Fathima Ebrahim, CFO of Rompco, charted her own path to success through grit, mentorship, and unwavering determination. She plays a strategic leadership role in one of Southern Africa’s most vital energy infrastructure projects – helping shape the region’s economic future through sustainable gas transmission.
Fathima Ebrahim’s journey from a resource-constrained upbringing to the role of chief financial officer for The Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Investments Company (ROMPCO) is a testament to resilience, purposeful leadership and a deep commitment to transformation within the energy sector.
Rompco is tasked with transporting natural gas from Mozambique’s Pande and Temane fields to key markets in both Mozambique and South Africa.
It all started at the secondary school Fathima attended, which had limited resources, and students were not provided with career guidance or information regarding university applications, bursary opportunities, or financial aid.
“My academic strengths lay in accounting and languages, and at the time, Information Technology was gaining prominence. Given my family’s financial constraints, I sought an affordable course that combined accounting and IT, ultimately enrolling for a national diploma in financial information systems. With the support of a student loan from Absa, I embarked on my tertiary education journey,” she says.
A serendipitous encounter on campus at the University of Johannesburg with Schalk van Eeden (an executive at Denel) led to a significant turning point in Fathima’s career, and during her third year of studies, she began vacation work at Denel, where “Oom Schalk” recognised her potential and encouraged her to aspire to greater achievements.
She explains that he facilitated a meeting between her and Denel’s audit partner, allowing Fathima to explore the possibility of pursuing a career as a chartered accountant.
“Oom Schalk imparted an invaluable leadership lesson – true leaders recognise potential, believe in others, empower and uplift them without expecting anything in return,” Fathima recalls.
In January 2001, Fathima started her articles while simultaneously studying part-time towards a BCom honours, and obtaining her South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) certification.
Over the next seven years at KPMG, she specialised mainly in external audit in the consumer markets and information, communication and entertainment divisions.
In January 2008 Fathima joined Sasol, where she held various roles in statutory reporting, financial management, economic regulation and business controlling across the energy business, including gas, liquid fuels and electricity.
In March 2020, she was seconded to Rompco as CFO to support the three shareholders in establishing an independent and sustainable gas transmission entity that would maximise benefits for South Africa and Mozambique. Her permanent appointment at Rompco followed in January 2021.
Pivotal moments and decisions
Fathima explains that a defining theme throughout her career has been the willingness to seize opportunities as they arise, each playing a significant role in shaping her into the leader she is today.
“Early in my career, I embraced the opportunity to contribute to the development of South Africa’s regulatory framework for piped-gas. This undertaking required extensive research into economic regulations and market dynamics, refinement of financial modelling skills to forecast long-term impacts, and the strategic use of negotiation skills to align diverse stakeholders on a sustainable framework that balanced both growth and compliance. This experience instilled in me a strategic approach to navigating complex challenges and weighing risk against opportunity,” she says.
Additionally, for Fathima, this journey provided valuable personal insights, having discovered that she thrived in unstructured environments that demanded innovative solutions and collaboration with diverse teams.
As a result, she then proactively sought opportunities to learn and grow – whether by gaining experience in the retail and commercial liquid fuels business, or co-leading the group-wide adoption of new IFRS standards, or forming part of a project team to evaluate potential acquisitions.
“The decision to transition to Rompco was another pivotal moment in my professional journey. Establishing an independent entity offered a unique opportunity to gain comprehensive experience across all facets of organisational design. This process strengthened my ability to translate vision into actionable strategies and provided in depth exposure to all key business functions, including finance, human resources, information management, operations, commercial and legal,” explains Fathima.
These defining moments for her, embracing challenges, managing risk, refining technical and negotiation skills, collaborating with diverse teams and driving strategic initiatives with a stakeholder-centric mindset have shaped her into a CFO who integrates vision with disciplined execution.
Conquering unique challenges
One of the most significant challenges Fathima encountered was the need to align diverse stakeholders with conflicting priorities.
She adds that successfully navigating these complexities required a multifaceted approach, including structured stakeholder engagement to gain a comprehensive understanding of varying perspectives, transparent communication to foster collaboration, and data-driven decision-making to ensure informed and strategic outcomes. Above all, maintaining integrity and trust in leadership was essential in establishing credibility and driving consensus.
“In the process of establishing Rompco as an independent entity, I had the immense privilege of building my team, implementing a new ERP system, and developing policies and procedures. One of the challenges I experienced was during the implementation and transition period, I was required to operate at both strategic and detailed operational levels, ensuring seamless integration and execution across various business functions,”
“As Rompco operates across borders, another key challenge was navigating the complex regulatory frameworks of South Africa and Mozambique. Ensuring compliance within these distinct legal and economic environments demanded a deep understanding of local regulations, proactive stakeholder engagement, and a meticulous approach to governance and financial oversight,” she says.
Leadership philosophy as a CFO
Fathima’s leadership philosophy is founded on stewardship and integrity and she explains that as CFO, she views both herself and her team as custodians of the organisation’s financial resources, ensuring they are managed with discipline and transparency to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.
“Equally essential is my role as a strategic partner to the CEO and the board – aligning financial strategy with Rompco’s broader objectives and leveraging insights from market trends and financial forecasts to inform critical, ethical decisions that prioritise long-term stability over short-term gains,” she says.
Beyond financial management, Fathima says, a fundamental aspect of her philosophy is collaborative leadership – fostering a culture of accountability and innovation within her team and cultivating strong partnerships across departments.
Supporting young women in finance
“I provide mentorship to young women pursuing careers in the finance and energy sectors, offering guidance tailored to their professional growth. I strive to create a supportive and open environment where they feel comfortable sharing their experiences, whether they are navigating complex workplace challenges or contemplating career transitions,” she says.
For her, her approach emphasises the importance of embracing change, ensuring that mentees feel heard and supported through meaningful advice.
She adds that she is particularly attentive to gender-specific obstacles, such as overcoming stereotypes and striking a balance between assertiveness and collaboration.
“By sharing effective strategies, demonstrating confidence and fostering valuable connections, I aim to empower these professionals to forge their own successful paths within these industries,” she says.
For Fathima, balancing the demands of a high-pressure executive role with her personal life and wellbeing remains an ongoing journey. She says that she has redefined her goals to include personal fulfilment and has become intentional about prioritising her own wellbeing by integrating sustainable habits into her daily routine.
“I identify the non-negotiable aspects of my personal life – such as family time, exercise, and Formula One – and commit to them with the same level of dedication as critical meetings. Additionally, I rely on a strong network of family, friends, and colleagues for support. I believe that achieving overall wellbeing requires resilience and perspective, allowing one to manage professional responsibilities while remaining true to personal values,” she says.
Keeping motivated
Fathima’s solution to helping her remain motivated is a clear sense of purpose and maintaining focus on the end goal.
“I draw energy from problem-solving, supporting my team, and fostering their growth. Continuous learning helps me stay grounded, and I prioritise celebrating small victories, recognising their significance in driving sustained progress and motivation,” she says.
Engaging in yoga at least three times a week has also been instrumental in maintaining her wellbeing.
“Keeping a gratitude journal with a nightly entry allows me to reflect on my day and appreciate my blessings. Additionally, having uninterrupted daily ‘download’ sessions with my children, where we discuss the events of the day, including its joys, disappointments, and hopes, has been invaluable in fostering resilience and connection,” she says.