Full Name: Nokwanda Khumalo

Position and Company Name: GM: Mobility and Convenience at bp Southern Africa

Main Activity of the Company: bp Southern Africa is a supplier of fuel, lubricants and energy solutions

Place of Birth: Pietermaritzburg

Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, The Wykeham Collegiate, Pietermaritzburg; Bachelor of Business Science: Finance (Honours), University of Cape Town

First Job: Assistant key accounts manager at Unilever South Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: I can’t remember, but it enabled me to buy my first car and to move from home and rent a small flat

Career Path to Date: I started out in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) at Unilever, working in key accounts, customer marketing, brand building and category management, before moving to Tongaat Hullet Sugar as brand manager. My final role in FMCG was with South African Breweries, where I was channel manager for the tavern market segment. I transitioned into the energy sector in late 2016, working in various roles at Shell, including partner/alliances manager, head of non-fuels retail and, finally, head of sales and operations. I moved to Sasol in 2021 as VP for retail and joined bp Southern Africa in my current role in September 2023

Number of People under Your Leadership: I have seven direct reports in my leadership team and a staff complement of about 100 people in Retail

Management Style: A blend of transformational and strategic leadership, with a strong human-centred core. I like to create meaning to work and to align my teams around a clear and shared vision of success. I am a big believer in collaboration over hierarchy and aim to drive delivery through clarity and alignment

Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My late mother – she instilled in me the belief that I could do it all. She was tough on me, but fiercely believed in me

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There have been many people who have taught me different things at different points in time

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: There are many, but Dr Judy Dlamini, Mpumi Madisa and Nunu Ntshingila stand out. These women are real trailblazers who have had an incredible impact on the sectors in which they work

Philosophy of Life: Live wholeheartedly – with purpose, presence, courage and impact. Lead with humanity, love deeply, create boldly and leave every space better than you found it

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Each role I have held has given me an opportunity to drive meaningful transformation, and through that transformation I have grown in leaps and bounds as a leader

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I can’t think of any. Life sometimes throws lemons at me, like many people, and I choose not to dwell on them for long, instead finding a way to make lemonade

Hope for the Future: A world where women are seen, heard and trusted – not for their potential alone but for their proven strength, intelligence and grace. I dream of a world where my daughters grow up believing that they are enough and that they are safe – safe to dream, safe to speak, and safe to take up space and live fully with no limitations

Favourite Reading: I love biographies, and leadership and self-development books. My favourite author is Brene Brown, and my favorite book would be Braving the Wilderness

Favourite TV Programme: I don’t watch much TV

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood

Favourite Music: Old-school 90’s RnB

Favourite Sport: Swimming

Hobbies: Open-water swimming, and arts and crafts with my children

Pets: I love dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: I have an irrational fear of frogs

Married: To Billy Khumalo

Children: Khanyo Mbanjwa, 17; Zanothando Mbanjwa, 8

Clubs: None