Meet Kavita Vanmali

Form Follows Function: Then Comes Greatness  

Kavita Vanmali has built her career on a simple premise: Impact is achieved by ensuring the objective dictates the solution, and it is this purposeful pursuit that defines her success.  

A Client for Life: Solving Telco Challenges

Kavita is a Partner and Telecommunications Client Leader at Deloitte, her nearly two-decade journey in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) industry isn't just a career; it's a profound commitment to her clients, particularly within the dynamic telecommunications (telco) sector.

"My journey in the TMT industry started off when I joined the firm in 2004... I guess it is more of a 'client for life' journey as I've serviced and served this client since," she reflects, highlighting a dedication that has seen her evolve from an Audit Trainee into a trusted Advisory Partner.

Kavita's deep immersion in the telco sector began with a major telecommunications company as one of her very first audit clients. Her background as a Chartered Accountant led her to specialise in finance transformation and internal controls, driving broader organisational change and modernisation for TMT clients and industry leaders alike 

She is adept at leveraging the firm's global expertise to provide impactful solutions. For example, she has worked with managers from our firm's India team to help our local teams understand the intricacies of telco operations. This promotes accountability, ensures her teams are knowledgeable, and enables them to have meaningful conversations with clients.

Work-Life Integration: A Holistic Approach

 As a working mother of two boys and a wife, Kavita offers a pragmatic view on the well-known challenge of work-life balance. She credits her partnership with her husband as a key factor in achieving what she calls “work-life integration”, recognising that true balance comes from shared understanding, mutual support, and a collaborative approach to family and career demands. For her, the concept of a scale with two equally weighted sides is almost impossible; instead, she integrates her professional and personal commitments as part of a supportive whole. This philosophy has not only shaped her career but also inspired change within our firm. By sharing the challenges she faced as a new mother, she helped pave the way for formal support programmes and facilities that empower new mothers returning to work.

Kavita’s creativity at work is mirrored by her passion for cooking at home. The kitchen is her sanctuary, where she unwinds and experiments. As an adventurous vegetarian who cooks meat dishes she’s never tasted, she views the challenge of mastering new recipes much like tackling complex problems in her professional life, with curiosity, adaptability, and a drive to find the best solution.

Resilience and Relationships

When faced with challenges, Kavita’s mantra is clear: “There's got to be a way. I don't take no for an answer... my focus is always to try and find the solution, whether it's for us, whether it's for the client, whether it's for my people.”

This problem-solving drive, combined with a consultative style, sees her leaning not only on a network of mentors across the firm but also on a wider professional community, spanning colleagues, industry peers, and global connections, to navigate complexities and find innovative solutions. Building strong, lasting relationships is paramount to her success. Her approach is rooted in authenticity and selfless support: “For me, building relationships with all of my clients has always been on the basis of not wanting anything back... really showing I care and helping them when they need something.”

This long-term perspective, cultivated over two decades and enriched by her broader network, ensures a deep level of trust where clients know they can pick up the phone and call her when support is needed.

A Legacy of Female Leadership in TMT

Looking to the future, Kavita is passionate about the TMT industry's role as an "intersect to a whole lot of other industries," offering incredible opportunities to address national and continental challenges. Her ultimate aspiration, however, is deeply personal and impactful: to change the narrative around female leadership in TMT.

"This misnomer about the industry being... very male dominated is starting to change," she asserts. Kavita's legacy will be defined by contributing to this shift, ensuring that future female leaders not only enter but also thrive and lead within the dynamic TMT landscape across Africa.