Talent

Something is shifting in how organisations think about talent. It is no longer just about filling roles, but getting the right blend of skills needed to deliver real impact.

Nolo Thobejane, chief people, culture and purpose officer at KFC Africa and winner of the 2025 Transformation & Empowerment Award, believes South Africa does not have a talent problem, but an access problem.

As global migration patterns continue to shape the world of work, HR professionals must prepare for the impact of brain drain on succession planning, said Michele Simpson-Crew, managing partner of academy at Busec Nova, at the 2025 HR Indaba.

At the 2025 HR Indaba, industry leaders Charlotte Mokoena, Lindiwe Miyambu, and Kyle Chetty unpacked how organisations can break down barriers and build collaborative cultures that drive performance and impact.

As South Africa reflects on the sacrifices of past generations this Youth Month, Madelein du Plessis, head of HR for Bayer in sub-Saharan Africa, Lyndy van den Barselaar, MD of ManpowerGroup South Africa, and Anton Visser, COO of SA Business School & Alefbet Learning, stress the need to also focus on coordinated action to rebuild a sustainable youth talent pipeline.

For Zizile Lushaba-Nyawo, human capital and skills development executive at Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), blue-collar talent isn’t plan B but the future of South Africa’s talent pipelines, especially in the industrial sector.

While the mid-career stage is often characterised by experience and accumulated expertise, it can also be a breeding ground for profound uncertainty.

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

Fresh from the International EMBRAS Annual Awards,Celeste Sirin, employer branding specialist and CEO of Employer Branding Africa, shares her observations on how top global companies tackle leadership pipelines, employee engagement and ESG-driven impact.

Luyanda Finini, executive director of HR at the Eastern Cape Department of Health, believes being part of the public health sector speaks to his deep-rooted commitment to making a tangible difference.

Talking to delegates at the 2024 HR Indaba, Dr Renate Scherrer and Maya Krzyzanowska spoke about why development programmes fail, and how organisations can fix them. They stress simple, behaviour-focused methods to make leadership development easier to incorporate into daily routines.

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.

2024 HR Indaba attendees heard how the bank helps frontline employees transition into scarce tech roles through an innovative internal mobility strategy.

Discovery CEB explains how it uses data-driven insights to improve employee benefits, focusing on overall wellbeing to attract and retain talent.

South Africa faces a significant shortage of project managers, affecting infrastructure development. With growing business confidence and potential new investments, the demand for skilled project management professionals is expected to rise sharply.

The organisation recently published a celebration of 30 Years of Y’ello Culture and its impact on the HR landscape in the country.

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.

Meet Raymond Muthama, the CHRO at Zamara based in Nairobi, Kenya. A visionary HR leader who transforms workplace culture, combining business acumen with a passion for people to create synergy and lasting success writes Muriel Adhiambo.

Drawing from the success of the Prescient graduate programme, head of talent Joanne Meyer offers some key insights into what makes a graduate programme truly successful.

Leaving her travel job behind, Heléne Smuts founded Credo Growth to help companies enhance team dynamics and tackle HR challenges. Despite her career shift, her passion for travel remains a significant influence.

Head of transformation, people, and culture at MiWay Insurance, Nomvula “Nomie” Nxumalo’s outspoken nature has helped her transform her career and influence change for other professionals across multiple industries.

June, celebrated as Youth Month in South Africa, shines a spotlight on the pivotal role young people play in shaping the nation's future. During this vibrant month, CHRO South Africa spoke to HR leaders offering invaluable insights on career advancement, leadership development, and driving industry transformation, empowering the next generation to take charge and make a lasting impact.

Philip Morris International HR director Lynn Kleinsmith shares how her diverse HR background prepared her to steer the organisation through a major transition.

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.

Juliette Bourne, head of HR at Edward Snell & Co., believes diversity in the independent spirits sector has become increasingly pivotal.

Every time Desiré Pauw went past the Momentum offices in Centurion on the Gautrain, it enforced her desire to work at the company – something that was on her bucket list.

