Nobody is coming to promote you. Take charge.

Nyimpini Mabunda matriculated at fifteen and ran a multinational before forty. He now spends his time putting other people on that road.

Book Nyimpini Buy Books

A career spanning

Get to know Nyimpini

Speaker

More than 130 keynotes in 11 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Europe, on career acceleration, leadership, and what AI means for business. Check available dates.

Bestselling Author

Take Charge: Life Lessons on the Road to CEO is now in its ninth reprint since Jonathan Ball published it. One book, one argument: the road up is walkable. Read about the book.

Chairman

Chairperson of Schindler South Africa. Non-executive director on several boards. Former CEO of GE Southern Africa, and former Chair of the U.S.–South Africa Business Council in Washington. See the record.

Executive Coach

One-on-one and group executive coaching for senior transitions and high-performers, for the leaders navigating the step no one prepared them for. Enquire about coaching.

The Story

From a village in Mpumalangato the chairman's seat.

He was fifteen when he matriculated, nineteen when he walked into a multinational, and twenty-one when he first led a team. Five companies and three business schools mark the road from there to the chair.

15 MpumalangaMatriculates at fifteenA village school in an apartheid-era homeland.
1996Procter & GambleJoins at nineteen. Leads a team at twenty-one.
2000Diageo, Cape TownMarketing, portfolio and strategy.
2004MBA, UCTGraduate School of Business.
2006Nando'sOwns and grows six franchise restaurants.
2008Diageo, LondonRegional Marketing Manager, 2008 to 2012.
2013Uganda BreweriesManaging Director and CEO, Kampala.
2016VodacomCEO, Consumer Business. Then BCG.
2020General ElectricCEO, GE Southern Africa.
2021INSEADAdvanced Management Program.
2021U.S.–SA Business CouncilChair, Washington DC.
2023Harvard Business SchoolFinance for Senior Executives.
NowThe chairChairperson, Schindler South Africa. Founder, TCLI.

Teaches and advises at

GIBSPart-time lecturer
Wits Business SchoolAdvisor
Johannesburg Business SchoolLecturer, University of Johannesburg

130+keynotes delivered

11countries across Africa, the Middle East and Europe

3countries where he has led businesses

The Podcast

CEO Nightswith Nyimpini

A monthly live podcast, recorded in front of an audience in a coffee-house setting. The people running the country's biggest companies, talking about the person behind the title, and how they actually got there.

Subscribe to the Podcast

Bonang MohaleChairman, Bidvest Group

The Season One finale, recorded in Mbabane, on storytelling, Ubuntu, and what leadership actually costs.

Dan MarokaneGroup Chief Executive, Eskom

Episode one. Upbringing, principles, and taking on the hardest job in the country.

Mpumi MadisaGroup CEO, Bidvest

Leading 120,000 people, and staying entirely herself while doing it.

Robbie BrozinCo-founder, Nando's

The man who built the brand Nyimpini once ran restaurants for. On imposter syndrome and hope.

Yolanda CubaVP South & East Africa, MTN

A CEO at twenty-nine. On not waiting until you feel ready.

Theo BaloyiFounder & CEO, Bathu

From the streets of Alexandra to a globally recognised shoe brand.

Peter SimonsFormer Executive Leader, Heineken

A career spent leading across the world. On the triangle of trust, and what it takes to lead globally.

Vukani MngxatiCEO, Microsoft South Africa

“I never applied for a job.” On reinvention, and choosing to walk away from his own job.

Angelo SwartzCEO, The SPAR Group

From cashier to chief executive. On humility, purpose, and why he still works the shop floor himself.

Dion ShangoPartner & CEO, PwC Africa

“Greatness lies at the edge of your comfort zone.” Leadership beyond the boardroom.

Martina BieneChairperson & MD, Volkswagen Group Africa

On fearless decisions, and why leadership is about people, not titles.

Ramasela GandaGroup CEO, Zeda · CEO, Avis Budget Southern Africa

Lessons in resilience, power moves, and rising to the top.

Prof Tshilidzi MarwalaRector, United Nations University

On AI, self-disruption, and future-proofing your career.

Lee NaikCEO, TransUnion Africa

The technologist's take on leadership, data, and staying ahead of change.

Rui MoraisCEO, Dis-Chem

“Leadership doesn't mean losing your personality.”

15 episodes

CEO Nights Season 2

Coming soon.

Season One is complete: fifteen conversations with the people running South Africa's biggest companies. Season Two is in production, and every episode is recorded in front of a live audience. Put your name down and stay connected.

Be invited to a live recording

The Institute

Africa's leadership institute, built on seven guiding areas that together develop leaders, tell their stories, and open the door for the next generation.

What is TCLI?

