Jono Leaf-Wright (Lions Cricket CEO)

 Having passed his Cricket South Africa Level Three Coaching Qualification in 2009, he has dedicated his time to uplifting aspiring young cricket players. 

Partnered with the fact that he was a Cricket South Africa National U19 Talent Scout for 11 years, as well as the Lions U19 Coach for the same amount of time, Jono has defined himself as a standout leader, deserving of respect.

Over and above serving his country's cricketing eco-system, Jono previously the Indian Premier Leagues and Champions assisted the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Leagues. 

Following tremendous success, Jono was appointed manager of Jozi Stars in the very first Mzansi Super League in 2018 which the Jozi Stars won. Jono's extensive experience has allowed him to build the powerful Pride that is Lions Cricket. 

His innovative and entrepreneurial edge has equipped this CEO with the tools needed to connect with his people and build not only great players on the field, but even better people off it.

Driven by a mission to move cricket forward in the province and indeed the Country, the people at Lions Cricket work together as a team, reflecting their passion, pride, patriotism and professionalism in all that they do. 

Proud to boast an unrivalled dedication for the game, the Union continues to encourage all from far and wide to pick up a bat or bowl a ball-being active is key to good health. From the unearthing of talent, to providing the platform for people with disabilities to give the game a go, the Lions Pride is propelled forward by an energetic and exciting leader who loves what he does and the community in which he serves.

Watch Jono's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Tejal Somaru holds the position of Associate Partner at EY Africa, where she co-leads the Africa SAP Practice within the Technology Consulting Services division. 

With a distinguished 20-year tenure in the technology sector, Tejal began her career at Hewlett Packard and has since ascended through various leadership roles at prominent blue-chip corporations. 

Her exceptional performance and leadership qualities have earned her recognition as a significant contributor to organizational success across multiple disciplines. She is noted as a natural born leader, by her peers and clients alike. Tejal is results orientated and believes in Collaboration with intent to drive tangible change and growth opportunities for those she is privileged to lead. 

Tejal's belief in the transformative power of intentional collaboration has been a cornerstone of her approach, and her journey is marked by overcoming personal and professional challenges with resilience, charting a unique and successful career path. Her extensive experience spans Public Services, Financial Services, Mining, and Manufacturing industries, where she has garnered deep expertise in product development, leadership in people and organizations, and sales execution. Tejal is celebrated as a dynamic force for change in the South African technology sector.

Outside of her professional life, Tejal is a vibrant individual who enjoys dance fitness, quality family time, and fostering connections through culinary experiences. She is a fervent advocate for social causes and the development of people. 

Amidst a busy life, Tejal dedicates time to add value to her interactions, mentorship of various individuals, and active participation and leadership accross numerous personal and professional associations.

Raised in Durban, Tejal was inspired from a young age to dream ambitiously and pursue those dreams. Today, she believes she is living those dreams, supported by the faith of those who believed in her potential. To connect with Tejal, visit her LinkedIn profile at @TejalSomaru. 

Watch Tejal's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

• 4 times Olympian 
• Olympic silver medalist
• World indoor champ champion 
• World outdoor silver
• All for an games solver and bronze
  African champions 
• National record holder 
• Diamond league trophy winner 
• Commonwealth games gold 
• Commonwealth games silver 
• Afro Asian silver 
• National champ 5x 

Business and Sports Administration

Founded of Yasdi ( institute of competency for athletes )

Chair person zone 6 athletes commission

Chair person of South African Olympic committee athletes commission.

Member of the athketes commission for Anoca  

Watch Khotso's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Clarissa Appana CA (SA) | Africa's Most Inspirational Women in Leadership 2022 and 2024 | Multi-Industry Group CFO | JSE Listed Non-Executive Director | Authentic Leadership | Female Empowerment | Board Member | Digital and AI Future Focused 

Clarissa currently serves as the Group CFO at Tracker Connect, where she reports directly to the shareholders and is an active member of the Board of Directors and serves as a Director on the the subsidiary companies within the group. 

Whilst her primary role is CFO, she also acts as a trusted advisor to the CEO, with a broad influence across the organisation and various business functions. 

She plays a key role on the Growth Sub-committee, exploring new opportunities, and leads the Commercial Contracting Pricing function for the group.

As CFO, Clarissa oversees Finance, Business Intelligence, Stock, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Facilities.

A transformative executive, Clarissa is focused on identifying and capitalising on opportunities that drive impactful results, demonstrating strong judgment and integrity. 

