Nene Molefi is globally recognized as a consultant, keynote speaker, coach, and author with over 25 years of experience in leadership, organizational transformation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg, she has championed values-driven leadership, high-performing teams, and systemic change in organizations worldwide.
As the Founder and CEO of Mandate Molefi HR Consultants, Nene advises multinational corporations, governments, and nonprofit organizations. Her areas of expertise include Whole System Culture Change, Executive Leadership Development, DEI Strategy, and High-Stakes Facilitation. She is known for guiding courageous, results-driven conversations that address complex organizational and societal challenges.
A Force for Change in Leadership & Social Justice: Nene has profoundly impacted the corporate sector, coaching senior executives and EXCO teams to foster inclusive, high-performing teams aligned with organizational visions, purposes, and values. She facilitates strategic alignment sessions for boards, subcommittees, and executive teams, promoting collaboration and excellence, and empowering peak performance.
A dedicated advocate for social justice, Nene has led crucial judicial transformation dialogues in South Africa. For over two decades, she has been the lead consultant for social context training within the Judiciary, engaging with judges from the High Courts to the Constitutional Court to address systemic bias and promote institutional change.
Her global reach includes leading anti-racism workshops for the United Nations and serving on the Advisory Structure of the Auditor-General of South Africa. She has also worked with educational institutions to shape transformation and DEI strategies.
Global Authority & International Speaker: Nene is a member of The Diversity Collegium, a global consortium of DEI experts, and the Inclusive Allies Coalition. She is the author of A Journey of Diversity and Inclusion in South Africa: Guidelines for Leading Inclusively and co-author of the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB). Her thought leadership extends to numerous publications and articles focused on organizational culture, psychological safety, and team effectiveness.
Nene is an Associate Lecturer at Duke University (South Africa) and has spoken at institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Groningen, and the University of Denver.
Award-Winning Excellence & Industry Recognition: Nene has been recognized globally for her work in DEI, including:
- Winner: Standard Bank Top Woman in Professional & Support Services (2023)
- Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence – Institute for People Management (IPM)
- Finalist: South African Chamber of Commerce UK – Best DEI Entrepreneur (2023)
- Runner-Up: Nedbank Empowerment – Top Entrepreneur of the Year (2023)
Education & Executive Training:
- B. Social Work – University of Fort Hare
- Honors in Social Science – University of Cape Town
- Master’s in Innovation & Leadership – York St John University, UK
- Executive Leadership Program – Stellenbosch Business School
- Strategic Project Management – University of Cape Town
