Page 9 - Biz Magazine August 2019

STHAnDiWE mkABAyi mTHUli

foUnDEr / cEo

“Being an influential female leader means being

able to mentor, influence and capacitate thus

creating a new generation of women leaders”

- Sthandiwe Mkabayi Mthuli

mkABAyi foUnDATion

Born of royal blood and raised in kwaZulu-Natal, Ms Mthuli holds memberships and leadership
south Africa, sthandiwe is the first woman to ever roles in various organisations including Black
hold an advisory role in the royal family; a role Management Forum where she served as a Deputy
that has predominantly been dominated by men Chairperson.
for ages.
• Ms Mthuli holds Board Memberships in the
A University of KwaZulu Natal graduate, she is following organisations:
currently writing her Masters dissertation which
focuses particularly on the role of tacit knowledge in • Vulamehlo Community Development: Board
successful Local Economic Development projects in Chairperson
KwaZulu Natal province. Her research is supported • Women of Value South Africa: Non-Executive
by the academic research papers she has published Board Director
in accredited international academic journals. One of
her recent works is the paper that was published in • Izilamani Group Limited: Non-Executive Board
July 2016 on the Journal of the Academy of Business Director
and Retail Management Research titled “How should
strategy prevail if organisations are seen as having • Built Environment Support Group: Non-
properties of complex adaptive systems? She has a Executive Board Director
strong background in community development and • Vianney Children’s Home: Non-Executive Board
volunteers her time and expertise to transform the Director
lives of young women in KZN. Her main highlights
include her role in the Agriculture Action Work Her new project is on assisting female matric top
Group Goal 1 responsible for developing and achievers to finance their CAO applications; a
promoting agricultural potential of KwaZulu-Natal sort of foot-in-the-door initiative. This in turn will
and designing a program aimed at addressing the create more influential leaders who will continue
sub-optimal participation of youth in the Agricultural to pave the way forward. This is how she drives real
Entrepreneurship in KZN. empowerment.

9