Wendy Luhabe considers herself a social entrepreneur and is regarded as one of South Africa’s prominent, visionary and pioneering women. She spent 10 years in Marketing before venturing on her own. Her first enterprise was in Human Resources (Bridging the Gap). She is most known for her vision in the... Read more
Wendy Luhabe considers herself a social entrepreneur and is regarded as one of South Africa’s prominent, visionary and pioneering women. She spent 10 years in Marketing before venturing on her own. Her first enterprise was in Human Resources (Bridging the Gap). She is most known for her vision in the founding of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings in 1993, an initiative that revolutionized the participation of women in the economic landscape of South Africa . She has been a director since the age of 36 and is chairman of International Marketing Council (IMC), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Vendome SA.
She published her first book” Defining Moments” in 2002 (Experiences of Black Executives in South Africa’s workplace).
In 2002 she was responsible for another first in South Africa, namely the launch of a R120 million private equity fund for women-owned enterprises.
She was, until quite recently, chairperson of Alliance Capital and the Vodacom Group.
Currently she is chairperson of Vendome SA, the Industrial Development Corporation, The Abraaj Group, and the International Marketing Council and also serves on the Board of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. She also holds a number of influential international appointments: She is an international trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Foundation, she is a member of the Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy and is also a member of the Club of Rome.
She holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Fort Hare. She was recognised as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and as an Outstanding Young Person by the Osaka Junior Chamber in Japan. The Unisa Business School recognised her contribution to Leadership in Practice. In 1999 she was honoured as one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World. Wendy was inaugurated as Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg in September 2006.
She has established the Wendy Luhabe Foundation, which uses the profits from her book, Defining Moments, to educate young disadvantaged black women, particularly from the rural areas.
She is featured regularly in various media (Sunday Times, Financial Mail) as one of South Africa’s most powerful women. Wendy was recently invited by Hilary Clinton to join the International Council of Women Business Leaders, a new initiative by the U S State Department.
Her vision is for Africa to grow up, to take her rightful place in the world, to be responsible, to think of future generations and to change the image of poverty, war, genocide, poor leadership and corruption. Africa must cultivate a culture of social entrepreneurship and dedicate resources to single mindedly pursue this vision. Research has shown that entrepreneurs create employment opportunities, pioneer new industries , leapfrog economies, transform the quality of life and lead to a competitive national mindset. We cannot build our respective countries whilst we depend on aid on the one hand and create welfare states to buy political patronage on the other hand. I am convinced that Africa must let the women lead and we will witness a miracle that will astound the world. Democracy without responsible and accountable leadership is not sufficient to improve the quality of life for those who were previously excluded, exploited and marginalised. Africa must take responsibility for her destiny. It’s in their hands, they can and they must.
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You can book Wendy Luhabe through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Wendy's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Wendy Luhabe's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Wendy tailored to your event.
Wendy Luhabe speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Wendy to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Wendy Luhabe for events worldwide, subject to Wendy's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Wendy Luhabe is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Wendy can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Wendy Luhabe on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Wendy can offer.
Wendy Luhabe delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Wendy Luhabe's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Wendy's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Wendy Luhabe can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Wendy's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Wendy Luhabe is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Wendy Luhabe, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Wendy's current availability for your dates.