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The 2026 Executive Day did not waste time getting executives comfortable. On 3 September, CHROs, CFOs and CIOs were thrown straight into conversations with people they may never otherwise have met, networking in true Executive Community style before diving into the bigger questions shaping leadership, technology and the future of work.

During an attention-grabbing panel discussion at the 2026 Executive Day, Paul Norman, group CHRO at MTN, and Celiwe Ross, group chief human capital and corporate affairs officer at Old Mutual, put the CEO role under the executive microscope, unpacking the green flags, red flags and everything in between that can make or break the C-suite dynamic.

There was no shortage of sisterhood, influence or inspiration at the 2026 Executive Communities Women’s Dinner. Women from the CHRO, CFO, and CIO communities gathered under one roof for an evening where conversations flowed, laughter came easily and a healthy dose of girl power filled the NH hotel in Sandton.

Ask A Man was back by popular demand at the 2026 ExCo Women’s Dinner, giving women the chance to put much-needed leadership conversations on the table, and once again, the men had to do the answering.

For one evening only, trusted HR partners were given four minutes to stand in front of almost 100 of South Africa's top HR leaders and share an idea they believed could help solve a workplace challenge. Speak for longer than four minutes, and risk hearing the dreaded buzzer.

The air at Signature Restaurant in Umhlanga was filled with more than the aroma of an exquisitely prepared three-course intimate dinner. Around the table sat some of eThekwini’s leading HR minds, each carrying a different story, yet all united by the same challenge: how to support employees under mounting financial pressure.

A mentimeter survey at the recent CHRO Day in Johannesburg became a space for Mzansi’s top HR leaders to reflect on what is really happening inside their organisations.

Addressing a room of nearly 200 of South Africa’s leading HR executives during the opening panel of the 2026 CHRO Day, Matimba Mbungela, group CHRO at Vodacom, shared insights on the tough calls that define leadership.

HR leaders went on a ‘speed date’ at the 2026 CHRO Day in Johannesburg – not the romantic kind, but one where they were paired up for seven-minute networking conversations designed to help them connect, share ideas and talk honestly about the challenges they are facing at work.

Top HR executives gathered in Cape Town for the second CHRO Summit of 2026, to trade insights on what it means to lead in the age of digital acceleration.

Set in an intimate and elegant setting in Westcliff, the CHRO Dinner held on 9 April in partnership with Regenesys Corporate Education brought together HR leaders to explore how they are navigating the rise of AI, and more importantly, how they are ensuring people remain at the centre of it.

The CHRO South Africa Cape Town Summit returns to the Mother City on 14 April.

On 19 March, the air at the Saxon Hotel in Sandton was filled with more than just the aroma of a world-class three-course dinner. It was also heavy with the collective wisdom of Mzansi’s top HR minds under one roof.

On 26 February, the Mother City played host to HR executives gathered beneath the palm-lined calm and pink facade of the Mount Nelson Hotel for a conversation that unfolded slowly over dinner and lingered long after dessert.

The first CHRO summit of 2026 did more than kick off the CHRO event calendar; it was an eye-opener to the hidden realities of the workplace.

CHRO South Africa opened its first community conversation of the year with a dialogue that went straight to the heart of the profession. The session brought together two of the country’s most respected people and culture leaders to explore what it really takes to professionalise HR and rebuild trust at scale.

The first ever Durban CHRO Dinner unfolded on 27 November, gathering eThekwini’s top HR leaders around an elegantly set table at the Oyster Box.

Held at the Polo Room at the Inanda Club, the 2025 CHRO Awards was a night of celebration that reinforced HR leaders’ commitment to positively impacting the lives of those they serve.

Absa’s group chief human capital officer Jeanett Modise was named 2025 CHRO of the Year, at a glamorous gala event last night. The accomplished executive also scooped the Talent Management and the Learning & Development awards.

The recent Community Conversation hosted by Dr Dieter Veldsman, chief scientist at AIHR, brought together top HR executives to confront the execution gap in HR, the space between great intent and actual impact.

At the 2025 HR Indaba, the conversation around accountability took a sharp, introspective turn. In a packed Bill Gallagher Room, a panel of HR thought leaders, Dolores Mashishi founder and seasoned HR executive; and James Ramakau associate director: talent management at KPMG Africa tackled a hard truth: when employees fail, it often says more about leadership than about the individuals themselves.

