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<\/p>\nBy EDN Reporter<\/p>\n
When Dr Thokozani Mpendulo Nkambule walked into his first session at Harvard Business School earlier this year, he carried more than a notebook and a name tag.<\/p>\n
He carried a nation with him. As the only Liswati in the AMP209 cohort and the first from Eswatini to complete Harvard\u2019s Advanced Management Program, he stepped into a global classroom representing the hopes of many young professionals back home.<\/p>\n
The achievement is a milestone not just for him, but for the country. It places Eswatini on a global map that is usually dominated by larger economies and better-known business hubs.<\/p>\n
And for Dr Nkambule, it marks the end of one journey and the beginning of a much bigger one.<\/p>\n
He speaks about it with quiet gratitude, pausing often to emphasise those who helped him along the way. At the top of that list is Inyatsi Group Holdings Executive Chairman, Michelo Shakantu, whose support made the experience possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will always be grateful,\u201d he says. \u201cOpportunities like this change how you see the world and how you think about leading at home.\u201d
Harvard\u2019s Advanced Management Program is not the kind of course one simply signs up for.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s reserved for senior executives, CEOs and leaders already shaping industries. Founded in 1945, AMP is considered the school\u2019s flagship executive leadership programme and one of the most respected in the world.<\/p>\n
Over several weeks, participants dissect complex global business problems, rethink how organisations transform, and explore the psychology of executive leadership.<\/p>\n
They study governance, digital disruption, competitive strategy and the art of making decisions when the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher.<\/p>\n
The program is famously intense, with long days, constant reflection, and an environment where everyone brings decades of experience to the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re learning from people who have built banks, led multinationals, shaped public policy,\u201d Dr Nkambule says. \u201cYou realise quickly that you\u2019re part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graduating as an AMP alumnus means joining a global network of people who have shaped their fields. Dr Nkambule now stands among a powerful lineage of leaders who have publicly acknowledged completing the Harvard Business School AMP, including:<\/p>\n
South Africa<\/p>\n
– Maria Ramos \u2013 Former CEO, Absa Group & Transnet
– Funke Ighodaro \u2013 Former CFO, MTN Group
– Sifiso Dabengwa \u2013 Former Group CEO, MTN<\/p>\n
Global<\/p>\n
– Anne Mulcahy (USA) \u2013 Former CEO & Chairperson, Xerox
– A.G. Lafley (USA) \u2013 Former CEO, Procter & Gamble
– Michael Sabia (Canada) \u2013 Former CEO, BCE Inc.; Former Deputy Minister of Finance
– Roberto Set\u00fabal (Brazil) \u2013 Former CEO, Ita\u00fa Unibanco<\/p>\n
Now, for the first time, Eswatini is represented on that list.<\/p>\n
For those who know him, Harvard is the natural next chapter in a career defined by grit and transformation. At Lidwala Insurance Company, where Dr Nkambule serves as Managing Director, he has pushed the business into new territory.<\/p>\n
Under his leadership, Lidwala strengthened profitability, sharpened its competitiveness and built one of the fastest-growing profiles in the local insurance sector.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He is credited with modernising systems, reworking internal processes and building stronger leadership capacity within the organisation.<\/p>\n
Before joining Lidwala, his journey led him through telecommunications, construction, finance and real estate across several African markets.<\/p>\n
He was part of the founding leadership team at Eswatini Mobile, helping steer it to positive EBITDA in just four years, a feat many considered ambitious at launch.<\/p>\n
At Inyatsi Group, he led multi-country financial operations, strengthened governance structures and spearheaded system upgrades that helped prepare the company for further expansion.<\/p>\n
Behind the titles is a strong academic grounding: a Doctorate in Finance, an ACCA qualification, a master\u2019s degree from the University of London, and executive leadership training from institutions across Africa and the world.<\/p>\n
What makes Dr Nkambule\u2019s Harvard milestone so meaningful is what he plans to do with it.<\/p>\n
He returns home with insights that go far beyond spreadsheets and strategy templates. Harvard pushes leaders to think about their purpose, what they stand for, who they serve and what legacy they want to leave.<\/p>\n
For Eswatini, that translates into several opportunities:<\/p>\n
Strengthened governance and leadership:<\/p>\n
The frameworks gained in the AMP equip him to bring global decision-making standards into local boardrooms.<\/p>\n
International networks:<\/p>\n
Harvard\u2019s alumni base opens doors to conversations, partnerships and investment horizons that small economies rarely access.<\/p>\n
Sharper strategic thinking for national goals:<\/p>\n
The timing aligns with Eswatini\u2019s ambitions in economic diversification, infrastructure, innovation and competitiveness.<\/p>\n
A new generation of leaders:<\/p>\n
Dr Nkambule believes strongly in nurturing local talent. Those who have worked under him speak of a leader who pushes them to study further, think bigger and commit to excellence.<\/p>\n
For Dr Nkambule, the AMP experience was deeply personal. It was a chance to test himself, learn from the world and carry Eswatini\u2019s flag into one of the most competitive leadership environments anywhere.<\/p>\n
But for the country, his achievement sends a bigger message: global excellence is not out of reach. It is achievable, tangible and within the grasp of local professionals willing to put in the work.<\/p>\n
As the first Liswati to earn this distinguished alumni status, Dr Nkambule is breaking ground. And in doing so, he is widening the path for those who will follow, young accountants, analysts, engineers, managers and future CEOs who will look at his story and believe in their own.<\/p>\n
His journey marks the beginning of a new chapter for Eswatini\u2019s presence on the global leadership stage. And for many, it is a reminder that when one Liswati rises, the whole nation rises with them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By EDN Reporter When Dr Thokozani Mpendulo Nkambule walked into his first session at Harvard Business School earlier…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,22,24,25,42],"tags":[46,73,48,49,58],"class_list":["post-6043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","category-eswatini-daily-news","category-future","category-national","category-south-africa","tag-africa","tag-eswatini","tag-feature","tag-human-interest","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n