Naspers CEO Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa reflects on childhood in Soweto

Born in Soweto Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa became the first female to be appointed to head of Naspers as CEO, and she speaks about her journey and achievements. 
 
Mahanyele-Dabengwa recently attracted all the attention in the business sector after making it to the 50 Soweto Icons project initiated by the businessman and founder of Sakhumuzi Restaurant Sakhumuzi Maqubela. 
 
The successful businesswoman was honoured on Thursday and she reflects on her childhood where he father always emphasised the importance of going to church. 
 
“I remember as a child, my late father would wake us up early in the morning, every Sunday, with my sibling to prepare to go to church,” she said according to Sunday World. 
 
“The strange thing, though, as I reflect today, is that he himself would not be part of what he demanded of us. He always stayed behind as we made our way to church services. 
 
“The routine helped form and shaped my life and character. I lead a prayerful life, an aspect that is central to my life. It is important that parents support their children, helping them to make the right choices, and to make certain they see the value of wanting to attend school.” 
 
The 51-year-old from Dobsonville, Soweto, is one of the highly regarded women in business circles and that became evident when she was appointed CEO of Naspers South Africa in July 2019. 
 
“Naspers has been completely transformed, 76% black-led of which 66% is female leadership,” said Mahanyele-Dabengwa. 
 
“It has not always been that way, but certainly Naspers has definitely made huge strides in transforming itself to be what it has become today, with bursary schemes, and Naspers Labs, a project that provides digital skills to young people.” 
 
Her journey in business has been long and phenomenal. In the early 2000s, she joined Shanduka Energy, a company formed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as managing director, and would later become CEO of Shanduka Group, resigning in 2016 to form her own company, Sigma Capital. 
 
Apart from her inspirational journey in business and occupying top positions, the proud Sowetan was also included in The Wall Street Journal as among the top 50 businesswomen in the world. 
 
She was also recognised by Africa Investors as the leading African businesswoman in Africa in 2012 and earned 2014 the All Africa Business Leaders Award. 
 
As a holder of a BA degree in economics from the United States and an MBA from De Montford University in the United Kingdom, Mahanyele-Dabengwa also completed Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Executive programme, among others. 
 
The Sakhumzi Foundation honours Soweto icons who are respected business leaders in the country, specifically in Soweto. 
 
Main Image: Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa /Biznews