Visionary leaders unveil paths to empowerment at inaugural Africa Rising Leadership Summit & Awards
The Africa Rising Leadership Summit & Awards brought together influential minds to explore the future of leadership in a digital age, offering impactful discussions and recognising trailblazers in a celebration of innovation and collaboration.
The inaugural Africa Rising Leadership Summit & Awards, held on March 27 and 28 at the prestigious Inanda Club in Sandton, brought together Africa’s most visionary minds to explore the transformative potential of leadership in the digital era.
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Under the theme: The Path Forward – Empowering Africa’s Future through Leadership in the Age of Digital Transformation, this premier, two-day event saw an impressive assembly of business pioneers, digital innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Hosted by MC Nompumelelo Nkosi-Ntombela, the summit was a vibrant exchange of ideas and collaboration. Esteemed leaders, including Nonkululeko Gobodo, Dr Charles Cotter, Kutlwano Ngwarati, Max Moyo, Akhona Qenqge, and Gugu Mkhize, delivered powerful addresses that underscored the significance of innovation, adaptability, and purposeful leadership in propelling Africa into a brighter future.
Keynote speaker Moyo captivated delegates with his insights on leadership, while Power FM host and financial journalist Gugulethu Mfuphi actively engaged participants in impactful discussions.
Throughout the summit, Africa Rising Leadership founder and CEO Nomazibulo Tshanga addressed pressing topics that are shaping Africa’s growth journey, leading dynamic panel discussions.
Expert panels, featuring thought leaders like Dr Tshidi Gule, Antoinette Roberts, and Boniwe Dunster, emphasised the necessity of reskilling leaders to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
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A particularly compelling panel examined AI-driven leadership, moderated by Onke Dumeko, where experts Esther Munyi and Fikile Mdiniso advocated for a balanced approach to technology and ethical decision-making.
Tshanga said: “Our vision for the Africa Rising Summit & Awards is to make leadership more accessible and more impactful. Young professionals, emerging entrepreneurs, and business executives often lack access to the right mentorship, and the right platforms.
“I am really encouraged by the great response to this inaugural event. The empowering messages shared by our speakers and the robust discussions we had with panelists. It was heartwarming to honour remarkable leaders in business who are doing the work every day to empower Africa’s future.”
The summit concluded with a spectacular awards ceremony, hosted by Unathi Ncunyana, recognising trailblazers shaping Africa’s future.
The award winners included:
• Digital entrepreneur of the year: Take Note IT founder and CEO Mamela Luthuli and Avatar and M+N executive chairperson Zibusiso Mkwanazi.
• Digital transformation leader of the year: Boniswa Group CEO Lynette Magasa.
• Emerging women leaders: Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) CEO Gugu Mkhize and Binjer Dijker Otte (BDO) South Africa head of business restructuring services Buhle Hanise.
• Top entrepreneur of the year: TotalServe founder and CEO Thandeka Mngomezulu.
• Impactful leader of the year: KFC Africa CEO Akhona Qengqe.
• Emerging leader: Delivery ka Speed CEO Godiragetse Fareed Mogajane.
• Impactful woman leader: MiWay people & transformation executive head Nomvula Nomie Nxumalo.
• Lifetime achievement: Ipeleng Nonkululeko Mkhari.
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