Zipho Sikhakhane

Zipho Sikhakhane is an internationally renowned speaker, writer, and business advisor. Having held management positions in leading corporations across the globe, she made history as the first black South African to complete an MBA at the prestigious Stanford University in the USA. In recognition of her remarkable achievements, she was honored with the Outstanding Young Achiever Award by the UNESCO Centre for Global Education in 2016.

Over the past 15 years, Zipho has captivated audiences on four continents, including a TEDx Talk in the USA on Africa’s potential. She delivers inspiring keynotes, workshops, and poetry, focusing on Africa’s potential, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the empowerment of youth and women in business. Her work has been featured in numerous international publications, and she has contributed to a book on inspirational women in Singapore. Additionally, she is a weekly business columnist for the Sunday Times in South Africa.

Leadership Begins With You
True leadership starts with self-leadership. Drawing from her humble beginnings, Zipho shares the powerful techniques that helped her overcome obstacles, achieve academic excellence, and rise to prominent leadership roles in top corporations worldwide. She advocates for leading authentically from one’s true self and provides actionable guidelines on developing the resilience needed to navigate the challenges faced by leaders today. Her insights are grounded in extensive research and expertise in effective self-leadership.

Leading Africa to Prosperity
Africa offers boundless growth opportunities for both local and multinational corporations. The key to harnessing these opportunities lies in adopting a long-term perspective and tailoring leadership approaches to the local context. Zipho draws on her extensive experience in crafting and executing business strategies for leading corporations across South Africa and the continent. Her TEDx talk in the USA highlighted the progress and potential of African economies, underscoring her deep understanding of the region’s dynamic landscape.

Entrepreneurship – Building the Giants of Tomorrow
Zipho’s career is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build resilient, scalable businesses. With entrepreneurial roots dating back to her childhood, and a recent graduation from Stanford University in Silicon Valley—the global hub of innovation—she brings cutting-edge insights into the opportunities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs both locally and globally. As a regular contributor to the Sunday Times in South Africa, she shares her expertise through her weekly business columns, guiding the next generation of business leaders.