Incoming CEO of Quantumed Avian Bell shares how a positive organisational culture, strong skills transfer and a solid succession plan enabled him to rise to the top rung of the corporate ladder.

Nomaswazi Ngwane, human capital executive at Old Mutual’s mass & foundation cluster, believes in the power of nurturing people so that they can help build a company and contribute towards its success in an ever-changing time.

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

Ashika says she lives by Madiba’s sentiment that education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.

Netcare’s Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba shares how being a self-funded student taught him about vision, passion, dedication, discipline and humility.

Yolanda Manganye, Momentum Metropolitan’s human capital executive, discusses aligning organisational purpose, leveraging Africa’s youthful talent, and bridging the skills gap.

Implementing technology in order to increase efficiency and productivity is not so clear-cut in the HR world, says the panel during the 2024 CHRO Smart Work Summit.

Sandi Richardson, HR executive at RCS, shares her remarkable journey in HR, marked by resilience, empathy, and a deep commitment to making a difference.

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

With a passion for bringing young African voices to the forefront, Coca-Cola Africa’s vice president for people and culture Shalini Bhateja, is taking the African talent agenda forward.

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.

Building a strong employer brand and getting it noticed is one of our highest priorities, says Dennis Coetzee.

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

What steps will you take to ensure your employer brand remains relevant, future-fit and authentic, asks Celeste Sirin, MD of Employer Branding Africa.

Brett van Aswegen, CEO of short-term lending company Wonga, shares how he is working on creating a company culture that encourages his team to find motivation from within.

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.

Lessons from Dimension Data SVP on shaping a culture of inclusivity and talent retention.

Newly appointed head of HR at Bryte Insurance, Tebogo Baloyi, has excelled in the insurance industry while managing a global workforce.

Attracting talent from the outside will always be important, writes Insaaf Daniels, human capital director at redPanda Software.

Rahab Matebane is a biker-pageant queen turned CHRO, who serves with integrity and is shaping the future of work.

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.

The post-Covid landscape has changed the world of work significantly, as companies adapt to the Great Resignation, Great Reawakening, Great Reshuffle and Great Unretirement. It’s all the more prudent for HR strategies to evolve and adjust to The Greats.

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

Annalize has played a pivotal role in major organisational integrations and is now focused on evolving PepsiCo South Africa's culture, becoming a leading foods company, and building a diverse organisation.

Monica Frieslich, head of people business partnering and development at Yoco, has a remarkable HR career.

Bridget shares her story of resilience, inclusion, and how she is redefining HR at AB InBev Africa.

The former chief sustainability officer of the group is now the chief people and culture officer at Sibanye-Stillwater.

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

Cora is a seasoned HR executive who has held prominent positions at General Electric Central & Eastern Europe, Emirates Investment Authority in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Marsh.

For the CHRO and CEO to have a successful relationship, they must share the same vision for their people, says Karen.

Diana’s career has been a journey of driving diversity and inclusion with passion.

Dineo Sekwele, group HR executive at Nutun, has taught senior HR business partner, Lerato Maselela, to never stop learning.

A closer look at how organisations are aiding employees with financial wellness.

My ultimate aim is to find ways to harness and celebrate the potential inherent in our people, says Savina

Leola speaks on her career journey and the unique challenges facing the beverage industry.

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

Palesa plans to use her passion for people and progress in ways that extend far beyond geographic boundaries.

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

Pamela Xaba is the founder of Nonkosi Creatives, and has over two decades of experience as a corporate HR professional. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion both in workspaces and society.

She says she is most excited about bringing a positive change to Africa Chartered Managers.

Sungeetha Sewpersad, chief people officer at Rand Merchant Bank, is excited about the opportunities AI and predictive analytics offer for the HR profession.

The value of a business living its culture does not just lie in attracting top employees, but in its ability to retain them, says Anne.

It's important to never stop learning new things and improving yourself, says HR leader Neridha Moodley

HR director at Oneplan Insurance Brigitte Padayachee and her mentee, Tashya Singh, share their thoughts on their mentoring journey.

