInvests 2025 was warmly received by the audience, who recognised the significance of documenting women’s leadership for future generations. For the JSE, commissioning Architects of Influence forms part of a broader commitment to advancing women in finance, business, and society at large.
“South Africa is full of women who are changing the game,” KC said. “My hope is that this book not only celebrates them but also inspires young women to see themselves as the next generation of pioneers.”
SALM TEAM 
