We had a good chuckle this past Saturday at the #RoadToCEO Masterclass when I told Nyimpini Mabunda that waking up at 7am on a Saturday is a big deal for me. Those who know me well are aware that my #5amClub membership is strictly weekdays only 😅.

Our conversation happened by one of the sponsor stations—Vida e Caffè—the perfect start to an energising day.

What truly humbled me was walking into a full room of both young and seasoned professionals—people who chose to sacrifice their Saturday morning and family time to be part of something meaningful.

Even more humbling was Nyimpini himself—our host—who continuously expressed his gratitude for how we all showed up to join the conversation.

The day was rich with insight. A distinguished panel of CEOs—Jorge Mendes, Nthabiseng Kubheka, Thabo Molekoa, and Angela Mhlanga—shared the raw, lived lessons of their journeys to the top. Their generosity in storytelling reminded us that great leadership is forged in the fire of experience.

It was equally a joy to share the stage with fellow panelists Errol van Graan and Jaydev Chiba, as we explored the critical tools for navigating one's career, and the importance of being intentional about investing in self.

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to reflect on and share my own years in Corporate—as a Human Capital Executive partnering with CEOs, mentoring teams, coaching leaders, and now operating as a Coach, Executive Search Partner, and business professional with a 360° perspective.

One of the key takeaways that resonated most was the philosophy I use in my coaching practice: the art of CONNECTING.
I touched on the importance of connecting with self first—of holding up a mirror as a leader—before attempting to connect with others.
(More on this model coming soon... stay tuned! 👀)

Special thanks to Kutlwano Ngwarati for masterfully programme-directing the event—your energy is simply infectious.

And finally, Nyimpini Mabunda—thank you for being the leader that you are. Thank you for creating this powerful platform for leaders, future leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Your authenticity, ease, passion, and chutzpah were inspiring to watch.

To your team—phenomenal work. It takes a village to pull off an experience like this. You did the thing 🙌🏾

#TakeCharge #RoadToCEO #Leadership #Mentorship #Coaching #HumanCapital #SelfLeadership #Connecting #IntentionalLiving #CareerDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching