Savina Harrilall: from food science aspirations to leading people strategy in fintech

In the evolving world of human resources and organisational management, few stories resonate quite like that of Savina Harrilall.

Harrilal, who grew up in Isipingo, south of Durban, fondly reflects on her early academic choices.

In Grade 10, she faced a pivotal decision regarding her subject selection and ultimately decided to study mathematics, physics, biology (Life Sciences), and home economics.

“It was like, that's such a weird combination (high school subjects). But I wanted to do food science. I wanted to be a food technologist, so I wanted to get into food science," Harrilal said.

This eclectic mix of subjects clearly showed her ambitions, even if life took her in a different direction.

"Many years later, I am nowhere near the food sciences. Well, at least I've kept the science part. So I'm still in the field of people science and the field of management sciences."

This statement highlights her evolution from an aspiring food technologist to a prominent advocate for enhancing the well-being and performance of individuals within organisations.

During her formative years, her innate connection with others was always evident. At school, she always noticed that people gravitated towards her.

“So when they (pupils) were going through some sort of difficulty, I was always the one they approached." This natural affinity for helping others laid the groundwork for her future career in human resources.

In an era when traditional professions held societal weight, she admits, “Being a doctor and teacher were quite common back then and (these) were jobs that gave you respect in the community.”

On the other hand, her dad wanted her to be a lawyer. As she navigated her academic journey, she pursued a degree with majors in psychology and law. However, life had other plans.

"I didn't get funding to do my LLB, and I felt pressured to start working and earning some money and then start funding myself up," she reveals, shedding light on the financial challenges that redirected her path. Despite her initial setbacks, she soon found her niche in human resources.

"I think HR found me. I couldn't get funding for my LLB, so I started working as a marketing administrator. Finances were always a struggle."

Harrilall's resilience truly shone through her challenges. After 11 months of unemployment and relentless job applications, her perseverance paid off.

"I started applying for jobs in HR. I went to two organisations on the same day for an interview. 11 months later, I got offered jobs in both, but the one job I came for had been reserved for someone. So they created a job for me."

It was a pivotal moment that would change the course of her career. "Not even three months later, my boss called me and said, ‘You know, you're wasting away. I'm just going to move you into the HR department," she recalls.

This opportunity allowed her to thrive and reinforced her belief that her path was meant to be in the realm of people.

"So I suppose in some shape or form, the people part of the universe have always followed me, and it feels like that has always been the natural inclination."

Even as she advanced in her career, Harrilall dedicated herself to higher education, completing her honours and master's degrees in industrial psychology and, most recently, her PhD.

"As I worked, I finished my Honours in Industrial Psychology. I then did my Master’s in Industrial Psychology. I recently completed my examination for my PhD in industrial psychology, so I'm waiting for my graduation in June," she shares with a sense of pride.

With two decades of experience in the HR industry, including roles at SA Taxi and Momentum, she is at the forefront of developing Mukuru’s people strategy and championing a bold vision for a more inclusive, people-centred organisation.

Mukuru is a leading fintech company offering millions of customers a wide range of financial services across 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

In her three years with the fintech company, Harrilall has played a crucial role in shaping its people strategy, aligning its culture and talent development with its business objectives. Under her leadership, Mukuru has surpassed several industry benchmarks, earning certification as a Top Employer in South Africa for 2024 and 2025.

This recognition highlights the company’s position as a globally competitive employer dedicated to retaining talented employees.

“At the core of our business are our people. While we've always prioritised the customer, when I joined three years ago, I proposed that we should also focus on enhancing the skills of our employees.

Our goal is to equip them with tools and skills that help them excel and thrive in their roles. We offer various learning platforms that allow employees to access development opportunities at their own pace, and we have mentoring and coaching from leaders within the business,” Harrilall added.

She also highlighted Mukuru's recent launch of the ''Inspire Her'' programme.

This social learning initiative recognises the impactful women in the company and provides them with a platform to share their stories. Harrilall emphasised the importance of women creating opportunities for themselves.

"As women, we must create our opportunities and claim our space. I don't believe we should wait for a seat at the table; we should pull up our chairs and build the opportunities ourselves," she said.

She added that while progress is being made, financial inclusion remains a significant challenge across many African countries.

"In the context of digital transformation, at Mukuru, we focus on financial inclusion. We create tools for people who previously lacked access to financial solutions, allowing them to transform their lives.

Whether it's access to funding or loans, we aim to provide solutions that empower individuals to think about entrepreneurship.

"In Africa, we constantly face challenges. Even with creative entrepreneurial ideas, without access to funding, these ideas often remain just dreams. Mukuru is working to turn those dreams into reality by bridging that gap," she said.

The Star

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