Gugu Sepamla is a dynamic leader at the forefront of Corporate Affairs, Governance and Strategy. She previously served as the Group Executive for Corporate Affairs & Governance at Barloworld Limited, Gugu brings a wealth of experience honed through pivotal roles in renowned organizations.
Prior to her tenure at Barloworld, Gugu distinguished herself as a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she contributed to shaping strategic initiatives and fostering innovation. Her leadership acumen was further evidenced during her tenure as Managing Director for Public Policy and Strategy at Barclays Africa, where she played a pivotal role in steering the organization's trajectory.
Her journey in strategic leadership also saw her at Ernst & Young, where she spearheaded Strategy & Emerging Markets and served on the Executive Committee for EY Africa. Additionally, her role as Group Corporate Affairs Director at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) underscored her commitment to driving transformative change at the intersection of public and private sectors.
Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Gugu Sepamla has been featured on Forbes' prestigious list of 'Top 10 most Powerful and Influential Women in Africa'. She is also a distinguished member of the World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders, a testament to her dedication to positive global impact across diverse sectors.
With over two decades of experience in the professional services industry, Gugu is a seasoned Strategist and Performance Turnaround Expert. Her expertise spans in Business Process Re-Engineering, Strategic Planning, and Operational Optimization, making her a Trusted Advisor to top-tier (local and international) organizations seeking to achieve their business objectives.
One of Gugu's notable achievements includes her pivotal role in collaborating with a government task team of a BRICS country to design an innovative operating model for a proposed National Pension System. Leveraging her extensive network and strategic insights, she facilitated the integration of existing institutional capacities in both the Public and Private sectors, demonstrating her ability to navigate complex challenges with agility and foresight.
Recently, Gugu has achieved a significant milestone by completing the prestigious Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative, a rigorous two-year fellowship program based in New York, USA. Set to graduate in May 2024, this program has equipped her with cutting-edge insights and advanced leadership skills, further enhancing her capacity to drive impactful change on a global scale.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Gugu's influence extends to various boardrooms, where she holds strategic positions as both an Executive and Non-Executive Director. Her invaluable contributions to these boards underscore her ability to provide visionary leadership and steer organizations towards sustainable growth and innovation. Gugu's diverse expertise and strategic acumen make her a sought-after asset in the corporate landscape, driving positive outcomes and fostering inclusive governance practices.
Gugu comes with strong networks; Internationally and throughout the African Continent. She is a respected industry leader and dedicated mentor who is actively involved in various trusts, charities and is a champion for women’s empowerment in South Africa.
Passionate about both physical and societal endurance, Gugu is an avid international marathon runner who finds purpose in pushing personal limits while advocating for meaningful change. As the founder of the Next Gen Organization, her mission transcends the finish line. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders and championing women's empowerment initiatives in South Africa. Her involvement in various trusts and charities reflects her unwavering dedication to driving meaningful societal change.
BOARDS:
- Non-Executive Director of Air Liquide
- Director at AWCA (African Women’s Chartered Accountants)
- Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group(BCG), helping guide the company’s direction, growth, innovation as well as being instrumental in people development, in addition to lending her considerable talents and expertise to providing clients with solutions that help them to achieve their business goals.
- Advisory Board Director at Wits Business School
- Non-Executive Director: Value Capital Partners
- Non-Executive Director: Global Credit Rating Agency
- Former Chairman of MDDA (Media Development Diversity Agency)
- Former Chairman of Macquarie Bank SA
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, Rising Talent
- Selected by Forbes onto its list of ‘Top 10 most Powerful and Influential Women in Africa’
- Selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a community of less than a 1000 across the globe who are viewed as leaders helping play a role in positively impacting the world across sectors (business, government and the not-for-profit sectors
- Selected among 11 (eleven) by Minister of Finance Gordon Pravin as a Board Member of South African Airways
- She is a Fellow of the fourth class of the Africa Leadership Initiative-South Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network
- She is a Harvard Fellow, having graduated in 2023
EDUCATION
HARVARD FELLOWSHIP, HARVARD UNIVERSITY – 2024
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA, FBL IMD, SWITZERLAND – 2022
EXECUTIVE MASTER IN POSITIVE LEADERSHIP, IE BUSINESS SCHOOL MADRID, SPAIN: 2019
COL, INSEAD BUSINESS SCHOOL: 2017
LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC POLICY, LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, SINGAPORE: 2017
POSTGRADUATE IN LEADERSHIP, INSEAD BUSINESS SCHOOL: 2016
LEADERSHIP & PUBLIC POLICY, YALE UNIVERSITY: 2012
PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: 19
MANAGEMENT ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMME, WITS BUSINESS SCHOOL - 1999
BACHELOR OF JOURNALISM DEGREE, DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY - 1995
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
GROUP COPORATE AFFAIRS EXECUTIVE
Barloworld, South Africa
OCTOBER 2018 – DECEMBER 2022
MANAGING DIRECTOR: PUBLIC POLICY AND STRATEGY & REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Barclays (Africa)
2014 – SEPTEMBER 2018
SENIOR PARTNER: STRATEGY & EMERGING MARKETS
Ernest & Young (Africa)
2008 – 2013
GROUP CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
Public Investment Corporation
2004 – 2008
RELEVANT EARLY EMPLOYMENT
FOUNDER AND CEO
Spin Media
1998 – 2004
GENERAL MANGER: MARKETING
State Information Technology Agency
1996 – 1997
POLITICAL JOURNALIST
SABC
1995 - 1996