She is a dynamic organisational leader skilled at developing and executing strategy, while embedding the company’s culture and vision. With experience across six continents and having lived on three, she is a culturally attuned leader who prioritises people. 

Passionate about fostering an environment where digital innovation and new ideas thrive, she is committed to creating a forward-thinking, supportive workplace.

Watch Clarissa's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Dr. Stanley Mpofu, Chief Information Officer at the University of the Witwatersrand, is a trailblazer in digital transformation and a champion for digital equity. His innovative leadership has ensured that no student or staff member is left behind in the digital age.

Dr. Mpofu spearheaded the "Smart Classroom" initiative, which aligns with the university's blended learning objectives and provided critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative established a robust framework for online education, enabling uninterrupted learning despite global disruptions. 

Additionally, Dr Mpofu played a pivotal role in expanding eduroam, a secure internet access service, to all public airports in South Africa, in collaboration with Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the Tertiary Education & Research Network of South Africa (TENET). This initiative benefitted students and staff without internet access at home, bridging the digital divide.

Under his leadership, Wits University implemented transformative projects, including the Automation of Thesis Submission, the Integrated Workplace Management System, and the Hospital Connectivity project. 

These initiatives modernized the university's operations, aligning them with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Awards and Recognitions:

• 2020      Visionary CIO of the Year     (Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa)
• 2021      Africa Chief Information Officer Award (AFICTA - Africa ICT Alliance)
• Enterprise      Intelligent Education Implementation - Intelligent ICT Awards South Africa 2024
• The      World CIO 200 Award 2024     - Global CIO Forum
• Decade      of CIO Service in the Public Sector - ITWeb CIO Banquet 2024
• IT      Project of the Year 2024     - CIO South Africa
• CIO      of the Year 2024 -      CIO South Africa

Key Achievements:

• Developed      the benefit realization process for IT projects at Eskom (2005).
• Consolidated      three IT divisions into one at Eskom Rotek Industries (2012).
• Designed      and executed a Strategy and Master Systems Plan for Eskom subsidiaries,      including Eskom Uganda (2013).
• Introduced      IT governance structures at Eskom subsidiaries and Wits University (2010,      2017).
• Successfully      completed a R500m network upgrade project at Wits University.
• Created      and implemented a Digital Strategy at Wits, culminating in the Smart      Classroom Project.
• Facilitated      the rollout of online learning by distributing approximately 4,000 laptops      nationwide under tight deadlines.
• Negotiated      data and technical solutions with mobile network operators to support      online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021).
• Appointed      to the Ministerial Task Team for Higher Education and Innovation during      COVID-19 to negotiate zero-rated sites for Post-School Education and      Training Institutions (2020).

Keynotes, Panels, and Publications:

• Panel      member, Gartner CIO Leadership Forum
• Featured      in Brainstorm Magazine (May 2018)
• Keynote      speaker, ASAUDIT NATE Conference (June 2018)
• Speaker,      Gartner International Symposium (Cape Town, September 2018)
• Panel      member for ITWeb, Amazon Web Services, and ASAUDIT events (2020)
• Featured      on the cover of Intelligent CIO (August 2020)

Memberships:

• Council      member, Cranefield College
• Chair      and board member, HETSA (Higher Education Information Technology South      Africa)
• Board      member, TENET (Tertiary Education & Research Network of South Africa)      two terms ended in June 2024
• Board      member, PICT Forum (Public Sector ICT Forum)
• Member,      Institute of Chartered IT Professionals
• Member,      Institute of Directors South Africa (IODSA)
• Member,      Global CIO Institute
• Chartered      CIO (CCIO) designation holder

Dr Mpofu's extensive contributions to IT strategy, governance, and innovation have significantly advanced digital transformation in South Africa, fostering educational access and equity through technology.

Watch Stanley's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

With over 26 years of executive leadership and 10 years of audit experience with Ernst & Young and KPMG, she has held CEO and Board Chairperson roles across several industries, including railways, ports, mining logisGcs, chemicals, oil & gas. 

Throughout her career, she has championed women’s leadership, shattering glass ceilings, and steering organisations through complex transformations both in the public and private sectors in SA and abroad. 

As an Executive Coach, Global Speaker, Strategy Facilitator, and LogisGcs Consultant, and she runs Online Masterclasses. She brings a broad set of skills that extend beyond technical exper9se to building and leading high-performing teams. 

Her experience spans key international markets such as Singapore, France, Belgium, Rotterdam, Qatar, and the United Kingdom, solidifying her reputation as a global leader. 

