Our #WCW today is Dr. Divine Ndhlukula, a Zimbabwean businesswoman and philanthropist who has made a significant impact in the business world and her community.
Dr. Ndhlukula was born on February 5, 1960, in rural Gutu, Zimbabwe, to Mary and Piniel Simbi. She grew up in Gutu, attending various schools including Zvinavashe School, Machingambi School, Bondolfi Mission, St. Dominic’s Secondary School, and Makumbe Mission. She later studied for an Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Midlands State University and holds another MBA from Women’s University in Africa and a Ph.D. in Business Leadership from the Women’s University, which was conferred in recognition of her business leadership and gender equality initiatives.
Dr. Ndhlukula’s journey into business began when she worked for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and Old Mutual for six years as an Accounting Officer. She then joined Intermarket Life Assurance as a Marketing Executive, where she worked for 16 years before leaving to found SECURICO in 1998. Her vision was to revolutionize the male-dominated security industry and create a niche where people could carve out a career. Today, SECURICO is one of the leading security companies in Zimbabwe, and Dr. Ndhlukula has become a renowned business leader and entrepreneur.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ndhlukula has achieved numerous accolades, including being named one of the most successful women in Africa by Forbes, winning the Empretec Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2001 and 2002, and being recognized as one of the Top 100 Women CEOs in Africa in 2019. She has also been inducted into the prestigious JA International Global Business Hall of Fame in 2021 and awarded the African Leadership Legend Award by Legacy Building Leaders in 2022.
Apart from her business achievements, Dr. Ndhlukula is also a dedicated philanthropist. She founded the Mentorship in Practice program, Woman Owned Brand initiative, and the Women in Enterprise Conference and Awards platform to help women scale up their businesses. She has also launched the Mbuya Mary Simbi library in her home area of Gutu, which benefits eight catchment schools, and pays fees for disadvantaged kids.
Dr. Ndhlukula’s achievements and philanthropic work are a testament to her unwavering dedication, hard work, and commitment to making a positive impact.
