{"id":561,"date":"2022-04-27T06:17:29","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T04:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/?p=561"},"modified":"2022-07-06T09:19:35","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T07:19:35","slug":"ethics-series-is-it-time-to-start-with-the-man-in-the-mirror-so-to-speak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/?p=561","title":{"rendered":"Ethics Series \u2013 Is it time to \u201cstart with the man in the mirror\u201d \u2013 so to speak?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em>Pretending not to know<\/em><\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Was the title of a talk given by Linda Marie Miller during the Toastmasters 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking. <\/em><\/strong>In her talk Miller, a white woman, talks about \u201cprivilege.\u201d In it, she narrates how the story of the death of her black friend\u2019s \u2018amazing\u2019 child made her reflect on her privilege. That child, Michael, had been an exemplary citizen. For example, he helped took a homeless person home and gave up his bed for him until he got back on his feet. He had dreams of going to medical school when he got hit by a car and died. The driver – a white woman- was taken at her word. She was not in the wrong. Michael was tested for drugs because, as a black man, he must have been in the wrong. He must have been under the influence. Miller tried to help her friend, Michael\u2019s father – Tony, to organise the funeral and used his account to get accommodation but was rejected. When she used her credentials, the same places that rejected Tony were suddenly available. Because of this she realised that she, as a white, blonde, blue-eyed woman, had all along pretended not to know and recognise her privilege. About this she says: \u201cI have been pretending not to know that, I am a beneficiary of a system, controlled by people, who looked like me.\u201d<\/em> She realised that this system worked exactly as it was intended. Crucially, it relied on her silence, her fear to speak up and her pretending that she did not know what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been pretending not to know that, I am a beneficiary of a system, controlled by people, who looked like me.\u201d<\/p>Lindie marie miller<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This speech resonated so much with me. It reminded me of an experience I had in the late 1990s. It is one of the most profound experiences and it contributed to who I am today and the kind of leader I would like to be remembered as. Over the years I have reflected on this experience and it has helped me to resolve professional and personal dilemmas. More critically, I reflect on this experience whenever the media casts a negative spotlight on our profession, albeit some of which is self-inflicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was this event I mentioned above? What were the profound lessons I learned, and what reflections has it inspired over the years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To answer these questions, I will be publishing a six<\/em><\/strong>-part series on Ethics and I will tackle the following topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Part I \u2013 The story \/ experience<\/em><\/li>
  2. Part II \u2013 The learnings \u2013 \u201cStarting with the person in the mirror\u201d<\/em><\/li>
  3. Part III \u2013 But, where did this moral degeneration come from?<\/em><\/li>
  4. Part IV \u2013 Young CAs \u2013 Beware : The dangers of \u201cpretending not to see\u201d<\/em><\/li>
  5. Part V \u2013 CA Profession: Are we training CAs ready for the finish line?<\/em><\/li>
  6. Part VI \u2013 The dangers of the status quo: Ethics? What Ethics?<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Why the six-part series on Ethics?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    There are three <\/em><\/strong>reasons why I have decided to release this series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First<\/strong> – Over the years, as I have progressed in my life and career – specifically since the Enron scandal in 2001 – I have grown mildly frustrated with our discussions on Ethics in the profession. As I have grown and developed, I have also become brave enough to try and direct the conversation by asking \u201cpolite but probing questions.<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>  Of course, I try to deliver these questions with just the right amount of decorum and demeanour to \u201cengage\u201d those in the room -mainly beneficiaries of various systems. I soften my face and make sure that my voice is projected to \u2018accepted\u2019 levels.  Also, I adjust my tone. Why? I need to make those in the room comfortable so that they don\u2019t think I am an emotional and angry black woman. I do so to ensure that \u2013 as I have been cautioned over the years- I am \u201ccareful how I deliver my truth.\u201d I make these adjustments so that I don\u2019t probe or push \u201ctoo much\u201d when I get unsatisfactory answers, lest I\u2019m viewed as \u201caggressive\u201d or \u201charsh\u201d or \u201cdisrespectful.\u201d I do so to speak the \u201cright organisation or profession language\u2019\u2019 and not appear \u201cconfrontational.\u201d I need to be exactly how the system wants me to be \u2013 timid and respectful and firmly remain in the proverbial kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I am \u201ccareful how I deliver my truth.\u201d I make these adjustments so that I don\u2019t probe or push \u201ctoo much\u201d when I get unsatisfactory answers, lest I\u2019m viewed as \u201caggressive\u201d or \u201charsh\u201d or \u201cdisrespectful.\u201d<\/sub><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Second<\/strong> – I have long reasoned that I have been trained to be a thought leader. This is why I am so passionate about my profession. As CAs we are trained to be leaders that at all times observe, collect data, and be brave enough to ask questions. We are trained to take an in depth look at existing processes and systems, critically analyse these and find key weaknesses. We find root causes to issues so that when problems arise or persist – when emergencies occur – we move swiftly to the core and provide sustainable solutions. To inspire the people to take action, to find new ways of doing things and new ways of thinking. This is who I am, and this is after all, at the core of the CA(SA)<\/strong> brand that I always proudly add as an extension <\/em>to my name. I am Zimkita Mabindla CA(SA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Also, I aim to demonstrate to young CAs what I have been preaching to them in recent years. Thought leaders are bold, brave and courageous. They challenge the status quo. They use their education, training, knowledge and experiences to provide insights and solutions. They sacrifice for the greater good. Thought leadership, however, does not have to be controversial<\/em>. It is more critical than ever that as CAs we remind ourselves of who we are. This, I believe, is critical, especially in light of the media reports that have cast a negative spotlight on the brand, and those few CAs who have found themselves at the centre of the stories reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, we don\u2019t necessarily have to defend ourselves to third parties. So, my hope is that amongst ourselves we remember who we are and the value we bring to (1) societies, (2) economies, (3) processes, (4) policies, (5) systems and (6) organisations that we work for.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Third and most critical<\/strong> \u2013 We are in dire need of woman – especially black woman<\/em> – thought leadership in the profession. Black women are in a unique position of navigating a world that has never seen it necessary to build-in any systemic privileges for them. This unique position presents the black women with an opportunity to provide thought leadership from a vantage point. This thought leadership is critical because it brings diversity and introduces new ways of thinking into the spaces we occupy and navigate. The dearth of opinion from this unique and large group of the population has, in my opinion, thwarted the formulation of new solutions to existing problems. I also believe that our silence and lack of published thought leadership has meant that various status quos remain. Difficult old issues do not have fresh solutions, and we repeat the same conversations annually; then we are back to square one.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is with this spirit then that I will take a risk, be courageous and publish this unique and hopefully fresh take on ethics in the profession. Like Miller, mentioned at the outset, I refuse to continue to pretend not know, I will not point fingers, I am \u201cstarting with the man in the mirror.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \u201cPretending not to know\u201d Was the title of a talk given by Linda Marie Miller during the Toastmasters 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking. In her talk Miller, a white woman, talks about \u201cprivilege.\u201d In it, she narrates how the story of the death of her black friend\u2019s \u2018amazing\u2019 child made her reflect on her<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-the-profession"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=561"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":562,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561\/revisions\/562"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zimkitamabindla.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}