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Dr. Lulu Gwagwa is CEO of Lereko Investments, a black-owned investment firm in South Africa. You can connect with Dr. Lulu at http://www.lulugwagwa.co.za. Born in a rural village in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr. Lulu came from a large family that included 25 family members. Growing up, she wanted to be a doctor, but there was no math teacher in her village, which halted her future medical career. She studied at University of Fort Hare, a historically important black university. Encouraged by a professor, Dr. Lulu completed her masters in urban planning at the University of Natal, a predominantly white higher education institution where she was one of a handful of black students. She qualified as the first black town and regional planner – a remarkable achievement in apartheid South Africa. In the late 1980s, Dr. Lulu left for London for further graduate studies; she graduated from the London School of Economics with a masters in social policy & planning and the University College London with a PhD. With the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994, South Africa’s apartheid regime was no more. Dr. Lulu joined the government as a director in the national department of public works. For the next ten years, she worked in development, consulting, and research, notably for the World Bank. In the early 2000s, Dr. Lulu parlayed her diverse professional experiences into business. She set up Lereko Investments with partners and quickly established herself as a power player in South Africa’s corporate world. She’s also a non-executive director at FirstRand, Massmart, and Sun International. Dr. Lulu has built an extraordinary career. She’s achieved many firsts, academically and professionally. I was inspired by her story, which is a testament to her grit and spirit. Without further ado, here’s my conversation with Dr Lulu Gwagwa.
Anthropology speaks about the study of historical facts, an attempt to understanding the many different aspects of the human experience through the eyes of history and another element; archeology is considered by some as a branch of anthropology. There are other different branches of anthropology such as cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Economic anthropology came about as a result of the juxtaposition of two disciplines in the 20th century. Historically, entrepreneurship is in our DNA as African and to further unpack this, Dr. Lulu joins us in the studio. Dr. Lulu Gwagwa is a multifaceted woman: an accomplished development planner; business leader; and philanthropist. She is a keen writer and photographer who is currently studying philosophy. Four times a year, she hosts a ‘Girls Lunch’ where she engages young African women on issues facing women in modern society. She motivates them to dream big. “Read widely. Travelling broadens your mind, and it is not as expensive as we think. Build and sustain your networks. Get involved in your community, and in empowering others. But most importantly, invest in knowing yourself,” she says. Dr. Lulu’s passion for spatial equity has driven her philanthropic work. Two decades ago she founded the Mhakazi Trust to empower the young people of Umzimkulu, some of whom have even graduated from tertiary institutions. Dr. Lulu is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Lereko Investments, a black-owned investment company, and one of the principals in the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund. Dr. Lulu also serves as non-executive director of FirstRand, Massmart and Sun International. She is also the Chairperson of Aurecon Africa and a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africanperspective/support
Anthropology speaks about the study of historical facts, an attempt to understanding the many different aspects of the human experience through the eyes of history and another element; archeology is considered by some as a branch of anthropology. There are other different branches of anthropology such as cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Economic anthropology came about as a result of the juxtaposition of two disciplines in the 20th century. Historically, entrepreneurship is in our DNA as African and to further unpack this, Dr. Lulu joins us in the studio.Dr. Lulu Gwagwa is a multifaceted woman: an accomplished development planner; business leader; and philanthropist. She is a keen writer and photographer who is currently studying philosophy.Four times a year, she hosts a ‘Girls Lunch' where she engages young African women on issues facing women in modern society. She motivates them to dream big. “Read widely. Travelling broadens your mind, and it is not as expensive as we think. Build and sustain your networks. Get involved in your community, and in empowering others. But most importantly, invest in knowing yourself,” she says. Dr. Lulu's passion for spatial equity has driven her philanthropic work. Two decades ago she founded the Mhakazi Trust to empower the young people of Umzimkulu, some of whom have even graduated from tertiary institutions.Dr. Lulu is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Lereko Investments, a black-owned investment company, and one of the principals in the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund. Dr. Lulu also serves as non-executive director of FirstRand, Massmart and Sun International. She is also the Chairperson of Aurecon Africa and a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI).--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/support
Anthropology speaks about the study of historical facts, an attempt to understanding the many different aspects of the human experience through the eyes of history and another element; archeology is considered by some as a branch of anthropology. There are other different branches of anthropology such as cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Economic anthropology came about as a result of the juxtaposition of two disciplines in the 20th century. Historically, entrepreneurship is in our DNA as African and to further unpack this, Dr. Lulu joins us in the studio. Dr. Lulu Gwagwa is a multifaceted woman: an accomplished development planner; business leader; and philanthropist. She is a keen writer and photographer who is currently studying philosophy. Four times a year, she hosts a ‘Girls Lunch' where she engages young African women on issues facing women in modern society. She motivates them to dream big. “Read widely. Travelling broadens your mind, and it is not as expensive as we think. Build and sustain your networks. Get involved in your community, and in empowering others. But most importantly, invest in knowing yourself,” she says. Dr. Lulu's passion for spatial equity has driven her philanthropic work. Two decades ago she founded the Mhakazi Trust to empower the young people of Umzimkulu, some of whom have even graduated from tertiary institutions. Dr. Lulu is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Lereko Investments, a black-owned investment company, and one of the principals in the Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund. Dr. Lulu also serves as non-executive director of FirstRand, Massmart and Sun International. She is also the Chairperson of Aurecon Africa and a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/support
Dr Lulu Gwa Gwa is the CEO of Lereko Investments. She has a PhD in Town Planning from University College London and is a former Deputy Director -General of Public Works for both the Mandela and Mbeki governments. She was also CEO of the Independent Development Trust (IDT). Our discussion covers a broad range of issues including the ongoing legacy of apartheid spatial planning, the importance of rural development, the lack of transformation in business and the challenges facing young women professionals when they enter the work space.
This week we talk to Dr Lulu Gwagwa, CEO of Lereko Investments, Chairperson of Aurecon Africa and non-executive director of FirstRand, Massmart and Sun International. We discuss some of the milestones in her career, like serving on the committee that decided South Africa’s current provincial boundaries; developing policy to transform the construction industry; and managing a R609 million job creation process. Dr Gwagwa’s work addresses issues of spatial equality and highlights the social as well as economic importance of infrastructure. We consider the low numbers of women occupying senior and executive positions in the corporate sector and explore potential interventions, notably sponsorship as a purposeful mechanism to promote talent. We emphasise the importance of education, role models, support structures, affirmation and self-belief as building blocks for success. Tune in for more…