Motivation:

Kgomotso’s career is grounded in transformational leadership, global governance, and sustainability, combined with deep experience working across complex, high-stakes system in the mining industry.  She will be a great asset in contributing to UCT’s future particularly in this pivotal period of the multi polar political power emergence.

She is a scholar-practitioner whose work over the years bridges education, leadership, sustainable development, international organisations and extractive sector governance will bring a unique perspective to the Committee of Convocation.  Throughout her career she has championed leadership strengthening initiatives; transformation and equity; advised leadership teams on values-driven strategy, inclusion and long-term institutional legacy. She has designed education and leadership frameworks that empower people and institutions to make ethically sound, contextually responsive and future oriented decisions.

Her doctoral research explored the lived experiences and decision-making processes of board members in high-impact environments. Her research equipped her with nuanced insight into board governance, ethical leadership, and the stewardship of complex systems perspectives directly relevant to the UCT’s mission and the evolving challenges facing international education.

She embodies the commitment to nurture curious, globally minded learners who can navigate an interconnected world with integrity and compassion. Today’s educational landscape requires not only academic excellence, but also systems-thinking, intercultural understanding, and the courage to transform outdated models of learning.

I believe her experience in research, leadership development, and organizational transformation combined with her commitment to UCT philosophy position her to meaningfully support the committee’s strategic oversight during this emerging era of a multipolar world.

As a board member, she will bring:

1. Strong governance experience, grounded in qualitative research on how boards navigate complexity, risk, and high-impact decisions;
2. Deep appreciation for international education, informed by advisory work, scholarly inquiry, and engagement across diverse cultural contexts;
3. Expertise in leadership transformation, particularly in preparing systems and institutions for responsible, legacy-driven futures;
4. A global, Africa-centered perspective, offering insights into emerging markets, equity challenges, and the importance of inclusive global participation in education;
5. Commitment and time, with a readiness to contribute actively to board deliberations, committees, and strategic engagements; and
6. Having studied her undergraduate degree with UCT,  a passion to contribute towards its vision at a time when education must adapt with courage and respond to unprecedented global shifts.

Sincerely,

Kgomotso S. Tshaka CV: