Courtney Mocke, Joe Public: #WomensMonth

Image courtesy. For Courtney Mocke, general strategist at Joe Public, Women’s Month is a poignant reminder to honor and celebrate the amazing women who have been a part of her life in every aspect of her life.

“From my mother and grandmother to my sisters, friends, colleagues and mentors… their contributions have deeply shaped who I am.”

She said that from the personal, professional and social levels, Women’s Month highlights the significance and far-reaching impact of women’s diverse and multi-faceted contributions.

“It reminds us to be intentional about recognizing and being grateful for their inherent power, essence and role in our lives and in the world.”

She added that while she strives to embody this awareness and gratitude throughout the year, Women’s Month is a special time to be more intentional about these contributions.

What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

During my time studying for my business degree, I always believed that if God wills it, there will be a way.

This belief guides my journey, especially as I feel a strong desire to reconnect with my innate passion for language, art, literature, and creativity.
The combination of business acumen and creative instinct inspired me to pursue a career that blends both disciplines.

This intersection really opened my eyes and inspired me to give my best.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career, especially as a woman, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been learning to trust my gut and instincts, and from there earning credibility and trust in those insights from others.

Women have incredible intuition, and if we hone it, test it, and trust it, it can be our greatest strength.

To overcome this challenge, I had to develop confidence in my own ability to discern, trust that my inner voice was always speaking from an authentic voice, and most importantly, stay true to my values ​​and principles.

As a woman, how do you view leadership? What do you think are the key qualities of an effective leader? What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of being a woman?

I was very fortunate to be surrounded by female leaders and mentored by an amazing woman early in my career.

This experience had a huge impact on me because I witnessed the power that women have in being able to believe in themselves enough to help other women.

I am passionate about this reciprocity of collective empowerment, which I believe is the cornerstone of effective leadership and a unique advantage for women leaders.

As I witnessed and subsequently embodied, this type of leadership is effective because it involves integrity, humility, healthy self-esteem, collaboration, and self-reflection in every endeavor to provide support to others.

What initiatives or projects are you most proud of and why do you think they were successful?

I am particularly proud of my strategic leadership in launching Brutal Fruit Spritzer SheBeen last year in honor of Women’s Day.

As South Africa’s first women-only bar, it creates a space for women to feel liberated, empowered and celebrated.

Although this was one of the most arduous and demanding projects, working with such an influential team of women drove its success, and the overwhelming response from women across South Africa made it a particularly rewarding experience.

It set the tone for the type of work I was passionate about and my desire to further develop in my career.

What advice would you give to other women aspiring to succeed in your industry?

I firmly believe that success depends on a balanced mindset: a good and conscious balance between work and rest or play, between critical thinking and creative thinking, between confidence and curiosity.

Trust your instincts confidently and let your values ​​guide you.

At the same time, stay curious and open-minded, keen to learn and eager to collaborate.

You will grow by developing inner confidence, curiosity about the world, and collaboration with others.