The Storyteller’s Journey: How One Woman Is Changing the Narrative of an Industry

From the rolling hills of Sterkspruit’s Blikana village to the high-stakes boardrooms of Johannesburg’s advertising world, Nombini Mehlomakulu’s path has been one of deliberate disruption. At 52, as the Managing Director of Ebony+Ivory, a thriving black women-owned integrated advertising agency, she isn’t just leading a company; she’s challenging the very fabric of a historically white-dominated industry.

Her compass was set early by entrepreneurial parents who taught her that hard work and excellence were non-negotiable. “Hard work is the cornerstone of my operational approach,” she states, a principle that now fuels her mission to ensure the stories South Africa tells reflect its true, diverse self. “Progress begins with how we tell our stories,” she asserts.

A Career Forged in Strategy and Creativity

For Mehlomakulu, advertising is both art and science. “It gets into your blood,” she says. Her formidable career, spanning giants like Hollard, Virgin Atlantic, and Anglo American, equipped her with a rare blend of strategic insight and creative passion. This experience, coupled with board roles at firms like JWT South Africa, shaped a leadership philosophy centred on efficiency, effectiveness, and measurable outcomes.

Defining Success on Her Own Terms

Unapologetically single and child-free, Mehlomakulu dismisses societal scripts that tie a woman’s worth to marital status. “Identity and contribution are far more powerful markers of who we are,” she argues. Her familyher siblings and three grandchildrenremains her “greatest joy and daily motivation,” a grounding force in a demanding life.

Leadership Rooted in Grace and Intentionality

Guided by the psalmist’s promise of goodness and mercy, Mehlomakulu believes leadership must be rooted in fairness and grace. She sees her sector’s power to shape culture and is intentional about using it. “In a country as unequal as South Africa, we must be intentional about promoting inclusion and opening doors to economic participation,” she notes.

The Personal as Inspiration

Away from the agency, she finds inspiration in the arts, from theatre to film, and solace in yoga, gardening, and her true passion: cooking. Her kitchen is a creative lab, blending global flavours with traditional staples like umngqusho, though her ultimate comfort remains umvubomealie pap with maas.

The Road Ahead: Building an Inclusive Future

Looking forward, Mehlomakulu’s vision is expansive. She is energised by the potential for women in business and is focused on building companies that create meaningful work, cultivate talent, and contribute to a more inclusive economy.

“I’m looking forward to building companies that create meaningful work, cultivate talent, and contribute to a more inclusive economy,” she shares. Her hope is for a future “where women’s leadership is the norm, where opportunity is not defined by background.”

In Nombini Mehlomakulu, the story of South African advertising finds a new authorone whose narrative is driven by resilience, creativity, and an unwavering belief that kindness and discipline remain the most powerful tools for transformation. Her journey affirms that the most impactful campaigns are not just those that sell products, but those that change perspectives and open doors.

{Source: Citizen} 

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