In a strategic move to bolster its leadership, e-motion consulting has announced the appointment of Themba Chakela as the new head of people, culture and change.
Themba Chakela, a seasoned executive, strategic consultant and HR professional. Previously the CPO at BlueSky, has joined e-motion consulting to lead the people, culture, and change practice
He joins the firm at a pivotal time as it seeks to expand its footprint and influence in the consulting industry.
“This role enables me to be both “in” and “on” the business. I’ve always been energised by being able to engage with organisational challenges and opportunities in businesses looking to unlock immediate “people” impact and value; scratching those itches that are sometimes difficult to get to in the normal flow of work and also seeing alternative angles and around corners that aren’t readily apparent to internal stakeholders,” he says.
Since joining e-motion consulting, Themba has been focused on laying a strong foundation to ensure that the ensuing impact is immediate and long-lasting. His approach has been deeply introspective and action-oriented. “My first priority was to recharge for the re-charge,” he notes, “Taking the time to cleanse the palette, think critically, burnish the shield and sharpen the spear was essential. This role is 100% customer-facing, which puts the client at the core of EVERYTHING we do.”
Themba says he wasted no time in activating his network and engaging with clients, signalling his commitment to hitting the ground running. "Activating my network and engaging clients started almost immediately, as did getting directly involved with delivery of meaningful work in their environment," he added.
Change maker on the move
Themba believes his rich background in organisational change and transformation, culture and HR has prepared him for this move, “I’d like to believe my career journey has been a path of natural adjacencies in the people space, each step harnessing, growing and amplifying the skills I’m able to bring to bear. The quest for change, challenge, impact and value is a lifelong one,” he affirms.
He has held a number of positions at leading companies such as Makro, Accenture, Britehouse, NTT/Dimension Data and Transnet SOC.
He also holds an MBA from Henley Business School and BA in social science, postgraduate diploma and HR management certification from the University of Cape Town.
He believes that HR as a practice and discipline is in ascendance. Given the people remit, he adds, HR leaders have a responsibility to ensure that their constituents are optimally represented and considered in the ever-evolving and changing world of work.
“The challenge as I see it, is to ensure that the seat we’ve earned is capably occupied, the voice we have is heard and understood, and finally that the work we do has a positive impact and creates value.”
To tackle these challenges, Themba plans to take a proactive and solution-oriented approach. “I’m a firm believer that the solution (always) lies in the problem, and as a result I’ll continue to tilt at windmills, seeking out the challenges that are waiting to be resolved and opportunities waiting to be seized. Energy in motion (e-motion) drives change, never stops, fuels impact and converts into value.”