Mismatched leadership is a hidden cost in the fiercely competitive world of rapid business expansion, where success is often measured by simple metrics like revenue growth, market share and operational efficiency, attendees at the 2025 HR Indaba heard.

During a panel discussion at Africa’s biggest HR conference and expo, S’ne Magagula, CPO of Tiger Brands; KG Bako, managing executive: talent management & transitions at Absa Group; and Juba Mashaba, CPO at Cell C, spoke about how profit may keep the doors open, but highlighted purpose as what keeps people and organisations moving forward.

The CHRO Community Conversations returned on 23 September after a short hiatus, coming back with a powerful call to rethink the relationship between people and technology in the modern workplace.

Set in an intimate and elegant setting in Westcliff, the CHRO Dinner held in partnership with Regenesys Education explored how academia and business can collaborate to prepare the next generation of HR professionals.

Under the Executive Communities banner, the 2025 Executive Day brought together South Africa’s leading CHROs, CIOs and CFOs for an event focused on rethinking the social contracts that hold our society and workplaces together.

The 2025 Executive Communities Women’s Dinner did not just fill The Maslow Hotel in Sandton with executives, but also with the kind of energy that only comes when women from three of South Africa’s most powerful communities come together.

Every second counted at the CHRO Solutions Summit held at The Venue in Melrose Arch, with only four minutes on the clock for partners to pitch their innovative solutions to top HR leaders.

Hosted in partnership with Old Mutual Corporate, the evening of 3 July brought together a select group of HR leaders for an intimate dinner at the Seven Villa hotel and spa in Sandton, for a night of reflection and reimagining employee wellbeing.

Panellists at 2025 CHRO Day discussed the processes their organisations use to embed succession planning into everyday talent management, ensuring a steady pipeline of capable leaders.

Top HR leaders gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Melrose Arch to share ideas on how the traditional HR playbook must evolve to ensure that it remains relevant and adaptable.

Inside the walls of the Marriott Hotel in Melrose Arch, South Africa’s top HR leaders came together for 2025 CHRO Day on 28 May, diving into conversations centred on defining a new playbook in an era shaped by workplace change, digital transformation and a war in the fight for talent.

A recent CHRO South Africa webinar led by Saul Symanowitz, BEE123’s director for strategic innovation, offered a breakdown of what HR leaders need to know and do before the next reporting window in line with the amended Employment Equity Act.

On 28 May HR leaders from across South Africa will gather at the luxurious Marriott Hotel in Melrose Arch for CHRO Day, to share new ideas and talk next-level strategy.

At the heart of this year’s Radical Inclusion Summit, a powerful fireside chat between Old Mutual CPO Anusuya Govender and Regenesys Corporate Education CEO Nishen Munnisunker lit up the room, challenging what inclusion truly means.

The CHRO South Africa Radical Inclusion Summit recently hosted a powerful panel discussion that delved into the crucial aspects of truly embedding company values into daily operations and effectively measuring the often overlooked concept of belonging.

HR leaders gathered at the CHRO Radical Inclusion Summit in Cape Town on 9 April not just to talk about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), but to explore ways to interrogate its true purpose and impact in the workplace.

On 9 April, Cape Town will play host to the second summit of the year, and it's set to take diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) conversations to the next level.

The countdown to the 2025 CHRO Awards has officially started, as nominations continue to pour in for this prestigious event.

HR leaders are always seeking ways to streamline processes, boost efficiency, and enhance employee experiences, but outdated onboarding and training methods often create backlogs that slow down both new hires and HR teams.

Top HR leaders gathered on 13 March, for a thought-provoking discussion over an exclusive dinner on the country’s digital skills shortage, at the elegant Saxon Hotel.

Leading HR executives from Exxaro, YUM! and Bidvest Bank discussed innovative career pathways, personalised development and future-proofing workforces in today’s workplaces.

Futurist Bronwyn Williams explored Gen Z’s workplace behaviours, unemployment challenges and the need for transformative employer relationships.

The CHRO Apex Talent Summit, held on 20 February 2025, brought together some of the brightest minds in HR and business leadership to unpack the evolving world of talent management.

As workplaces continue evolving, talent remains at the heart of every successful organisation.

Middle managers play a vital role between decisions taken at executive level and their implementation on the ground, says Dolores S Mashishi, managing director: HR solutions, and advisor and executive coach at DSM Advisory.

Leading HR executives got together to discuss some red hot topics currently dominating the people agenda within their organisations.