She was the CEO of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), CEO of Bombela Operating Company (the operator of the GAUTRAIN), CEO Rail of the Passenger Railways of South Africa (PRASA), and a Senior Vice President (SVP) at SASOL, before then, she served for 12 years at Transnet, where she left as a COO of Transnet Port Terminals, where she worked in different roles in operations, strategy, commercial, and outbound supply chain in ports and railways. 

She was also a Senior Special Advisor - Logistics to the Minister of Public Enterprises, spearheading reform policies for ports, railways and aviation. 

She is currently the Chairman of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, and Ivili Group and she is a Bain Fellow of Board Members. She was previously a Non-Executive Director of WHBO a listed company in London, Australia and South Africa. She is a thought leader in People Management and Leadership, especially the critical role of Employee Engagement to the bo8om line; Diversity and Inclusion, Strategy and Innovation, the Impact of Digital Transformation in established businesses. 

Trained by Les Brown as a Global Motivational Speaker: Ft Lauderdale USA and she is a John Maxwell Executive Coach and Mentor: Orlando USA She was the first woman to be appointed as a Port Manager in Post- Apartheid South Africa and has pioneered male dominated roles in the Ports and Railways of South Africa and Abroad. 

She has published four leadership books and delivered logistics papers globally, delivered key notes and public lectures in Universities. Her key focus is on women’s empowerment and leadership development, demonstrating her commitment to inspiring the next generation of women leaders. 

Her Books: 

1. Finding the Woman Within – A book on women’s leadership, addressing the challenges and strategies for thriving in male-dominated industries. 

2. The Inclusive Leader- A book focussing on diversity, Equity and Employee Engagement 

3. Leading with Empathy – A guide for leaders to foster emo9onal intelligence and compassionate leadership. 

4. Cracking the Code: A Young Woman’s Handbook on Navigating the Corporate Jungle – Practical advice and mentorship for young women entering the corporate world. 

She has received Numerous Awards, recognising her contributions to the industries she served. 

1. South Africa CEO of the Year – Institute of People Management (IPM), 2014 

2. National BWA Corporate Category Award, 2015 

3. Women in Logistics Africa Award, 2016 

4. Inducted in the Hall of Fame for Women in LogisGcs– Asia, Middle East, and Africa, 2017 

5. Women in Supply Chain in Africa’s Top100 in 2019 

6. Transformational Leadership Award – 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa 

2024 Nosipho studied at the University of Transkei (Now Walter Sisulu University) and London Business School. She studied port management, logistics and management of State Owned Enterprise at the National University of Singapore, and has a certificate in Logistics from APEC in Belgium. She completed articles of Clerkship in Auditing and Accounting through SAICA. 

Watch Nosipho's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Rudy Roberts has carved out a 32-year career that seamlessly intertwines law, investment banking, strategy, and global partnerships. 

Recognised as a sought-after investment advisor with comprehensive business knowledge and significant networks in capital funding markets.

Heralded as a 'Water Tsar,' his entrepreneurial success is evident in his founding of The Mega Water Corporation in partnership with Grundfos, an international Danish water utility giant. 

Driven by a vision of equitable water distribution and its impact on economics and GDP, he reimagined MWC as an investment advisory firm. In addition, he established Nehawu Investment Holdings and expanded the Union’s portfolio via the implementation of the 'High Ambition Strategy’.

Throughout his career, he has held influential roles in various industries and engaged in significant ventures such as the Swedish South Africa Partnership Fund, Seithlamo | Mainstream Energy Holdings, and the Automotive Manufacturing Iglhaut Allrad technology.

He also dedicates himself to educational mentorship, supporting the TETA-BPO Academy to empower the local community. Rudy’s career is characterised by resilience, tenacity, and an unwavering drive to create impactful change, exemplifying dynamic and influential leadership.
 

Watch Rudy's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

"I have been blessed to work in an industry that fuels my soul! Having spent most of my working career driving and sharpening the magic of brands and businesses across Africa and globally, I've learnt that we do our best when we're feeling our best and when we're learning something new. A day spent not learning is a day lost."

Bronwyn has worked in global, regional and local markets. She is an accomplished business executive with strong marketing, commercial acumen and an acutely defined strategic skillset.

She is currently the CMO for one of South Africa's most loved brands, Ackermans where she directs the Marketing strategy across the various brands, focusing mainly on apparel and fashion.

In her previous role as Group Head of Brand and Communications for South Africa's largest retail bank, Capitec, her responsibilities spanned across the Retail and Business Bank functions, including Brand strategy, positioning, digital communications, PR, production and Internal communications.

