Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, the chairperson of Business 20’s (B20’s) Digital Transformation Task Force which includes esteemed leaders in technology, is ambitiously working to advance digital inclusion across Africa and other developing economies.
In a recent interview, Mahanyele-Dabengwa explained the purpose and focus of the Digital Transformation Task Force, one of the many task forces of the B20.
B20 Task Forces are the strategic engines of B20 South Africa, responsible for developing business-driven, actionable policy recommendations to be presented to the Group of 20 (G20), which South Africa leads until November 2025.
“Its focus is to bring about concrete policies that will bring about wider internet access and digital inclusion, enabling developing nations in Africa and beyond to narrow the gap with technology powerhouses like the US and China,” Mahanyele-Dabengwa said.
“This G20 Presidency under South Africa’s leadership is the perfect moment to take action – to guide the technological revolution in a way that broadens access to opportunity, protects human rights and dignity, and ensures that no country or community is excluded from the digital future,” she added.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s background
Mahanyele-Dabengwa is renowned for her groundbreaking role as the first Black woman CEO of Naspers South Africa, a position she has held since 2019. Her journey from Soweto to the helm of one of Africa’s largest tech and media groups epitomises resilience, vision, and transformative leadership.
Born in 1971 in Meadowlands, Soweto, Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s early life was marked by frequent relocations, including stints in Durban, Lesotho and various parts of Johannesburg. Despite facing challenges, such as the loss of her mother at 17, she earned herself a BA in Economics from Rutgers University in the USA in 1993 and an MBA from De Montfort University in the UK in 1996. In 2008, she completed an executive programme at Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s career started at Fieldstone Private Capital Group in New York City, where she specialised in infrastructure finance, eventually becoming vice-president of its South Africa office.
Achievements since returning to South Africa
When she returned to South Africa, she led the project finance department at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, before joining Cyril Ramaphosa’s Shanduka Group in 2004. As CEO, she steered Shanduka to securing deals with global brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s South Africa.
In 2015, she co-founded Sigma Capital, an investment holding company, before catching the attention of Naspers, leading to her historic appointment as CEO of Naspers South Africa.
Under her tenure, Naspers has helped grow the South African tech ecosystem through early-stage tech investment startup unit Naspers Foundry, which invested and supported high-growth local startups. Naspers continues to invest in its leading lifestyle e-commerce subsidiary companies Takealot.com, Property24, AutoTrader, Mr D Food and media group, Media24.
Which boards does Mahanyele-Dabengwa serve on?
Mahanyele-Dabengwa serves on several boards, including Vodacom, and she is also an executive director of the Naspers and Prosus boards.
Mahanyele-Dabengwa, who is also committed to social development of especially young people, is involved with the life-changing work of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation and Global Dignity South Africa, focusing on education and youth empowerment.
Her contributions have earned her many accolades, including Forbes Woman Africa’s Businesswoman of the Year in 2014 and CNBC Africa’s All Africa Business Leaders Woman of the Year in 2019.
Which other black women executives do you find inspiring?
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