Executive director of HR at Vodacom SA and 2022 CHRO of the Year winner Njabulo Mashigo is the latest addition to the 2025 CHRO Awards judging panel.

Embodying what lies at the heart of human resources – valuing people – this year’s annual CHRO Awards were a night of glitz, glamour and gratitude.

Despite the growing significance of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, Samad Masood, associate vice president at Infosys Knowledge Institute, says it’s time the focus shifts from AI itself to its implications for people.

Top HR executives gathered to discuss navigating political instability, financial wellness and global tensions at an exclusive dinner at the Saxon Hotel hosted by Mercer South Africa and CHRO South Africa.

CHRO South Africa asks industry leaders about their most pressing concerns and how they are adapting to this new era of work and preparing organisations for an unpredictable future.

A group of HR leaders gathered at the Saxon Hotel’s dining library on 9 October 2024 to exchange knowledge and insights on how to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time – the skills crunch. The three-hour dinner, hosted by CHRO South Africa in partnership with LinkedIn and Ayanda Mbanga Communications, provided a rare opportunity for C-suite human capital leaders to brainstorm avenues for retaining talent in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

At the first dinner for the year, CHROs gathered to discuss how rapidly developing technologies can enhance workforce capabilities, rather than simply replacing jobs, and how HR leaders should guide this transformation.

HR leaders share how they embrace the spirit of Heritage Day by fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging in their workplaces, proving that true strength lies in unity through diversity.

WorkplaceFundi chief fundi Andrew Mason tells CHRO South Africa community why they need to be more aware of the impact of their employees’ physical workspaces.

South Africa’s top CHROs, CFOs, and CIOs came together at The Venue in Melrose on 5 September for Executive Day. This interactive event brought industry leaders together under the theme of “Connected Leadership,” fostering collaboration and dialogue among the nation’s foremost executives.

Mentor Rahab Matebane, executive director for human capital and facilities management at Mekan Group, and her mentee, Zanele Vilakazi, a human capital intern, share their experience on mentorship and what it has meant for them.

In a compelling panel discussion at the 9th Annual Executive Women’s Event, top female executives explored innovation, diversity and the nuanced experiences of women in corporate leadership, highlighting seismic leadership and its transformative impact.

South Africa’s leading women CHROs and their mentees gathered to share knowledge and engage on what groundbreaking leadership means to them at the annual event.

Sister companies CHRO South Africa, CFO South Africa and CIO South Africa will be hosting some of the most powerful women and their mentees on 1 August.

The second instalment of the CHRO Solutions Summit inspired the HR community with cutting-edge innovations and insightful discussions.

With this past week being observed as Corporate Wellness Week in South Africa, CHRO South Africa explores how programmes are emerging as crucial tools for addressing a range of workforce challenges, from reducing absenteeism to boosting morale and productivity.

As organisations search for a hybrid working sweet spot that caters to their needs, as well as their employees’ needs, business leaders say both sides need to come to the party.

The HR leader has been nominated for the work done at the integrated platinum group metals producer since 2014.

The CPO at giant retailer Mr Price Group is the latest to be nominated for the prestigious awards.

Attendees at CHRO Day heard that despite mental health stigma, small changes can make a big difference.

Ford Motor Company HR executive Thabo Masete is in the running for top honours at the year-end extravaganza.

The technology-based recruitment solutions company joins the line-up of partners for this year’s HR Indaba, taking place on 8 October.

The HR community delves into practical ways to eradicate bullying from the workplaces and how best to create psychologically safe workspaces.

HR experts lean in and unpack how Africa will be a contributor to the future global workforce.

For the first time in South Africa, global AI and finance guru Maarten de Borst will be hosting a ChatGPT Masterclass with CFO South Africa to help finance teams prepare for the future ways of work.

Focusing on the ESG agenda is the right thing for organisations concerned about the sustainability of the world, say HR leaders.

The human aspect of transformation will prove to be more challenging than the technological aspects - and HR leaders will be leading the revolution in this regard.

Believe in yourself, believe in your abilities and make space for others – this is what leading women CHROs say the theme means to them.

At an open-mic session at the recent Community Conversation, CHROs took time to share what topics they would like to explore in order to shape the agenda for the year ahead.

At the recent CHRO Skills Summit, HR leaders discussed talent management hacks that enable HR practitioners to operate more efficiently and effectively.