She has experience in the FinTech space as well, where she served as the Executive Head of Marketing for one of the largest African FinTech’s, Mukuru, across various African territories as well as the UK.

Prior to joining Mukuru, Bronwyn worked for Africa’s largest retailer, Shoprite Holdings for more than a decade as the National Marketing Manager across the Shoprite, Usave, Liquorshop, Financial services and MediRite brands. In her last position, she steered the Marketing, Media and white space initiatives across 5 brands across the continent and was the Marketing lead on the extremely successful loyalty programme Checkers Xtra Savings.

She thrives on turning around impossible briefs and challenging markets and segments that are volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous by drawing from her extensive experience across numerous heavyweight portfolios.

Another huge passion point has been to improve engagement and diversification of conversation among employees which is why she was pivotal in launching the Women in Leadership programme at Mukuru whereby previously taboo conversations about gender bias, has led to a sense of togetherness forming within her current organisation.

Bronwyn values integrity and taking chances which is why she is inspired by the work of Brené
Brown and the saying “I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our a*ses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”
"I have been blessed to work in an industry that fuels my soul! Having spent most of my working career driving and sharpening the magic of brands and businesses across Africa and globally, I've learnt that we do our best when we're feeling our best and when we're learning something new. A day spent not learning is a day lost."

Bronwyn has worked in global, regional and local markets. She is an accomplished business executive with strong marketing, commercial acumen and an acutely defined strategic skillset.

She is currently the CMO for one of South Africa's most loved brands, Ackermans where she directs the Marketing strategy across the various brands, focusing mainly on apparel and fashion.

In her previous role as Group Head of Brand and Communications for South Africa's largest retail bank, Capitec, her responsibilities spanned across the Retail and Business Bank functions, including Brand strategy, positioning, digital communications, PR, production and Internal communications.

She has experience in the FinTech space as well, where she served as the Executive Head of Marketing for one of the largest African FinTech’s, Mukuru, across various African territories as well as the UK.

Prior to joining Mukuru, Bronwyn worked for Africa’s largest retailer, Shoprite Holdings for more than a decade as the National Marketing Manager across the Shoprite, Usave, Liquorshop, Financial services and MediRite brands. In her last position, she steered the Marketing, Media and white space initiatives across 5 brands across the continent and was the Marketing lead on the extremely successful loyalty programme Checkers Xtra Savings.

She thrives on turning around impossible briefs and challenging markets and segments that are volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous by drawing from her extensive experience across numerous heavyweight portfolios.

Another huge passion point has been to improve engagement and diversification of conversation among employees which is why she was pivotal in launching the Women in Leadership programme at Mukuru whereby previously taboo conversations about gender bias, has led to a sense of togetherness forming within her current organisation.

Bronwyn values integrity and taking chances which is why she is inspired by the work of Brené
Brown and the saying “I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our a*ses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”  "I have been blessed to work in an industry that fuels my soul! Having spent most of my working career driving and sharpening the magic of brands and businesses across Africa and globally, I've learnt that we do our best when we're feeling our best and when we're learning something new. A day spent not learning is a day lost."

Bronwyn has worked in global, regional and local markets. She is an accomplished business executive with strong marketing, commercial acumen and an acutely defined strategic skillset.

She is currently the CMO for one of South Africa's most loved brands, Ackermans where she directs the Marketing strategy across the various brands, focusing mainly on apparel and fashion.

In her previous role as Group Head of Brand and Communications for South Africa's largest retail bank, Capitec, her responsibilities spanned across the Retail and Business Bank functions, including Brand strategy, positioning, digital communications, PR, production and Internal communications.

She has experience in the FinTech space as well, where she served as the Executive Head of Marketing for one of the largest African FinTech’s, Mukuru, across various African territories as well as the UK.

Prior to joining Mukuru, Bronwyn worked for Africa’s largest retailer, Shoprite Holdings for more than a decade as the National Marketing Manager across the Shoprite, Usave, Liquorshop, Financial services and MediRite brands. In her last position, she steered the Marketing, Media and white space initiatives across 5 brands across the continent and was the Marketing lead on the extremely successful loyalty programme Checkers Xtra Savings.

She thrives on turning around impossible briefs and challenging markets and segments that are volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous by drawing from her extensive experience across numerous heavyweight portfolios.

Another huge passion point has been to improve engagement and diversification of conversation among employees which is why she was pivotal in launching the Women in Leadership programme at Mukuru whereby previously taboo conversations about gender bias, has led to a sense of togetherness forming within her current organisation.

