South Africa

South Africa, a country with a long storied rich history; has produced some amazing, well known leaders who have been cemented into world history.  Even more so today, South Africa continues to generate leaders who are making a daily difference in this country, extraordinary leaders with whom I’ve had the opportunity to sit and speak over the past seven days.

My Eisenhower travels have taken me to parts of South Africa where I’ve experienced — and more importantly, learned — the spirit of South Africa through these conversations.

In the next few installments of my Eisenhower Fellowship journey blog, meet some of the leaders I’ve been learning from and the African proverbs they embody.

South Africa Blog One: 

  1. Ugandan Proverb – A roaring lion kills no game (It’s best to work quietly toward your goals rather than bragging about an achievement prematurely.)

A focus group of nine inspiring “Mosaic” leaders and innovators

I met a group of nine up-and-coming female leaders who are working toward their goals but facing tremendous challenges. South Africa’s large youth population presents a great opportunity to influence the emergence of a new generation of leaders and innovators.  However, this opportunity is smattered with enormous challenges, mostly related to the treatment of young women in the areas of promotion, protection, safety and general respect. Despite these challenges, the ideas taking shape and the entrepreneurial spirit within this small sampling of female leaders is indicative of what’s happening across the continent.  I salute these women for their leadership in the face of challenges and look forward to seeing the tremendous success they achieve.

  • Ghanaian Proverb – Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight (The first step is the hardest, and an idea can quickly become reality once it has taken root.)

Economic and social development: empowering women and girls could contribute up to $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025, according to McKinsey Global Institute).

Gugu Ndebele is the Executive Director at Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG).  She is charged with “setting alight” or keeping the promise of the school’s mission statement, “to provide a nurturing educational environment for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and equip them with the skills to become our future leaders of tomorrow.”  The impact of Gugu and OWLAG on exposing girls to STEM is life changing and will play a key role not only in Africa but in the world’s economic and social development. 

Gugu Ndebele is passionate about children and she attributes this passion to her mother, whom she described as an activist.  Gugu as a leader is a perfect example of women supporting women and  the concept that “I am my sister’s keeper.”  As she described her progression into leadership, she talked about the women who mentored and sponsored her along the way and those she is mentoring now.  My top five key takeaways from Gugu were as follows:

  1. Always place children at the center and do all things in service of the child
  2. Lead with humility
  3. You cannot change what you don’t know.  You must first know where the mischief is.
  4. True leadership takes time
  5. You have to own your role in conflict, mistakes and learn from it
  • West Africa Proverb – Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.  (It is impossible for one person to know everything; wisdom belongs to everyone and should not be kept to oneself. Essentially, if you have knowledge, share it. The baobab tree is known by some African tribes as the Tree of Life.

Bonang Mohale has been a guest on numerous international TV, radio and magazine programs and yet he is warm, humble and kind with a deep set of beliefs that has guided him to great success over the course of his career.  He has compiled his speeches and thoughts on leadership into a book titled “Lift As You Rise”.  This book’s title embodies who Bonang is as a leader and human.  He is passionate about people development and unapologetically outspoken about advancing women in leadership.  He described in our conversation the bold and chancy decision to advance women in leadership throughout his career.  Bonang radiates hope that achieving is within anyone’s grasp.  I encourage you to get your copy of “Lift As You Rise” from this amazing leader.  He is not only a treasure to Africa but to the world!

  • Democratic Republic of Congo Proverb – You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla (Respect and listen to our elders and the wisdom they have accrued over the years.)


These nine women demonstrate that individual leaders who are innovative, ethical, determined and willing to take great risks are capable of coping with the challenges and delivering significant business results!

  1. Ferial Haffajee, Editor/Journalist
  2. Dr Penny Moumakwa, Founder/Director
  3. Xoli Kakane, CEO & Executive Chair
  4. Lerato Molebatsi, GM
  5. Zanele Mthembu, founder of Brown Panther productions
  6. Santie Botha, Chairperson/Chancellor
  7. Neo Lesela, Founder/Director
  8. Taweni Gondwe Xaba, CM
  9. Lindiwe Rakhabere, CEO

Women’s economic participation and leadership in business is essential to drive business performance, as well as to advance corporate sustainability and increase global GDP. Additionally, McKinsey research shows that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams are 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile. 