The keynote speaker for the CHRO Skills Summit shared how advancements in AI can address the ever-growing skills gap.

Confronting the ever-growing skills gap, paying top rand for talent and motivating senior employees to take up the mantle of training younger recruits are some of the many challenges that South Africa’s top HR professionals are dealing with in their respective industries.

On 21 February, the country’s most sought after HR minds gathered at 39 Melrose Boulevard in Melrose Arch. The focal point of their gathering? A pressing concern for HR leaders everywhere: the persistent challenge of skills scarcity.

CHRO Skills Summit will provide a platform for HR leaders to adopt a collaborative approach for tackling this pressing challenge.

HR leaders offer insights into the evolving HR landscape, and the trends they anticipate will dominate 2024.

In part one of this article, Debbie Mtshelwane, a lecturer and leader of the HR programme at North-West University Potchefstroom campus, shares strategies for cultivating HR leaders for the future. She stresses the importance of seeing this effort as a crucial part of a complete approach.

In the latest CHRO South Africa podcast, Elanie Kruger, the group CHRO of Tsebo Solutions Group, talks about the important role HR leaders should play in addressing the serious problem of youth unemployment.

CHRO South Africa asked some of the country’s leading executives to unveil the 'human side' of themselves by answering the question what is the one interesting thing that many people do not know about you?

CHROs discussed how best to create an environment where employees are financially savvy and shared solutions on how to keep the already strained workforce out of debt.

Share your HR trailblazers for the upcoming 2024 CHRO Awards!

At an open-mic session at the recent Community Conversation, CHROs took time to reflect on topical issues.

The 2023 CHRO Awards were a night to remember, culminating in two individual hat-trick awards.

So, as a CHRO, you have a seat at the executive table, now what do you do with it? This was the question posed by HR leaders at a recent CHRO Dinner, as they tried to outline how best to bring value to the profession.

Strength, bravery and authenticity were some of the overwhelmingly positive adjectives used by HR execs to describe the South African workforce.

HR used to only keep the workforce happy, but now it’s a change agent with greater responsibility.

Sage report looks at the changing role of HR and what this means for future of the profession.

From exploring the country to relaxing with a book and a good glass of wine, CHROs share how they like to spend their weekends.

Promoting women ultimately promotes progress for all, say leading women HR executives.

CHRO South Africa asks the HR community about the challenges they face and how best to address them.

Breathe CEO Lana Hindmarch unpacks why employees are struggling more now than they did during the pandemic.

Cindy Botha has been nominated for the 2023 CHRO Awards.

On 24 August, close to 100 top HR leaders gathered at GIBS to experience the first ever ‘Shark Tank’ CHRO Solutions Summit.

As Women’s Month draws to an end, we talked to top women HR executives about their journey to the top.

A deeper look at how South Africa’s women executives have approached challenges, and overcome them.

CHRO Dinner discusses how AI and machine learning is fast becoming a reality in performance management.

A people-centric employer brand helps to drive your business, writes Employee Branding Africa MD Celeste Sirin.

The CA turned talent chief says her accounting background helps her drive success through ethical leadership.

Leading HR executives share their current and most impactful reads.

CHRO Day 2023 reveals that the four-day workweek is NOT a three-day weekend – it’s much more.

CHRO Day 2023 panellists discuss how they’re overcoming challenges unique to state-owned entities.

The keynote speaker for CHRO Day 2023 shared ways to foster innovation with HR leaders.

Attendees at CHRO Day hear that often the M&A itself doesn’t bring value; value is found in people.

International Pride Month is an opportunity to deliberately create environments where diversity thrives.

Themed “Reimagining prosperity”, the 2023 CHRO Day is expected to deliver thought-provoking conversations and insights.

HR execs gathered to discuss retaining talent, superpowers and leading with intention.

What the Suits can learn from the Sneakers.

Revolutionising remote work: How AI empowers HR to optimise recruitment and cultivate a global workforce.

Unlocking workforce potential is critical for business success, writes Nelly Mohale, head of Decusatio Human Capital Solutions.

The global mining company has made several new appointments.

In part one of this article, a closer look at how as the digital era advances, older and younger generations collaborate, fostering multi-layered mentorship in the workplace.

Community conversation on the lingering consequences of Long Covid.

Executives share insights on tackling employee burnout as mental health awareness month comes to a close.

Leaders need to change their thinking around remote work to bring out the best in their people.