Bronwyn values integrity and taking chances which is why she is inspired by the work of Brené
Brown and the saying “I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our a*ses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.” 

Watch Bronwyn's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Rene dared to dream and found her purpose despite having to overcome many hurdles whilst growing up on the cape flats in South Africa. 

With a passion for helping others, she has built a successful career improving the lives of athletes of all levels through physiotherapy. 

Rene has consistently achieved greatness through perseverance and dedication in her professional endeavours. With over 170 caps with the Springbok Rugby Medic Team, her contributions helped propel the Springboks to World Cup success in 2019 and 2023 and the British Irish Lions Series in 2009 and 2021. 

Her success in a male-dominated sports field is an example to young girls to dare to dream big and always aspire to greatness. 

Credentials 

B.SC in Physiotherapy, University of Western Cape 

MPhil in Sports Physiotherapy, University of Cape Town 

Postgraduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy 

30 years’ working experience as a physiotherapist  

see Rene's introduction deck 

Watch Rene's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Transformational leader and visionary, Rashika Ramlal has spent over two decades driving large organisations’ business growth and innovation across Africa, serving diverse markets, through developing high performing teams and leaders. 

With a proven track record of turning around and accelerating organisations, she is a sought-after expert and respected voice in industry. Rashika’s numerous accolades include being named Leader of the Year by ITWeb, one of Africa’s Most Inspirational Leaders, and Visionary Woman in Technology Leadership, among others. 

As the PS Country Manager and Executive Director for Amazon Web Services in South Africa, she is dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. With a passion for purpose-driven leadership, Rashika continues to inspire and empower others to drive positive change. 

Watch Rashika's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

I am the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Harambee is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works in partnership with government, the private sector, civil society and young people to build African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. 

Harambee is committed to changing the system by removing the barriers that keep millions of young Africans locked out of opportunity.

I qualified as a chartered accountant and spent 10 years at Deloitte, focusing on the provision of audit and advisory services to international funders, social investment initiatives and development projects. I also have prior experience as Chief Executive Officer of Soul City, one of South Africa’s largest health and development NGOs, which promotes social justice for young women and girls.

Previously, I served as a manager responsible for providing governance and financial management oversight of Yellowwoods’ social investment portfolio. I was also a consultant to PwC.

Over the last 20 years, I have developed my executive capability and acquired extensive professional experience across a broad range of skills including strategy development, solutions design, change management, business modelling, financial management, fundraising, funder management, stakeholder engagement and talent management.

I am passionate about using my skills and experience to do purpose-driven work that feeds my soul.

As a change leader, I am inspired to work in partnership with coalitions to enable and support the growth of an inclusive economy that can have a transformative impact on young people and broader society. 

Watch Kasthuri's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

Christo is a highly experienced Corporate Attorney with expertise in M&A, corporate finance, equity capital markets, and securities regulation law. 

He has played an instrumental role in numerous large, transformational, and cross-border transactions across Sub-Saharan Africa over the course of more than 25 years. Over this time, Christo has advised clients across a wide range of sectors on sensitive negotiations, novel transaction structures and stakeholder engagement at senior levels. 

He also routinely advises CEOs and boards of the largest JSE companies on transactions, governance and other key strategic issues. 

He was named Joint South African Dealmaker of the Year in 2011 by Dealmakers Magazine and was nominated six more times between 2010 and 2022. Christo served two terms as Senior Partner and Chair of Webber Wentzel, the leading law and tax advisor firm in Africa, from 2015-2025. Christo holds numerous Board positions and directorships for companies operating across Africa.

Watch Christo's interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud

With over 20 years in the financial sector, I am a Chief Learning Strategist, Chartered Accountant, and Personal Finance Author, also serving as a Financial Adviser at Old Mutual Ltd., a leading Pan-African Financial Services Organization. 

I am dedicated to empowering women to become impactful leaders and wealth builders. My extensive experience in Finance, Risk Management, Internal Audit, Operations, and People Development has honed my leadership, analytical, and strategic skills and provided me with deep insights into the financial challenges and opportunities individuals face. 

I teach and coach on leadership and personal finance, driven by a passion for fostering professional and financial growth across Africa. Beyond my professional endeavors, my life is anchored in my relationships as a wife and mother to four beautiful children, and as an aunt, sister, friend, and mentor. I explore the intricate link between financial progress, faith, and relationships, underpinned by a belief in the transformative power of leadership to drive positive outcomes for individuals and communities. 

Watch Caroline's Interview on Vimeo, YouTube and SoundCloud