Page 33 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

CEO of uShaka Marine World
S TELLA KHUMALO, CEO of uShaka Marine ourselves in the fact that we are not a grant funded
entity. Therefore, our focus as a business is continuous
improvement, differentiation and diversification. We
play in a private sector environment and constantly
World’s career has focused on three things –
compete with new alternatives in family entertainment
determination, hard work and passion.
“What makes me sleep at night is knowing that that spring up all around us. Therefore, we continuously
look at new trends, testing the guest appetite and
I have made a difference. I believe that, throughout my assessing how our target market behaves and feels,”
career, I have always left an indelible mark wherever I she explains.
have been. People who have worked with me can attest
to the fact that I drive a very hard bargain – but I am Khumalo believes that she is leading the organisation
always at the forefront and expect as much from them and the team that has not only put uShaka on the
as I do from myself.” tourism map but earned it numerous awards over the
years at a critical time.
Whatever she does, she gives it her all and she is
never afraid to learn. The shareholders and board of uShaka are in the
throes of developing an integrated master plan for the
After matriculating from the St. Francis College, organisation. This aims to align the organisation with
Marianhill, in 1980, she completed a Bachelor of the city’s urban renewal plans and further plans for the
Science at the University of Zululand, followed by a development of the Durban Point Waterfront.
Higher Education Diploma from the University of South
Africa in 1989 and Bachelor of Education from the “The public and the Durban business community
University of Zululand in 1994. must watch this space. Our objective is to change the
family entertainment game and to bring something
She started out as a high school teacher specialising completely different and exciting to Durban. We are
in science subjects, working her way up to be deputy three years into the second decade of uShaka Marine
principal of Luthayi High School and then Head of World’s existence. This is an opportune time to review
Department (Science) at Phezulu High School in and give our guests new tourism offerings,” she says.
Mpumalanga. She then became a subject advisor in Khumalo is definitely a team player and she attributes
biology and general science for the Zululand region. her strong and successful leadership to understanding

After 10 years, she moved into skills development, herself, the people that she leads and the direction in
working as a director in KwaZulu-Natal’s Department which she is leading them.
of Education and then as Chief Director for Tourism “Over the years, I have learnt a lot of things – but
Development in the Department of Arts, Culture and the most important has been the difference between
Tourism. She ultimately served as provincial head of being assertive and aggressive. I admit that there have
that department between 2007 and 2012. been times when I have allowed my emotions to run

Khumalo also added a Master’s degree in Business ahead of my common sense. I have learnt the hard way
Administration (MBA) specialising in Strategic that working with people can test you. But remaining
Management from the then University of Natal in 2004. objective, calm and not personalising issues makes a
whole lot of difference when dealing with challenging
She was appointed CEO of the KZN Liquor Authority situations,” she says.
in March 2012. In just two years, she transformed this
newly formed entity into one that has had a positive Going forward, Khumalo points out that it is
impact on the retail liquor trade and associated sectors. important to live one’s life in order to create a legacy
for both your own children and the next generation
She took the helm at uShaka Marine World in June to come.
2014, becoming the first female leader of one of the
city’s more influential tourism attractions. As the mother of two boys and a girl and wife of Baba
uKhumalo, she has certainly done that.
She doesn’t take this role lightly, especially as she is
acutely aware of the fact that state owned entities like She also continues to grow her career and has
uShaka are often subjected to harsh criticism. Instead of just finished a thesis entitled: Balancing Corporate
being daunted by intense scrutiny, however, Khumalo Governance and Oversight over State owned enterprise:
enjoys the challenge of ensuring that uShaka is a as part of her PhD studies.
sustainable business in its own right. Whilst she is waiting to see whether she can add the
“For us at uShaka, business sustainability is key as it title Dr to her name, she says she has time to again
informs our business continuity and business growth indulge in her favourite hobby – reading.
strategies. We are a state owned entity and we pride “My library is growing again,” she smiles.

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