Humsha Ramgobin aims to drive global HR strategy and gender equality in her new role as group chief HR officer.

In today’s workplace, effective leadership is rooted in emotional intelligence (EQ), says panel at CHRO Solutions Summit.

CHRO South Africa asked Elsie Pule, group executive for HR at Eskom and her mentee, Thato Dorcas Molise, what they’ve learned from each other.

Kutlwano wants to pave the way for inclusion and diversity.

I sometimes feel like she teaches me more than I teach her, says Claudia.

Zizile is an unwavering advocate for women's advancement in the steel manufacturing sector.

People director of large industries at Air Liquide Tshepisho Mahlangu speaks on championing transformation and impact through people-centric leadership.

A glimpse into Enid Lizamore’s visionary outlook for Heineken Beverages.

The HR exec at Cape Union Mart Group, believes in unleashing the untapped potential of team members in the ever-evolving landscape of HR.

Bobo Mngxali, the head of people and culture at Roche Diagnostics, says it is crucial to be resilient and passionate about the job to be successful in a transition.

Embracing technology, upskilling workforce, and prioritising employee wellbeing are top of the list.

Insaaf describes her leadership style as a fine balance between empowerment and collaboration.

Leading HR executives share their current and most impactful reads.

KFC’s new chief people officer has leveraged both HR and operational acumen to advance her career.

The seasoned HR executive brings 18 years of experience to the role.

Cebile Xulu, people lead at Mondelēz International, speaks about nurturing talent on the continent.

She says the talent war is one of South African businesses’ biggest challenges.

The newly appointed chief people officer at Rand Merchant Bank says the appointment is a realisation of a long-term goal.

Portia will start at Sanlam Corporate on 1 June.

Kim speaks about being one of the first to occupy such a position at a school.

The HR leader honed her craft by breaking boundaries and getting involved in every aspect of the business.

The experienced HR leader is excited to join the financial services provider, which 'has always had talent as its key differentiator'.

The HR leader has honed his craft and grew by trial and error and learning from others.

The passionate leader is an established human capital professional with a career spanning more than a decade.

Recently named top CHRO in the world for 2022, Carol Surface is reportedly taking on the role of Apple’s first chief people officer.

Create a place where employees can live their purpose, change and grow, the HR leader says.

The experienced HR leader has been acting in the role since mid-2022.

The certified executive coach has over 20 years of experience in leadership positions.

The HR executive advises young professionals to take up space and show up.

Absa Group has appointed Jeanett Modise as its chief people officer.

Authentic and vulnerable leadership breeds an energised, productive and creative workforce, writes Peter Laburn.

Tiger Brands has announced the appointment of Vasinthee Moodley as people experience director.

Barloworld’s Tantaswa Fubu reiterates the importance of having leaders that are as close to humanity as possible.

The new group people and culture manager says she is “humbled” to be part of the organisation.

When she is not wearing her corporate hat, the head of human resources reads, and binges on her favourite TV shows.

It was through a happy accident that the HR leader’s career path into auditing changed.

The energetic HR leader sees the power of great talent within an organisation.

The experienced HR leader is passionate about talent development and employee wellness.

The new JSE HR director has already found connection with a “powerhouse of a team”.

Is it time to break the traditional barriers to learning and provide vital corporate education?

She continues her sterling journey at Tiger Brands, which started in 2012.

Curating learning sources can give employees more control over their learning experiences.

The 2021 CHRO Awards nominee continues her sterling career in the automotive industry.

Virtual emigration is on the uptick: here is how HR leaders can respond.

The qualified auditor with a passion for people has been at KPMG for over two decades.

She joins the executive committee at the African retail and wholesale group.

Claire Turner, provincial manager at Consolidated Employers Organisation, guides employers on mental health and employment relationships.

Lesson Desk shares ways to provide employees with engaging learning experiences.

Leadership coach Anja van Beek, shares tips for a successful mentor/mentee relationship.