IT Leaders Discuss Inclusion at 2026 IT Indaba
Executives from major financial firms gathered to examine how diverse teams drive operational success and performance.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Remote Work
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At the 2026 IT Indaba, industry leaders explored how inclusion shapes organisational decision-making. The session focused on the critical link between diverse perspectives and high-performance team outputs.
Why it matters
Representation alone is insufficient if diverse views do not influence operations. Effectiveness relies on psychological safety where all contributions are genuinely considered during decision-making.
Three senior technology leaders representing Land Bank, Nedbank, and Absa shared professional perspectives on team performance. It remains unknown how these leadership strategies correlate with firm-wide diversity metrics.
The players
Faith Burn
Faith Burn serves as chief technology and operations officer at Land Bank.
Makopi Nkopodi
Makopi Nkopodi serves as group technology product management executive at Nedbank.
Nomonde White
Nomonde White serves as CIO of group compliance at Absa.
The details
The session, titled The inclusion advantage: How to get diverse teams delivering top performance, highlighted that inclusion influences work prioritisation and customer problem solving. High-performing teams emerge when members challenge established thinking and integrate varied viewpoints.
Timeline
The 2026 IT Indaba conference took place in 2026.
Market Landscape
This discussion reflects a broader push within South African financial institutions to move beyond basic representation targets towards active integration of diverse viewpoints. The focus on psychological safety aligns with contemporary efforts to maintain competitiveness by fostering innovation in corporate decision-making.
For employees in the technology sector, this shift signifies a move toward environments where personal input is expected to actively shape operational projects. Consumers may see more refined service problem-solving as banks incorporate a wider array of perspectives into their development cycles.
The takeaway
True performance gains in technology teams require building a culture where diverse voices are not just present, but influential. Leaders should focus on creating safe spaces where team members feel empowered to challenge established internal logic.
Further reading
For broader trends on modern workplace dynamics, visit Remote Work updates.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CIO South Africa.
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In your experience, does having a diverse team lead to better decision-making at work?
