Meet Our Leadership Team
Mwelase Foundation is led by a visionary team of Founding Directors, each bringing deep expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to inclusive youth empowerment. The Board ensures strategic direction, ethical leadership, and
operational integrity across all initiatives.
Khethiwe Thuleleni Nkuna
Co-Founding Director & CEO
Khethiwe is a passionate and seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience driving transformative change in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. She leads the overall strategy, stakeholder engagement, and growth of Mwelase Foundation, ensuring its mission is realised across all focus areas.
As the CEO of SkillQuest, Khethiwe harnesses the potential of people and technology to address societal challenges and drive sustainable development. Her career includes leadership roles at Accenture Africa and MMI Holdings, where she championed inclusive innovation and transformation.
At Mwelase Foundation, Khethiwe’s focus is on building a purpose-driven culture and expanding the Foundation’s reach through partnerships and programmes that uplift marginalised youth, especially girls and women.
Nothando Zamangwe Mazibuko
Founding Director & Chief Marketing Officer
Nothando is a purpose-driven communicator, user experience strategist, and marketing professional. At Mwelase Foundation, she leads brand strategy, digital storytelling, and community engagement efforts that amplify youth voices and increase visibility of the Foundation’s impact.
With over a decade of cross-sector experience including roles at Striata and as founder of Zamangwe Digital she brings creativity, precision, and a human-centred lens to communication. Her global perspective, sharpened through teaching in South Korea, ensures culturally responsive messaging across diverse audiences.
Nothando is committed to inclusive innovation and designs campaigns that resonate with and empower girls, youth, and rural communities across South Africa.
Busisiwe Phindile Mazibuko
Founding Director & Chief People Officer
Busisiwe is a strategic HR leader and change agent with over 15 years of experience in talent management, leadership development, and organisational effectiveness. She leads all people-focused initiatives at Mwelase Foundation, including staff development, values alignment, and youth wellness.
In her role as an HR Business Partner at Accenture, Busisiwe coaches professionals on performance and growth while advocating for psychological safety and equity in the workplace.
At Mwelase Foundation, she is a driving force behind inclusive recruitment, trauma-informed programme design, and initiatives that support the mental health and resilience of young people, particularly girls navigating systemic barriers.