Dr. Thandekile (Thandi) Ngxongo, one of our distinguished alumni, delivered an insightful talk to the UKZN Durban Alumni Association on Monday, 26 May 2025. As the founder of the Thandekile Group, Thandi is a visionary leader in the oil and gas industry with a strong academic foundation, holding qualifications in Chemical Engineering, Project Management, an MBA, and a PhD. Rising from an engineering role to C-suite executive positions, she now owns petrol stations in KwaZulu-Natal, including the BP Flagship on Moore Road.
Thandi has received numerous accolades, including the Nedbank Womandla Award, KZN Top Business Awards, Global SHE Awards, and the Hadarat Global Woman of Stature Award in Dubai. An impactful speaker on global platforms such as the Forbes Leading Women Summit, she also leads the uThandekile Foundation, which supports education, women’s empowerment, and environmental initiatives. Her motto is “Lift as you rise.”
Reflecting on her high school days, Thandi recalls two teachers who shaped her journey in very different ways — one who discouraged her and another who encouraged her to reach her highest potential. She emphasized that in life, people will often face discouragement or doubt from others, but one should never listen to those voices.
On the topic of leadership, she stressed that before aspiring to lead others, one must first be the leader of their own life by overcoming the odds. She believes that your life journey is a reflection of your personal leadership power. Thandi shared key strategies that contributed to her success, including reflection and planning, business strategy, personal development, and community development.
Thandi closed her talk by emphasizing the importance of rooting for one another and offering mutual support. Her key messages were to love what you do, invest your time wisely, and cultivate an excellence mindset.
This inspirational talk was followed by a very lively Question and Answer session as well as a networking session over drinks and snacks. Thandi’s talk was one in a series of talks and outings co-ordinated by the UKZN Durban Alumni Association which aims to bring fellow alumni together to network and socialise and to maintain strong links with their alma mater.
Words: Ayabulela Mbhele
Photography: Yola Ndzabe
