Interview in Business Magazine with Suneeta Motala, CMO of Stewards Investment Capital

She entered the marketing and communications world unexpectedly. not only did she love it and make it her new career, but she also sought to carve out a place for herself on the Forbes Communication Council - a successful gamble for Suneeta Motala, Chief Marketing Officer of Stewards Investment Capital.

New job two months after giving birth

Over the next few years, the professional moved from Head of Marketing to Chief Marketing Officer, taking care of communications, marketing and brand visibility at both local and international levels. The initiatives she undertook during her sixteen years at AfrAsia earned her several international awards. Last year, Suneeta Motala spent a short six-month stint at SBM, marked by stimulating, exciting projects. At the beginning of 2024, she joined Stewards Investment Capital, where she is responsible for communications and strategic initiatives in Mauritius, South Africa and the United States. Evolving in an organization with an international footprint opens the door to a range of opportunities to do things differently on the world stage, she adds.

The Forbes adventure

Last March, Suneeta Motala became the first Mauritian member of the Forbes Communications Council, following her selection by an evaluation committee based on her experience, business development impacts, professional and personal achievements and awards.

Each intervention is a unique opportunity for us to strengthen a brand, for example. it's just a matter of identifying that opportunity and turning it into an opportunity.

Meetings with other communications professionals took place on a virtual platform that enables members of the Forbes Communications Council to interact with each other by sharing experiences, ideas and best practices, taking part in debates and writing articles that are published on the Forbes website. To date, Suneeta Motala has contributed four articles, namely, “Expanding to A Global Audience? 10 Tips for Getting It Right", "14 Marketing Mistakes Startups Often Make (And How To Fix Them)", "13 Hiring Challenges Facing Marketers Today (And How To Overcome Them)" and "16 Essential Tips For Improving Your Copywriting Skills”. I didn't expect my entry to be selected by the jury members so quickly. Especially since each article has over a hundred v members participating. I thought maybe my contribution would be included once a year," confides the strategic communications expert. She confides that she was asked to write an article on her own. On what subject? She won't say for the moment.

At Forbes," says Suneeta Motala, "it doesn't matter where the member comes from. What counts is the expertise and contribution of the members, their authenticity and individuality. "We don't judge you by your point of view. On the contrary, we always tell you that there are paths that others won't take and that are sometimes scary, but that offer you enormous opportunities. Personally, I'm addicted to this platform, which I visit absolutely every night to learn new things and share with my peers around the world. You inspire others and others inspire you," she observes.

The subtleties of communication

Suneeta Motala emphasizes that communication is at the very heart of any company's strategy. Effective communication is essential to establishing a solid relationship with all stakeholders. Every intervention is a unique opportunity to reinforce a brand, for example. It's just a matter of identifying that opportunity and turning it into an opportunity. But communication isn't limited to the outside world. It's also important to communicate with employees to promote transparency, a sense of belonging and collaboration. And all this while preserving our originality in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important." she points out.