What do these ten amazing women that I listed above have in common besides being South Africa’s most powerful and influential women?  They are all tough and tenacious women who lead, inspire, support and have overcome tremendous adversity to become outspoken champions for other women.  Their visionary leadership has allowed them to see extraordinary success both personally and professionally.

Here is a collection of advice from these extraordinary leaders:

  1. Key competencies to demonstrate early are courage, risk-taking, resilience and managing ambiguity.
  2. No one person defines an outcome for an entire organization. Be humble and utilize the power of experts and teams.
  3. Both horizontal and vertical moves in core business functions are critical in your career.
  4. An absence of sponsorship is a hindrance to your career development.  You need crucial support relationships that shift from mentors, who offer encouragement and advice, to sponsors, who take a hands-on role in managing career moves and promoting executives!
  5. Be thoughtful in difficult situations. Although they can provide vital experience, high-profile failures can tarnish or end a career.

Ladies – thank you for your example of excellence!

Ladies who lunch!
  • South African Proverb – Not everyone who chased the zebra caught it, but he who caught it, chased it. (You may not achieve your goals every time you set out to do so, but the only way that you will ever reach them is to keep trying. Those who already have success have likely worked hard and experienced failure many times; losing today doesn’t mean that you can’t win tomorrow.

During my time in Johannesburg, I had dinner with the South African Eisenhower Fellows and I was also fortunate to spend time with my Bayer colleagues.  Both groups of leaders inspired, empowered and connected across a core set of shared values and leadership skills. This group of innovative and ethical changemakers are also positive role models who are actively creating tangible solutions to the biggest challenges in their communities, countries, and continent. I am so honored to have spent time with them and look forward to reading of their continued success.

Durban and Cape Town

During my last week of South Africa, I spent time in Durban and Cape Town.  Cape Town is a legislative capital of South Africa and it’s known for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point.  Durban is the third most populous city in South Africa and has the busiest port in the country.

During my visit to Durban and Cape Town I spent time with the following leaders and organizations:

  • Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Town
  • Lindiwe Rakhabere, CEO with Durban ICC
  • Taweni Gondwe Xaba, CMO with the Durban Chamber of Commerce

These individuals are African woman with separate platforms that come with responsibilities to show up more than prepared and push open the door for others. Because of the lack of access to opportunities inthese high profile and high stakes environments, there’s an expectation and pressure to serve as an example for others.  These trailblazers inspire so many women, especially African women, to be accomplished and never to give up. No matter how difficult the struggle, women can overcome any barriers that get in their way. In the words of African-American poet Maya Angelou, “You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies; you may tread me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I rise.”  Culture change only happens when people take action, and these three women are taking action and leading with authenticity! 

I was also fortunate to visit with two amazing organizations:

Sbu Myeni, CEO of the Imbeleko Foundation.   Imbeleko works to provide a holistic empowerment experience to the orphaned and vulnerable children living in poverty without parental guidance due to the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  The foundation has students enrolled in various universities throughout the country. I was fortunate enough to spend time with three bright female students who, under tremendous pressure, are excelling at their respective universities.  Imbeleko is a Zulu word for a cloth that is used by African mothers to carry babies on their backs. Imbeleko provides warmth and allows the babies to hear the sound of their mother’s heartbeat when they lay their heads against their mother’s backs. Through our conversation, it was clear that the spirit of the organization’s founder (who lost her battle to brain cancer in November 2006) to give love, care, warmth and hope to these students is being carried forth by her twin sister (Sbu Myeni) with excellence!  

Bayer – Social Empowerment with Jakes Gerwel School is transforming, uplifting and inspiring African youth!  The school aims to give students from rural and disadvantaged communities world-class access and exposure to education and career options in STEM fields and other trades.  The community volunteers who are raising the funds in partnership with the government to build the school and expand its curriculum are committed to inspire and motivate these students to pursue STEM careers because they understand the communities and the challenges that they face. A lot can be and has been achieved as they equip these students so that they can make a difference.

South Africa has left a lasting impression on me and I look forward to coming back soon.  Thank you to my remarkable host, Sedi Ngubane.  Sedi you have been an amazing host and your focus and energy are unmatched.  I wish you continued success and the very best in all your MANY (J) endeavors!