“Even after finishing the economics degree, I still wanted to be a dancer but my dad had a whole plan for me. He left a wealth of knowledge and a legacy. Mahanyele’s mother … Phuti owes a lot of her success to her parents. Today, she is one of the richest self-made entrepreneurs in South Africa, a mentor and businesswoman commanding the boardroom. Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa: John-Paul Davids: Raisibe Morathi: Khumo Shuenyane: Mariam Cassim: RESILIENT REIT LIMITED. I wasn’t expected to do anything. “The results the kids were achieving were unbelievable. She was raised by her father after the death of her mother in 1989. It doesn’t matter when the learners come to us; we are able to get them up to speed…We don’t screen any of our children, it’s a first-come-first-serve basis, meaning any child from any community can achieve and grow…An example would be that in the country you’re only expected to know how to read when you are in Grade 2, whereas our learners can do that in Grade 1.”. During her time at Shanduka, Mahanyele was responsible for securing important transactions such as the China Investment Corporation (CIC) – which was the corporation’s first direct investment in South Africa – which owned 25% equity in the Shanduka Group at the time. She says the classroom of the future will be ushered in by high demand for futurist classrooms such as what they offer at SPARKS Schools. It was her father, Mohale Mahanyele, who inspired her to find her passion in business. In 2015, after a decade of service, she left the company after making bold moves boosting the company’s profits. Phuti Malabie. We haven’t formally announced the model yet but we will offer a whole lot of different subjects…It’s going to be an evolution,” she says. Her father, Mohale Mahanyele, one of the country’s pioneers of black business, taught her that limitations are actually opportunities. At first, we were like ‘are you sure?’ It came as a surprise because everyone else was just saying ‘no’.”. Phuti said her father raised her and her two siblings, Mpho and Nare, to believe in education. The word power was in describing Phuti Mahanyele’s and Stacey Brewer’s ascent to corporate celebrity. I then had an interest in mergers and acquisitions because I saw this as an area where one could create opportunities for black-owned businesses in South Africa.”. Phuti was born on March 15, 1971 in Durban South Africa, where she … She was employed as a brand manager but had little to do. I think it was a time when people were just trying to fill the numbers to say they have a black female employee except I had zero to do. I don’t take things as personally as I used to,” she says. She was taught early in life to look beyond her problems and challenges and forge ahead. She lost her mother young. She finally received R60,000 ($4,500) in seed capital to travel overseas to explore the idea. One of the things she still does though is mentoring young people. Mahanyele-Dabengwa was Forbes Africa’s 2014 Businesswoman of the Year. With her skill and experience, she was immediately snapped up by a big organization. If it didn’t get off the ground then it didn’t, and we would have to find a job in that case.”. “I was looking at how black economic empowerment would impact black business. They then opened another school in Cresta, also in Johannesburg. She is now focusing on growing the school network with hopes to double the number of schools they currently have in the next five years. If social entrepreneurship is about someone who is adamant to create a social change, and move the human race, then I’m absolutely that person.”. It wasn’t going to be easy. This kind of teaching was a hit. It takes about six months for them to fully get used to the teaching system. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. "It was (due to) a mix of old age and illness," Mahanyele's daughter Phuti said. I remember going to events with him as his partner. Phuti was born on March 15, 1971 in Durban South Africa, where she grew in the care of her loving parents. “I had a title, a lovely office and everything but there was no work. They are resolute about gender dynamics and what it has meant to stave off stereotypes and rise to being leaders in their individual spheres. Although Brewer grew up watching her father build businesses, she says she never ever thought she would end up becoming an entrepreneur. Brewer is just the spark that was needed in the dark. Like an obedient daughter, she followed his instructions and went on to study for a bachelor of economics in the United States (US). “It’s about looking after our health and managing stress. We looked at Rocketship, a school in the US which pioneered blended learning there. I knew I was getting that job because of my own merit.”. We went there to see if it’s possible to take inspiration that would work in South Africa.”. View the profiles of people named Phuti Mahanyele. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. “I literally spoke to everyone I met about my idea and asked for referrals. Forbes named her one of the 20 youngest power women in Africa. Just having the confidence to approach someone that you don’t know and try to build a relationship towards something you want to achieve,” she says. In the foundation phase, which is Grade R to 3, they have lab rotation and Grade 4 to 7 is the flex model where the high-level children get introduced to a concept in the classroom, and then they leave the classroom and go to the lab where they get to interact with the data software to allow for extended reinforcement of what happened in the classroom. Mahanyele-Dabengwa's mother died when she was 17 years old. “I was used to working long hours to get the work done but here, I had a team and at 5PM, they would all leave to go home. One thing she is afraid of though is the future of education in Africa. The professor was showing us how much we spend on education and the fact that we prioritize education but we are ranked at the bottom of the world. But my parents … It has interests in power and infrastructure, real estate, technology, media and telecommunications, consumer goods businesses and financial services. She was born in 1971 in Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa. According to Brewer, Africa’s classrooms, as we know them, are changing. They tried to raise funds but doors were being shut everywhere they went. I remember the first time it happened, I thought there was a meeting somewhere and my PA had forgotten to tell me about it. Forbes named her one of the 20 youngest power women in Africa. According to Mahanyele, mentorship is an important part of the growth of an economy. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Clive Bradney Thomson: GOLD FIELDS LIMITED. She says it was interesting but she quickly discovered that working in an environment where her father was the boss was not ideal. Newly appointed CEO Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa is also, for the moment, the only black woman to run a JSE-listed top 40 company... B L Premium This article is reserved for our subscribers. Johannesburg - Phuti Mahanyele, the chief executive of the Shanduka Group, is calling it quits after a successful decade at the helm. She says it was a difficult time for her as a leader. Soon after her departure, she founded Sigma Capital Group, a privately-held, majority black-owned investment group. “We recruited our first family while seated in a coffee shop. The vision was to build a network of schools that offer better education at the same price as government. She assumed that her team was demotivated and had many of them in disciplinary hearings. At this event, they sat next to each other and I was in the middle. Mohale knew hardship. With all the work, there has been recognition too. I was shocked but quickly realized everyone came at 8AM and left at 5PM.”. “We opened it up in 2014, but we had originally planned to open it up in 2015. Today, there are 15 SPARKS schools around the country. In 2011 Forbes named her one of their “20 Youngest Power Women in Africa”. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Equally adamant about disruption is Stacey Brewer, swimming with the big fish in South Africa’s booming education sector. “I think my first word was ‘no’. She was born in the urban township of Soweto, home to icons like Nelson Mandela, Richard Maponya and Trevor Noah. Image Attribution: Destinyconnect.com/Phuti Mahanyele. Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa: INVESTEC BANK LIMITED. I essentially could show up, do nothing all day and nobody would care. Their initial investor introduced them to a group of other people who also invested. Appelbaum is the only daughter of tycoon Donald Gordon. I mean most ideas are out there anyway and the difference between that is actually the execution process and the passion and believing in it completely because that’s the only thing that keeps you going when times are tough,” she says. “I didn’t expect it at all because I remember one of the difficult times during that internship was when I tried to speak to a black female partner so I could introduce myself. “The entire experience was really tough. Stacey Brewer. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. That’s how good life can be’. Her parents were committed to giving her and her sister the best education possible with the expectation for them to work in a commercial environment. Photo by Motlabana Monnakgotla. Brewer plans to open another six next year, including their first high school. Although she came from a rich family, Appelbaum went on the establish herself as one of the richest women in South Africa. I don’t manage as many things at the same time and I don’t put as much pressure on myself because I realize you can die young,” says Mahanyele. Today I speak to Phuti Mahanyele, the CEO of the Shanduka Group (Pictured right). It’s all about mastering, as they will go on the different levels. SPARKS Schools have over 7,000 children and they employ over 750 staff. Phuti Mahanyele: My dad and I had a wonderful relationship and I really feel so blessed to have had him as a father. He taught me to always have good relationships with people. In South Africa, last year, the country’s first education impact fund, Schools Investment Fund, announced an investment of nearly R200 million ($15 million) to build four new schools. As … After graduation in the US, she returned home to work for her father. “I remember at one gala event, my father was sitting next to the CEO of a large mining business. When doing the black empowerment transaction that we did with Lonmin, we also took on a role with regards to transformation in the organisation. Her father: a pioneer for the improvement of black education. “You could never really achieve anything without it being attributed to your father,” she says. Their model of education won many parents over. I was so confident that I took it to myself that since he won’t talk to my dad, I would speak to him. She felt better, returned to South Africa and collapsed again on her way to a meeting. To properly arm herself with enough tools to disrupt the world of business, she swapped her high-paying job for a less-paying position in advertising. These cookies do not store any personal information. An Infographic of Judy Dlamini’s Unusual Career. “They were not looking for anyone and they had never had a black person from the African continent apply for a job so it was a bit weird. “You lose confidence at some point because you’re not sure if it’s ever going to kick-off. Here, she first learned about struggle, power and resilience. Throughout her life her parents continuously advocated the importance of education, never differentiating between their sons and Phuti and her two sisters. Phuti Mahanyele. Everyone was busy and the person who had worked in that position before had work but I didn’t,” says Mahanyele. That’s how I managed to climb the ladder fast,” she says. In the 1970s, it was a place of defiance and resistance. Considered one of the most influential women in government and business, South African CEO Phuti Mahanyele served for 10 years as the CEO of Shanduka Group, a top South African investment holding company. When we launched the business, we also launched a foundation.”