Dr. Wendy Yvonne Nomathemba Luhabe

Dr. Wendy Yvonne Nomathemba Luhabe is one of South Africa’s most celebrated social entrepreneurs, authors, and champions of women’s economic empowerment. Born and raised during apartheid, she spent the early years of her career determined to break barriers, at one point spending a full year searching for a job that matched her qualifications at a time when most opportunities available to Black women were clerical. She eventually built a remarkable career that spanned marketing, human resources, investment, and corporate governance.

In 1993, she founded Women Investment Portfolio Holdings, launching the first fund to provide capital to women-owned businesses in South Africa, an 120 million rand private equity fund that changed the financial landscape for women in the country. That company went on to become the first female-owned company to be listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She also founded Bridging the Gap, a human resources and consulting firm, and served as Chairperson of Vodacom between 2000 and 2006, becoming the first woman and the longest-serving chairperson in the company’s history.

Her organizational footprint is wide. She has chaired and served on the boards of the Industrial Development Corporation, the International Marketing Council of South Africa, African Leadership University, Vodacom, Vendome SA, Pepkor Holdings, and Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, among others. She was also appointed to the executive committee of World Rugby, becoming the first and only woman to hold that position.

Wendy has established the Wendy Luhabe Foundation, which uses profits from her book Defining Moments to educate young, disadvantaged Black women, particularly those from rural areas. She holds three honorary doctorates for her work with women, served as Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, and was awarded the Honorary Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by the British Royal Family in 2014 for her work as a trustee at the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. She was also named one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World and recognized by Forbes as one of the 50 most powerful women in Africa. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appointed her to the International Council on Women’s Business Leadership. Wendy is married to former Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa. Together they have four children and three grandchildren.