The Take Charge Leadership Institute is the home of Nyimpini Mabunda's leadership work, bringing his keynotes, coaching, teaching, writing and broadcasting together under one roof, so that what he has learned on the road to CEO is available to the people climbing it now.

Why TCLI?

Africa does not have a shortage of talent. It has a shortage of access: to the mentorship, the rooms and the plain instruction that turn capable people into leaders. Too many join organisations full of promise and quietly disappear inside them. The Institute exists to close that gap.

Purpose

To develop the next generation of African leaders, equipping them with the capability, the confidence and the networks to lead at the highest level, and to bring others with them when they get there.

Take Charge Leadership Institute

The sevenguiding areas.

Seven ways the Institute develops leaders, tells their stories and opens the door for the people coming next.

Thought Leadership Keynotes

Keynote speaking, firesides and executive thought leadership.

Mentorship & Executive Coaching

Developing leaders through mentorship and executive development.

Education & Training

Building leadership capability through structured learning.

Broadcasting

Sharing leadership conversations, ideas and insights through media. Watch the series.

Consulting & Advisory

Board and executive advisory on strategy, growth and organisational change.

Print & Publishing

Extending leadership knowledge through books, publications and written work. See the books.

Youth Development / Impact

Developing the next generation of African leaders with TCLI, including the U-GRIP graduate programme. See U-GRIP.

The TCLI Platform

A new digital learning and leadership community is coming soon. Join the TCLI waitlist to be part of it from the start, to hear first about the launch and every opportunity to engage with the Institute.

Join TCLI

Nyimpini Mabunda signing a copy of Take Charge

The Book

TakeCharge

An inspirational manual for actively shaping one's career.
Mteto Nyati

‘I believe there are many potential senior leaders out there who simply lack the self-belief and toolkit to begin their own journey to the top. There are, as they say, many ways to skin a cat . . .’ Join Nyimpini Mabunda on his journey from his childhood in an apartheid-era homeland to the CEO's office at one of the world's leading businesses. In a career spanning Procter & Gamble, Nando's, Diageo and Vodacom in South Africa, the UK and Uganda, Mabunda actively sets out to always improve his business acumen and leadership skills. Constantly in learning mode and infused with positive energy, Mabunda's path offers insightful lessons and practical advice for anyone who wants to succeed in their career, build and lead a business. This is your toolkit to take you to the top!

Get your signed copy

Every copy ordered here can be signed and personalised by Nyimpini.

Buy the book · R320 Get your signed copy Bulk & corporate purchases

The next book · Coming soon

CEO Nights.

Insights on Leadership, Career and Growth from Top CEOs

The conversations become a book. What the people running South Africa's biggest companies said about the climb, gathered from the show and set down in one place. Reserve your copy now.

Pre-order the book

Press

In thepress.

Television, podcasts and articles: the thinking behind the work, collected in one place.

Watch and listen

Read

More coverage is added as it is published.

Impact

Purposeat scale.

Africa's growth depends on its people. Nyimpini backs that belief with active programmes, because leadership without legacy is just career management.

Nyimpini Mabunda surrounded by learners on a school visit — From the village to the global boardroom, and now bringing the next generation with me. That is the work. Nyimpini Mabunda

01 · Flagship programme

U-GRIP

The Unemployed Graduate Reskilling & Integration Programme: industry, government and universities preparing unemployed graduates for meaningful work.

Explore U-GRIP 02

Investing in Africa

Backing the continent's growth through its people: programmes, partnerships and time given to the leaders coming next.

Women Empowerment

More Women at the Table: backing female executives and entrepreneurs to close the gender leadership gap, for good.

Partner with us

Events

Be in the roomwhen it happens.

CEO Nights is recorded live, in front of a small audience. Leading the Women's Table brings women together around one table. Invitations go to the list first, and the list is short.

Upcoming

Upcoming Events

Keynotes, masterclasses and Take Charge experiences. The gig guide shows where Nyimpini is speaking next.

See the full gig guide Updated by the TCLI team

Live recording

CEO Nights Live Recordings

A coffee-house setting, a chief executive in the chair, and a room that gets to ask its own questions. Season Two is in production.

Monthly · Johannesburg

Gathering

Leading the Women's Table

Women in business, one table, and the practical conversation about getting to the top and staying there.

By invitation

Be the first to be invited Takes a minute. No spam, invitations only.

Enquiries

Tell him whatyour audience needs.

For keynotes and events: the date, the venue, the audience, and the outcome you want.
For board and advisory matters: the organisation and the mandate.
For coaching: where you are, and where you are trying to get to.

Send an enquiry

info@takechargeli.co.za

Enquiries are typically answered within two business days. Johannesburg, SAST (GMT+2).