. I take my hat off for families who started with us because it is high risk,” says Brewer. Single Digital Issue: The Billionaires List, Feb / March 2021, Single Digital Issue: African of The Year - Forbes Africa December 2020 (special issue), Single Digital Issue: Nigeria 60 - Forbes Africa Oct/Nov 2020, Single Digital Issue: James Mwangi Cover - Forbes Africa Aug/Sep2020, Single Digital Issue: Forbes Africa June/July 2020. At the helm of Shanduka, she managed the group’s multi-million dollar investments in South Africa and on the rest of the continent including in energy in Mozambique, and telecom in Nigeria. I remember speaking to this man and he would look at me awkwardly and respond to me very briefly and I would ask him another question,” chuckles Mahanyele. She was soon chosen as the CEO of the group. She is an unlikely candidate for education entrepreneurship but like Mahanyele, she relentlessly pushes for success. (This article from our archives was first published on 16 March 2015.) As she was working, she realized there wasn’t going to be any longevity on the job. Because you go home early, it doesn’t mean you are not productive,” says Mahanyele. A few years before this venture, the long hours almost cost her her life. But my father had other plans for his life and worked hard to make it happen,” says Mahanyele. Changing places: Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa decided to take the job at Naspers after she met the top team and was surprised by how humble they were. Photo by Motlabana Monnakgotla. She then applied for a job at Fieldstone, an investment banking advisory service firm in New York. “Our high school model is going to be different. I remember I was in a board meeting and I had a massive headache. I heard ‘no’ several times but I kept applying.”. “It gets tough for other teachers who have experience from other traditional schools. Phuti Mahanyele Biography Phuti Mahanyele is a South African business executive, the chief executive officer of Sigma Capital and former CEO of the Shanduka Group. – Phuti Mahanyele, Naspers CEO, SA. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In fact, by 2015, we had four schools in total.”. Join Facebook to connect with Phuti Mahanyele and others you may know. They opened the first school in a house in Randburg. After seven years, it was time to move back home. They were competing against affluent schools in the area, they were working with second language English speakers, they were working with families from a complete mixture of backgrounds, and a lot of them were from disadvantaged backgrounds and yet they were competing with affluent schools. This success has earned Brewer much praise. In 1995, just a year after South Africa became a democracy, she moved to Cape Town to work at a company where her father had no influence. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. After her mother's early death at age 42, Mahanyele has said that it was a les… She hasn’t wasted it one bit. When she experienced a stroke in 2013, after a series of headaches and fainting, the idea of havin… According to Brewer, success doesn’t mean the end of fear. I remember one of my colleagues telling me that they walked into a boardroom and one of the board members assumed she was one of the tea ladies and immediately placed an order…I remember even being on a flight and sitting next to a person I had only read about and he started flirting with me telling me what apartment he could buy me even though I was married,” she recounts. In its Business of Education in Africa report, it predicts that one in four children will be enrolled in private schools by 2021. The school has two blended learning modules. Read More. “Sometimes, we can overlook ourselves. At home, it had not made sense that I would go from a corporate job to having an MBA and then an internship. Armed with research, a co-founder, Ryan Harrison, who understands technology, and people who believed in her, in 2011, she took a bold move and founded SPARKS Schools to help improve the state of education in South Africa. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. David Hugh Brown: WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED. He grew up in a four-room house in the township with 12 siblings. “They were launching SABC 1, 2 and 3 and I was recruited as an account manager back in Johannesburg. “I don’t necessarily think of myself as an innovator, but it’s something we definitely want to do as an organization, to completely disrupt the education sector and not just locally, but internationally as well. Mohale knew hardship. Mahanyele's father died in 2012.INSPIRATIONALAfter matriculating, the Meadowlands-born businesswoman went to the US where she studied business at Douglas College, obtaining her first degree in economics in 1993.Armed with an MBA from the De Montfort University in England, Mahanyele worked for New York-based investment banking firm Fieldstone Private Capital Group. “He once told us how he told his friends he wanted to have a degree and they would all laugh. I don’t like rules and regulations, so I’m naturally a person who loves to create her own space… I really like to figure things out and especially when people say it’s impossible to do, it makes me want to do it even more,” says Brewer. The South African businesswomen are corporate celebrities and the magazine features them for disrupting the business and It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I remember calling one of them and he told me he was home. It seemed as if I was going backwards but I knew I wasn’t going backwards because I was getting experience in an industry I had zero experience in.”