Phuti Mahanyele is the CEO of Shanduka Group (Pty) Ltd. She joined Shanduka in 2004 as the Managing Director of Shanduka Energy (Pty) Ltd. The Shanduka Group is a black-owned investment holding holding company with interest in financial services, energy, telecoms, property and industrial sectors. It employs nearly 12 000 people and holds a net asset value of about R8-billion.
She was previously the head of the Project Finance South Africa business unit at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Prior to that she was Vice President at Fieldstone, an international firm specialising in the financing of infrastructure assets. She joined the firm in New York in 1997 and later transferred to the South African office. She is involved in a number of activities with youth in her personal capacity. She is currently mentoring young professionals and students. She is involved with the “Dignity Day” programme, which is led by Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum and is focused on re-enforcing the values of dignity in young people.
She is also a Patron of NEET (National Education Empowerment Trust) and was awarded the “Rutgers Vision of Excellence Award ”by Rutgers University in 2011. She was awarded the “Most Influential Woman in Government and Business – Financial Services” in 2009 and was listed as one of the “Top 50 women in the world to watch in 2008” by the Wall Street Journal. Phuti was selected as a Global Young Leader in 2007 by the World Economic Forum. She was awarded the “Top in Project Finance, 2003” award by the Association of Black Securities & Investment Professionals (ABSIP). Her academic qualifications are a BA Economics from Rutgers University (State University of New Jersey. USA) (1993) and an MBA from De Montfort University in Leicester, UK (1996). She completed the Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Programs” Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century”, at Harvard University in 2008. She is a member of the boards of a number of Shanduka Group investee companies.
Born in Dobsonville, Soweto on the 15th March, 1971. Her first job experience was at National Sorghum Breweries under the guidance of her late father Mr. Mohale Mahanyele who was then co-founder of that business. The one person who has had the biggest influence on her life. Phuti also accords her career success to her mentor and big boss Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa who is the Executive Chairman of the Shanduka Group and Deputy President of the ANC. Phuti is a firm believer in getting ahead as a South African people and the need to realize our talent and human capital as a developing economy. She believes in corporate business that plays a role in educating and developing youth. An example of the work being done by her organisations Foundation. Since 2004, Shanduka Foundation has committed to spending R100 million on social corporate investments. This through the Adopt-a-School programme which has seen well over 173 schools adopted by the Foundation and its partners. Through bursaries that are provided to young people and also through the Shanduka Black Umbrellas programme which assists small to medium size enterprises by way of incubating entrepreneurs.
Phuti shares one simple life philosophy,” The least every single person can do is to make sure that they are using their skills to make a significant contribution to society”. She believes that young people need to take more charge of their conditions and available opportunities. To show confidence in their capabilities and be more committed to their ambitions. When one looks at our country and the world today there is so much to achieve. Our success depends on us and it is really up to us to develop ourselves intellectually.
AUTHOR: Kasibiz Mahala Team
