Pumela Salela, one of Africa's leading Global Business Facilitators, shares how her meeting Nelson Mandela in person and receiving a scholarship from him, propelled her into a life of purpose and a stellar academic and professional career. Pumela describes how her dedication for  human connection is infused by the turning point of shaking Mandela's hand.

She then distinguishes between a turning point and a pivotal moment. Her pivotal moment was brought on by Covid and the lock down in London, far from her family. She took the circumstance as a chance to go deeply within and reflect and work on things, she has never had the space and mindset to address. In comparing this phase with the evolving of a butterfly, she felt that cocooning and withdrawing into stillness made it possible to reset and fly out with a new and invigorated sense of self.

Pumela Salela considers herself a Visionary Catalyst ™️. She helps individuals, organisations and countries ignite their spark and fuel their fire. Multiple Award Winning Pumela Salela has been Country Head for the United Kingdom (UK) under Brand South Africa, the custodian of the South Africa Country Brand in the last 8 years. Pumela has also worked as a Consultant for the World Bank, based at the organisation’s headquarters in United States, Washington D.C. and a Director: BPO at the dti, South Africa, The Director role was preceded by her position as Deputy Director for Investment Promotion at Trade and Investment South Africa. 
In 2022 she was awarded the EuroKnowledge Leadership Award, a prestigious award for excelling in Leadership. In the same year she was awarded the Champion for Africa Award in the UK. She is considered one the United Kingdom’s most influential Africans in 2018, Pumela was featured as a POWERHOUSE in DESTINY magazine in South Africa. She is the 2018 recipient of the African Achiever Award presented to her in the House of Lords, UK. In 2019 she received the BRITISH Award for African Development.

Prior to this Pumela was the Chief Director for Economic Policy Development and Planning
at the Department of Economic Development in South Africa. The Rockefeller Foundation acknowledged her contribution and innovation in formulating systems which address poverty by selecting Salela to be one the 18 global recipients of the foundation’s inaugural Global Fellowship on Social Innovation–and only South African to receive the honor.

Follow and learn more about our episode guest and check out Pumela's website and activities here:

Website: www.pumelasalela.com

Foundation: ELNOS Foundation

Instagram: instagram.com/pumelasalela

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @claudiamahlerconversations and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees



She has also been a lecturer in Strategic Brand Management at VEGA, The School of Branding. Salela studied to complete her MBA with distinction (cum laude) in England through a Nelson Mandela Scholarship where she received the Council Award for being the Best MBA student. 

Pumela is the Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Scholarship Alumni Association
and a Mentor to Graca Machel Scholars. She is featured in the 2013 issue of the book:
South Africa’s Most Inspirational Women. She has also been featured in the 2012 issue of
DESTINY magazine as one of South Africa’s Young and Powerful Achievers. In 2013 the
DESTINY magazine showcased her as one of the Top 40 young leaders, innovators and
job creators in South Africa. Ms Salela has served as an On-air Advisor to investors on an
Entrepreneurship Television Show called Rise South Africa.