Phuti Mahanyele

Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa, (born c. 1971) is a South African business executive currently working as the chief executive officer of Naspers South Africa. She previously held the positions of co-founder and chief executive officer at Sigma Capital and CEO at the Shanduka Group. Mahanyele-Dabengwa was included in The Wall Street Journal list of the "Top 50 women in the world to watch in 2008", was recognized by Africa Investors as a "Leading African Woman in Business" in 2012, The All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) named her “Business Woman of the Year” in 2019.

Early life and education Mahanyele-Dabengwa was born in Meadowlands, Soweto, South Africa. Her father, who died in 2012, grew up in a family of "10 or 11 siblings" and had to pay for her own schooling. Mahanyele-Dabengwa's mother died when she was 17 years old. In a 2013 interview, she spoke of her parents' commitment to her and her sister having the best education possible and the expectation that she would work in a commercial environment. After her mother's early death at age 42, Mahanyele has said that it was a lesson to her not to waste time or take it for granted. In 2008, Mahanyele-Dabengwa completed Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government executive education program "Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century".

Mahanyele-Dabengwa was selected as a Global Young Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2007. She is involved in the World Economic Forum's "Dignity Day" initiatives, and has been chairperson for Global Dignity for South Africa.

At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. in 2014, Mahanyele-Dabengwa was the only African woman on a panel for “Expanding Opportunities: The New Era For Business In Africa”, moderated by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Other activities Corporate boards Gold Fields, Independent Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors (since 2018) Microsoft, Member of the 4Afrika Advisory Council (since 2013) Comair, Non-Executive Independent Member of the Board of Directors (–2019) Non-profit organizations University of Stellenbosch Business School, Member of the Advisory Board and

Selected awards Forbes "Africa's 50 most powerful women" CNBC Africa’s All Africa Business Leaders "Woman of the Year Award" ForbesWoman Africa Business Woman of the Year Award, 2014 Leading Africa Woman in Business. Africa Investors, 2012 Rutgers Vision of Excellence Award. Rutgers University, 2011 Most Influential Woman in Government and Business – Financial Services. 2009 The Wall Street Journal list of the "Top 50 women in the world to watch in 2008" World Economic Forum, Global Young Leader, 2007