Khethiwe Nkuna is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, purpose-driven CEO, and social impact leader with over 20 years of experience leading transformative initiatives across South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and global markets—including the Middle East, Russia, and Turkey.
She is the Founder & CEO of SkillQuest, where she leads a dynamic team delivering strategic consulting in innovation, DEI, ESG, energy, sustainability, mental health, and disability inclusion. SkillQuest partners with forward-thinking organisations to embed purpose into their strategy—leveraging people and technology to drive systems change and deliver lasting impact.
Khethiwe also serves as Director: Brand & Reputation at the Africa Women Financial Inclusion Initiative (AWFII), a pan-African movement committed to closing the gender gap in finance. In this role, she leads strategic communications and stakeholder engagement—amplifying women’s voices in investment and leadership spaces.
She is the Co-Founder & CEO of Mwelase Foundation, a youth-centred non-profit focused on digital inclusion, economic opportunity, and community-led development in underserved and rural areas. Under her leadership, the Foundation drives programmes in entrepreneurship, mental health, sustainability, and skills development—empowering the next generation to lead with purpose.
Previously, she led Responsible Business & Corporate Citizenship at Accenture across the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Turkey, where she deepened her commitment to empathy-driven leadership and cross-cultural collaboration. Fluent in six South African languages, Khethiwe brings a culturally attuned lens to inclusive communication and stakeholder engagement.
Her career has been defined by designing and scaling high-impact programmes focused on youth empowerment, digital learning, social investment, and inclusive leadership. As an AI for Good advocate, she is passionate about the responsible use of technology to build inclusive, human-centred digital futures.
Khethiwe is also an author—her debut book, Tear Her Down: Unpacking Scarcity, Insecurity & Sisterhood in the Workplace, will launch on 31 July 2025. The book explores the silent tensions between women in leadership and calls for a shift towards collective power and purpose-driven allyship.
She is a sought-after speaker and moderator, contributing to global conversations on inclusive leadership, the future of work, ESG, and Africa’s development.
