Dr Thokozani Nkambule Makes History as First Liswati to Join Harvard’s Elite AMP Alumni
By EDN Reporter
When Dr Thokozani Mpendulo Nkambule walked into his first session at Harvard Business School earlier this year, he carried more than a notebook and a name tag.
He carried a nation with him. As the only Liswati in the AMP209 cohort and the first from Eswatini to complete Harvard’s Advanced Management Program, he stepped into a global classroom representing the hopes of many young professionals back home.
The achievement is a milestone not just for him, but for the country. It places Eswatini on a global map that is usually dominated by larger economies and better-known business hubs.
And for Dr Nkambule, it marks the end of one journey and the beginning of a much bigger one.
He speaks about it with quiet gratitude, pausing often to emphasise those who helped him along the way. At the top of that list is Inyatsi Group Holdings Executive Chairman, Michelo Shakantu, whose support made the experience possible.
“I will always be grateful,” he says. “Opportunities like this change how you see the world and how you think about leading at home.”
Harvard’s Advanced Management Program is not the kind of course one simply signs up for.
It’s reserved for senior executives, CEOs and leaders already shaping industries. Founded in 1945, AMP is considered the school’s flagship executive leadership programme and one of the most respected in the world.
Over several weeks, participants dissect complex global business problems, rethink how organisations transform, and explore the psychology of executive leadership.
They study governance, digital disruption, competitive strategy and the art of making decisions when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The program is famously intense, with long days, constant reflection, and an environment where everyone brings decades of experience to the table.
“You’re learning from people who have built banks, led multinationals, shaped public policy,” Dr Nkambule says. “You realise quickly that you’re part of something bigger.”
Graduating as an AMP alumnus means joining a global network of people who have shaped their fields. Dr Nkambule now stands among a powerful lineage of leaders who have publicly acknowledged completing the Harvard Business School AMP, including:
South Africa
– Maria Ramos – Former CEO, Absa Group & Transnet
– Funke Ighodaro – Former CFO, MTN Group
– Sifiso Dabengwa – Former Group CEO, MTN
Global
– Anne Mulcahy (USA) – Former CEO & Chairperson, Xerox
– A.G. Lafley (USA) – Former CEO, Procter & Gamble
– Michael Sabia (Canada) – Former CEO, BCE Inc.; Former Deputy Minister of Finance
– Roberto Setúbal (Brazil) – Former CEO, Itaú Unibanco
Now, for the first time, Eswatini is represented on that list.
For those who know him, Harvard is the natural next chapter in a career defined by grit and transformation. At Lidwala Insurance Company, where Dr Nkambule serves as Managing Director, he has pushed the business into new territory.
Under his leadership, Lidwala strengthened profitability, sharpened its competitiveness and built one of the fastest-growing profiles in the local insurance sector.
He is credited with modernising systems, reworking internal processes and building stronger leadership capacity within the organisation.
Before joining Lidwala, his journey led him through telecommunications, construction, finance and real estate across several African markets.
He was part of the founding leadership team at Eswatini Mobile, helping steer it to positive EBITDA in just four years, a feat many considered ambitious at launch.
At Inyatsi Group, he led multi-country financial operations, strengthened governance structures and spearheaded system upgrades that helped prepare the company for further expansion.
Behind the titles is a strong academic grounding: a Doctorate in Finance, an ACCA qualification, a master’s degree from the University of London, and executive leadership training from institutions across Africa and the world.
What makes Dr Nkambule’s Harvard milestone so meaningful is what he plans to do with it.
He returns home with insights that go far beyond spreadsheets and strategy templates. Harvard pushes leaders to think about their purpose, what they stand for, who they serve and what legacy they want to leave.
For Eswatini, that translates into several opportunities:
Strengthened governance and leadership:
The frameworks gained in the AMP equip him to bring global decision-making standards into local boardrooms.
International networks:
Harvard’s alumni base opens doors to conversations, partnerships and investment horizons that small economies rarely access.
Sharper strategic thinking for national goals:
The timing aligns with Eswatini’s ambitions in economic diversification, infrastructure, innovation and competitiveness.
A new generation of leaders:
Dr Nkambule believes strongly in nurturing local talent. Those who have worked under him speak of a leader who pushes them to study further, think bigger and commit to excellence.
For Dr Nkambule, the AMP experience was deeply personal. It was a chance to test himself, learn from the world and carry Eswatini’s flag into one of the most competitive leadership environments anywhere.
But for the country, his achievement sends a bigger message: global excellence is not out of reach. It is achievable, tangible and within the grasp of local professionals willing to put in the work.
As the first Liswati to earn this distinguished alumni status, Dr Nkambule is breaking ground. And in doing so, he is widening the path for those who will follow, young accountants, analysts, engineers, managers and future CEOs who will look at his story and believe in their own.
His journey marks the beginning of a new chapter for Eswatini’s presence on the global leadership stage. And for many, it is a reminder that when one Liswati rises, the whole nation rises with them.
