Bina Genovese, Susie Goodman and Khetiwe McClain lead with a people-centred approach grounded in discipline and hard work.
At Strauss & Co — Africa’s leading auction house — three women who make up the company’s leadership and management team are leaving a lasting mark on the secondary market for fine art, jewellery, design, decorative arts and fine wine.
Susie Goodman, Bina Genovese, and Khetiwe McClain continue to shape the company’s vision and legacy, bringing unique expertise and passion while driving the company’s commitment to connecting buyers and sellers in a transparent market that supports both the local and international scenes. Their leadership has been fundamental to Strauss & Co’s transformation and ongoing market success.
With a shared commitment to growth, collaboration and fostering talent, they guide a largely female team spread across locations in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and regional offices in London, the Garden Route, the Cape Winelands, and KwaZulu-Natal. But their impact goes far beyond their titles. They believe that art is a catalyst for change, that mentorship is the foundation for growth and that inclusivity is essential to the future of the industry.
Susie Goodman, Managing Executive, Director and Senior Auctioneer at Strauss & Co, is a leader who truly understands the value of nurturing talent and encouraging teamwork.
With a wealth of industry knowledge, a keen sense of emotional intelligence, and a strong commitment to integrity, Susie’s leadership is a strong foundation for the company’s ten departments —Art, Decorative Arts, Design & Jewlery, Ceramics, Wine, Private Sales, Marketing, Client Advisory & Business Development, Finance, Technology and Operations. Her years of experience in both the local and international art scenes, including her time at Christie’s in London where she played a key role in developing their Global Buyers’ Programmes, give her a unique perspective of leading teams in different climates and through expansion.
What really sets Susie apart, though, is the warmth with which she approaches her work. Her leadership — she was appointed an executive board member in 2018 — encourages everyone in the team to take responsibility and grow professionally, creating an environment where people feel valued and inspired to give their best. For her, business is all about relationships—whether she’s connecting with collectors, curators, or her own team. She believes art should bring people together and values personal connections just as much as professional success. Known for her nurturing and approachable style, Susie has created a team that feels empowered by her example — the staff often joke that the one way to know she is in the office is the abundance of food she brings along for team lunches, making sure everyone is well-fed and taken care of.
She places a strong emphasis on mental health, wellbeing and collective support, stating; “I believe in kindness and in leading the charge. I am, absolutely, not above packing out chairs or grabbing a feather duster before an auction! We are stronger together, more than the sum of our parts.”
ALSO SEE: Naomi Campbell hails Thebe Magugu as a visionary shaping global fashion
Supplied
Bina Genovese, Managing Executive, Director, Founder and Senior Auctioneer of Strauss & Co, is highly respected for her expertise in navigating the various intersections that drive the business forward, particularly in managing client relations.
With over three decades of experience in the local and international art market, including more than a decade at Christie’s in Rome in charge of the Rome office, a vibrant selling centre, Bina has played a pivotal role in establishing Strauss & Co as a global leader in art from the continent. Through her strong personal connections, Bina has secured some of the most important collections that have come to market over the years. She firmly believes that dynamic and exciting works should not simply be grouped into one category— “African art.” Instead, she views African art as a rich and inspiring reflection of diverse cultures, histories, and perspectives that deserve to be appreciated on their own terms.
Bina heads up the marketing and business development departments and plays an active role in growing the business locally and internationally ensuring that Strauss & Co not only attracts new clients but also builds lasting relationships within the industry. Her leadership extends to educational outreach and nurturing new generations of art lovers and collectors through initiatives such as Art Club, Strauss & Co’s monthly platform that hosts conversations around art, design and style. Bina’s ability to bring together the different parts of the business—art, fashion, style, and client engagement—has been key to the company’s success.
With impeccable attention to detail, she brings to every aspect of her life and work; be it her well-curated and tailored outfits she wears as an auctioneer during an auction or meticulous preparation and research, she considers both substantive and aesthetic presentation as important pillars of success. She’s always pushing herself to learn and grow, whether it’s through yoga or rigorous and meditative daily walks. Her leadership, grounded in a commitment to excellence, has contributed to helping build Strauss & Co as a cultural ambassador.
Bina credits much of her success to courage, commitment and hard work — qualities she sees as essential for building a lasting career. She notes; “I believe that if you want to achieve something in life, you first need to dream. That dream serves as a catalyst. While obstacles will inevitably arise, hard work, is key to overcoming them and reaching your goals.”
Khetiwe McClain, Strauss & Co’s Client Advisory Executive Director, brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for art, cultivated through years of academic and professional pursuits. Her journey took her across Europe, where she studied Fine Art at esteemed institutions, including Academia di Belle Arti, Pietro Vannucci of Perugia, and the University of Florence in Italy. This foundation strengthened her deep connection to art and cultural exchange. She has a great way of balancing the big picture with the finer details, ensuring the company stays on track while infusing every interaction with energy, enthusiasm and a positive outlook.
Before joining Strauss & Co in 2023, Khetiwe built a distinguished career in diplomacy and the mining sector, where she led impactful initiatives aimed at empowering South African artists and expanding global trade, promoting the export of South African products and facilitating bilateral trade initiatives between South Africa and Italy.
Among other initiatives, she spearheaded jewellery-making projects with emerging jewellers and collaborated with Sotheby’s to partner top British designers with rural South African crafters, which resulted in the end products being showcased in London. Her diverse background has been instrumental in Strauss & Co’s expansion, where she has played a key role in diversifying the art market — be it through connecting different institutions and stakeholders through collaborations or her involvement in educational initiatives, such as school visits, art conversations and gatherings with the rest of the team in Johannesburg. Khetiwe is particularly passionate about breaking down the barriers that often make the art world feel intimidating, especially for first-time buyers and those from diverse backgrounds.
Introspective and contemplative, with a quiet calm that reflects a deep, thoughtful nature Khetiwe firmly believes in the power of collaboration, recognizing that bringing people and ideas together can spark new conversations and create opportunities for meaningful participation. Whether it’s connecting individuals, forging new partnerships, or facilitating cross-disciplinary collaborations, Khetiwe excels at seeing the potential in connections that might seem, at first, haphazard or disparate.
She notes, “Art is a bridge that unites us across time, space, and ideas. In every collaboration, we weave threads of humanity, creating something greater than ourselves—where new perspectives flourish and connections spark the possibility of transformation.”
A firm believer in lifelong learning, Khetiwe is always pushing herself to grow, whether through avid reading, attending studio visits, or engaging with artists. With a particular interest in photography and new media, she embraces the evolving landscape of the art world, staying ahead of trends while consistently sharing her knowledge with those around her.
Whether they’re helping new collectors navigate the auction world, advocating for emerging and long-forgotten artists through non-selling exhibitions, setting impeccable records for the sale of artworks or curating groundbreaking sales, Susie, Bina, and Khetiwe alongside the fantastic teams they lead continue to champion an ongoing dialogue of artistic expression, cultural exchange, and social impact in the country. And the ripple effect of their work will continue to shape the auction world for years to come.
ALSO SEE:
Donatella Versace is stepping down from iconic fashion house
Images: Supplied