. It was only when she was working on her thesis for her MBA in the United Kingdom (UK) that she fell in love with business. “Fortunately, I had a great neurologist who I don’t see any more, thankfully.”. Her father, a pioneer of education in South Africa influenced her passion and love for books. Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa: 48 Independent non-executive director Resigned June 20 2019 ... Financial planning for single parents of special needs children . Her father died in 2012 while her … Those with money – and ideas – are taking advantage of the opportunity. Corporate powerhouse Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers SA, is on a mission to uncover South African tech start-ups and scale them to become significant global players that positively impact lives, create much-needed jobs and contribute to the country’s ailing economy. The CEO was a very big personality in South Africa but for some reason, they didn’t get on well. Even today, she says worries about absolutely everything. She says, even after opening the school, she was paranoid that something might go wrong or things would fall apart. 1080.plus/Phuti Mahanyele. But luckily, Ryan and I could pick each other up when one was down and times were tough. With hard work, at the end of the internship, she was offered a job. “What I loved about Shanduka is that it was business that wasn’t just focused on returns but focused on impacting the lives of people. There she secured major deals including with Coca-Cola and McDonalds. It doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with everyone but it means whenever you engage with people you are positive and it’s meaningful. She credits her parents’ hard work, in the face of a racist South Africa, for her success. For the first time in history, Naspers, founded over a century ago, has a black woman executive at the head of its South African operations. Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa was born in March 1971 in Meadowlands, Soweto, South Africa. Here, they mixed traditional classroom learning with computer learning. Phuti Malabie is considered one of the most influential women in government and business in South Africa, having been CEO (2010–2015) of Shaduka Group, a leading investment holding company. It’s a cold winter’s day in Johannesburg and the Greenside suburb that we are in for this interview is encountering unscheduled load-shedding. Phuti, thanks for joining us. – Phuti Mahanyele, Naspers CEO, SA. “What I didn’t realize was that the problem was with me because I hadn’t looked at the environment to realize the culture here was that people did what they needed to do at the time.”. “I am blessed to have mentors like Phuti Mahanyele…She taught me that small things count a lot, she taught me to keep putting in more effort and learning from others, never to be ashamed of struggle, humility, start small, to arm myself with education and to adapt with trends,” says Bonoko, crediting Mahanyele for his success. She lost her mother at 17, but Phuti Mahanyele defied all the odds When you look at the achievements of business mogul Phuti Mahanyele, you would … This translated into the company becoming one of Eskom’s private power suppliers. Mahanyele was born in Soweto where she lived until she was 17 years old. My schedule has changed significantly. I focused a lot on what was going on at the time. She credits her parents’ hard work, in the face of a racist South Africa, for her success. In the lab rotation for the foundation phase, there’s actual software that the kids use for a maths program and a literacy program. Also similar to Mahanyele, her life changed while she was doing her MBA. South Africa’s Phuti Mahanyele and Stacey Brewer cover Forbes Africa Magazine! She didn’t let these gender setbacks deter her. It was very busy and I worked unbelievable hours but I loved it because I needed to grow.”. She was shocked I was there and assumed I was lost. Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa | CEO, Naspers South Africa. It was very impressive in terms of what was possible and from there, we said we absolutely can do it and then two of their staff members came to join us,” she says. Here, teachers go through extensive training to be able to handle this type of system. We had to find another way, as we really had nothing to lose. It was a tough journey here. “In our flex model, each child is on a different rotation, moving from different modalities of learning from online, to group work, to getting into practice, to direct instruction with the teacher. In 2011, Forbes named her one of the 20 youngest power women in Africa, and in 2014, she was named FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Business Woman of the Year. Considered one of the most influential women in government and business, South African CEO Phuti Mahanyele served for 10 years as the CEO of Shanduka Group, a top South African investment holding company. I realised that I have so much to be thankful for. