Even in the face of inequality, African women continue to rise, lead, and make extraordinary contributions to society, and Judy Dlamini is a shining example of this truth.
Judy Dlamini is not just a businesswoman, she is a healer, a creator, and a leader who has redefined what it means to build legacy in Africa.
She stands at the intersection of medicine, business education, and philanthropy, with a life story that reflects resilience, courage, and purpose.
Judy was born in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, into a family where education and hard work were the foundations of possibility.
Her mother was a primary school teacher, her father an entrepreneur, and from a young age she learned the value of learning, the power of resilience, and the importance of making a contribution that matters in her community.
Her parents taught her that education was not only a way out of poverty but a way to serve others and lift those around her.
Judy’s early dream was to become a medical doctor, and she pursued that dream with unwavering focus. She qualified as a medical doctor from the University of Natal in 1985 and served as a family practitioner and occupational health consultant for many years before expanding her horizons beyond clinical practice.
Driven by her belief in lifelong learning and her desire to impact broader systems, she pursued further education, earning an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Doctorate in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa, and a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University.
Her professional journey moved from medicine to corporate finance when she joined HSBC Investment Bank in Johannesburg.
That experience exposed her to the complexities of business and investment and positioned her for her next chapter as an entrepreneur.
In 1996, Judy founded the Mbekani Group, a business she has grown into a diversified investment and operating company with interests in health, property, facilities management, and luxury retail.
Under her leadership, Mbekani Group employs many people across sectors and has become a respected name in South Africa’s business landscape.
Judy’s influence extends well beyond her own companies. She has served on the boards of major corporations, including Aspen Pharmacare, Anglo American, Discovery Holdings, and Woolworths.
She was the chairperson of Aspen Pharmacare and continues to serve in advisory and governance roles that shape corporate South Africa.
In 2018, she was appointed Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, one of Africa’s most prestigious universities, making her a leading voice in higher education and a champion for women in leadership.
In this role, she uses her platform to advocate for gender equity, educational transformation, and leadership excellence across institutions.
Judy is also a published author, with books including Equal but Different, The Other Story, and Grow to be Great, where she explores leadership, social justice, and entrepreneurship drawn from her own academic research and life experience.
Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the African Economy Builder Lifetime Achiever Award, the UNISA Leadership in Practice Award, the Beacon of Africa Award, and honorary doctorates for her influence in entrepreneurship, education, and economic empowerment.
Forbes Africa listed her as one of the 50 most powerful women on the continent and one of the 50 Over 50 women leading the way across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Judy’s impact stretches into education through initiatives she co-founded with her husband, Sizwe Nxasana, including the Sifiso Learning Group and Future Nation Schools programs, which nurture critical thinkers and leaders from early childhood through secondary education.
What makes Judy extraordinary is her relentless belief that excellence, purpose, and service can coexist in business and society.
She embodies the conviction that learning should be lifelong, that leadership must uplift others, and that every achievement is an opportunity to create impact for the next generation.
Judy Dlamini is not just shaping South African business and education; she is creating pathways for Africans to rise, lead, and contribute to a future where possibility and prosperity are within reach for all. She is a true African woman of impact.
Image Credit: St Stithians College
