Some conversations stay with you long after the recording stops. These five did exactly that.
Five remarkable women, five different industries, one common thread: they backed themselves, kept going when it was hard, and built something meaningful. These are the female leaders to look out for in 2026.
Khensani Nobanda: Purpose is Not a Campaign. It’s a Commitment.
Khensani Nobanda is the Group Managing Executive of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank, and she is one of the most purposeful marketing leaders I have ever interviewed.
Her view on brand strategy is one I keep coming back to. She describes it like an iceberg. Advertising is the tip, the part everyone sees. But beneath the surface is something far more substantial: a deep, consistent commitment to community, impact and a greener economy that drives every decision the brand makes.
We talked about Nedbank’s groundbreaking “Time is More Valuable Than Money” campaign, what it actually takes to build a brand that stands for something real, and her advice for young marketers trying to balance creativity with commercial logic. Khensani’s leadership journey is as inspiring as her marketing philosophy, and her thoughts on mentorship and curiosity are worth the watch alone.
Watch her video interview here
Listen to her podcast interview here
Kim Palmer: Building the Future of Women in Tech, One Student at a Time
Kim Palmer started her first computer business at 19. Let that sink in. By the time most people are figuring out what they want to do with their lives, Kim was already building something.
Today she is the CEO and founder of On the Ball College, an accredited IT and computer training academy, as well as the driving force behind the Women in ICT conference, which exists to tackle one of South Africa’s most pressing talent gaps: only 23% of tech jobs in this country are held by women. Kim is also behind Learn2Boom and WeTrainICT, further proof that once she starts building, she doesn’t stop.
Our conversation covered the foundational steps of entrepreneurship, what it takes to scale in a competitive sector, and what sets On the Ball College apart in the world of tech education. Kim is one of the most compelling examples I’ve come across of building with both purpose and scale, and her story is proof that starting young, starting scrappy and starting with conviction is a combination that works.
Watch her video interview here
Listen to her podcast interview here
Sibusiso Raphekwane: Building Businesses That Outlive Their Founders
Busi Raphekwane is the CEO and founder of The Transformation Legacy, and she is on a mission to change the way South Africa thinks about small business development.
Her focus isn’t just on helping businesses grow. It’s on helping them last. Integrity, financial management, self-investment and choosing the right business partners: these are the pillars Busi builds around, and she makes a compelling case for why each one matters more than most entrepreneurs realise.
I found so much alignment in our conversation that I could have kept talking to her for hours. Her insight on building businesses that outlive their founders is the kind of thinking that stays with you long after the episode ends. If you’re an entrepreneur at any stage of the journey, this one is for you.
Watch her video interview here
Listen to her podcast interview here
Heidi Brauer: The Woman Who Knows What Brand Love Really Takes
One of South Africa’s sharpest marketing minds, Heidi Brauer has spent her career building brands people genuinely love. And she has very clear views on what that takes.
Her philosophy is simple: consumers are not waiting to fall in love with your brand. You have to earn it. In our conversation on The DK Show, Heidi unpacked what brand love actually means, how to measure it, and why most businesses are still confusing hygiene factors with genuine differentiation. She also tackled something I think about constantly: digital fatigue. How do you market effectively in a world where everyone is exhausted by content?
Heidi’s answer, as with everything she says, was both practical and provocative. I filled half a notebook. I suspect you will too.
Watch her video interview here
Listen to her podcast interview here
Nadia El-Tawil: The Investor Who Actually Wants You to Succeed
Nadia El-Tawil is not your typical investor. There’s no sharp suit and clipboard energy here.
What she brings instead is warmth, genuine curiosity and a deep commitment to helping businesses grow in a way that creates real, lasting impact. As an impact investor working with SMEs, Nadia’s approach is as personalised as it is purposeful. She believes in the value of outside expertise, the importance of embracing discomfort as a growth strategy, and what genuine partnership in impact investing actually looks like.
If impact investing isn’t on your radar yet, after this conversation it will be. And if you’re an SME owner wondering whether outside investment is right for your business, Nadia’s perspective will give you both the clarity and the confidence to explore it.
Watch her video interview here
Listen to her podcast interview here
These conversations are worth watching in full. Each of these women joined me on The DK Show for a conversation that goes far deeper than any summary can do justice to. Watch more of the DK Show here or check out my page.