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. So having good parents was certainly a solid foundation to start off with. On this day, just before the photoshoot, they are quivering in the cold, dark studio, defiantly relating separate stories about their successes, but united in their quest for excellence in a renewed South Africa. The way they teach has already evolved. It was a start to a multi-million dollar company. 4 May 2020 / Posted By : Ofentse Olunloyo / 0 comments / Under : Career; In 1985, Dr Judy Dlamini achieved her childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor. W hen her mother died at the age of 42, Phuti Mahanyele grew up appreciating the stark lesson that time was a precious commodity. But I was like, there’s got to be another side to it, there has to be social good,” she says. “Now I have just built up a huge amount of resilience over time. “What I love about this model in particular, is that its personalized learning. They used a lot of PR to get publicity and build credibility. In fact the other day I was reading a letter that I wrote to my parents when I was younger. Right from Grade R, the children are rotating like in a high school and go to their special subject teachers for particular subjects. We weren’t seeing a lot of young black women. Here are 8 things that will surprise you about Phuti Mahanyele. She says a lot of young people lack confidence. There, she earned B.A in Economics. Mahanyele-Dabengwa was born in Meadowlands, Soweto, South Africa. My father had passed away, we were finalizing the closing of Shanduka and I had a lot of stress. Her father, who died in 2012, grew up in a family of "10 or 11 siblings" and had to pay for his own schooling. Phuti Mahanyele and Stacey Brewer are “the two faces that mean business” for Forbes Africa magazine’s August 2018 issue. The fact that her mother died when she was only 17 years also contributed to making her take her time seriously. In the words of poet W B Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”. The success story that is Rapelang Rabana, internationally recognized computer scientist, technology entrepreneur and presenter at the World Economic Forum, began with discontent. “I remember going to interviews and they didn’t know anyone with my surname which was wonderful. When they realized she wasn’t going to stop, they offered her an internship. “Even now, I’m still not sure if I am an entrepreneur. We deliver education on a high note and get our kids ready for what the future may hold,” she says. It’s clear that this bright star is still adding to her net worth, rising, inspiring and disrupting business. At age 17, Phuti left Soweto to attend the Douglass College, United States (part of Rutgers University). After 10 years at Shanduka Group, one of the leading South African investment holding company in South Africa, Phuti Mahanyele, the firm's Chief … Even though it was less than she was used to, she grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Although she wasn’t inspired by the high-profit margins, through her venture, SPARKS Schools, Brewer is making her mark. If I hadn’t done an MBA, I don’t even think I would’ve had the idea, I don’t think I would’ve had the courage and support to go out and launch by any means…I honestly don’t believe in the fact that someone else could steal your idea if you share too much. “My father used to include us in everything and travel with us. Her father, who died in 2012, grew up in a family of “10 or 11 siblings” and had to pay for his own schooling. Brazil’s Ronaldo is the greatest striker Says – Samuel Eto’o; President Buhari Celebrates Dele Momodu Ovation Founder as He Marks His 60th Birthday; Phuti Mahanyele and Stacey Brewer are “the two faces that mean business” for Forbes Africa magazine’s August 2018 issue. It wasn’t long before she was recruited by South Africa’s current President Cyril Ramaphosa as the head of the energy division of his then business, Shanduka Group. In 1976, as the country was in political turmoil, her parents moved her and her younger sister to Lesotho. It steeled her for a future in the cold, dark world of business. (Paul Botes/M&G) I was a … Phuti Mahanyele, former Shanduka CEO. It had six big rooms, a kitchen, lounge and a pool. Luckily, through a contact at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), where she did her MBA, they got a lucky break. Mahanyele was born in Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa. “When I did my MBA at GIBS, I was always worried because people see entrepreneurs as calculated and that they only worry about making money. She became the company’s first female and first black chief executive. “It was very difficult at first because I was from the African continent and I had never been to an Ivy League university. I just thought that it’s completely unacceptable and it just makes no sense and that’s when I did my thesis on it,” she says. I said ‘what time are you coming back?’ and he said ‘why?’ and I’m like ‘the sun is still up’. The South African … He was not afraid to expose us to things he wanted us to achieve. All they had was a dream to open a network of schools which would disrupt South Africa’s education economy. We would go with him to gala events and meetings here in South Africa and oversees,” she recalls. ? Caerus Capital LLC, an investment and advisory firm that focuses on healthcare and education businesses in emerging markets, says 25 million children are expected to join private institutions in the next five years. Although aligned with the national program, Brewer says their learners should be way ahead, as they are constantly benchmarking international standards. I took it that maybe if I went shopping, the headache would go away but instead I collapsed in a shopping center in London…”.

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