Ndaba Allan Ntsele (b. October 6, 1952) , is the South African Chief Executive Officer, Pamodzi Investment Holdings (Proprietary) Limited. Ndaba Ntsele is the CEO, director and co-founder of Pamodzi Investment Holdings and the president of the Black Business Council. He is also chairman of FoodCorp. Limited and Indwe Risk Services, and was formerly executive director of Nike SA. Ndaba won Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for South Africa in 2007.
Mr Ntsele’s roles come as part of his rapidly expanding portfolio which began with his co-founding of Pamodzi Property Development in 1979.
In 1996 he co-founded Pamodzi Investment Holdings ) and holds numerous senior board positions mostly in Pamodzi’s portfolio companies.
Notably, he is chairman of Foodcorp, Pamodzi Gold, PamodziResources Fund Advisors, Pamodzi Resources, Sodexho Southern Africa, Wesbank First Auto, Indwe Risk Services, South African Agricultural Processors Association and a soon-to-benamed new uranium company valued at US$460 million in which the Pamodzi Resources Fund Advisors holds a 60-percent equity interest.
He is also a director on the boards of Pamodzi Leisure Solutions, Marine Products and NamITechAltech Data, and is deputy chairman of Education Africa, a non-profit organization.
In 1993, Mr. Ntsele and his partners were awarded the Nike license for Southern Africa, and he served as the licensee’s executive director until 1997 when they sold the business back to Nike Group in the United States.
Amongst his many achievements Ndaba is also the South African winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for 2008.
Personal best achievement: Bringing Nike back into South Africa during apartheid years
Professional best achievement: Raising $1,3-billion Resources Fund
Person who has had the biggest influence on your life: My parents
We are proud of you fellow African brother, keep up the great work.
Ndaba Nstele 2Starting A Business | If you see there is a lion coming and you can kill it, you try, but if you miss it it kills you. Then you are history. Because big size business, medium size businesses it becomes sustainable. If you go for small businesses you must try and get a lot of them and move fast up the ladder because the problem in Africa as a continent is there are a lot of entrepreneurs, but they don’t grow. They remain where they are, so I encourage growth and make an example about what I am telling you. The Importance of Partnering | I’ve never been alone in my business. I can talk about “I” did this, but it’s “we.” From day one, with three now with a lot of partners… when you ask for loan they will give you very, very small money and look at your balance sheet. But if it’s four or five of you, coming with a big plan, they will look into the plan. Because if you die, the bank is still going to get money from the four remaining partners. That’s the real world. The Value of Hard Work | People must not fear any challenges in life. Knowing that they must also take action is hard work. If you don’t work hard you will not achieve anything. And also when you are working, the work ethic must be very, very strong. If you do something that is mediocre you get mediocre results. If you get something and you do the best, if you train you must train to be number one. If you create wealth you must create wealth to be number one. And of course the growth are spread. Whatever you do or you start as a person you must have a forward plan. And in the forward plan it must be intertwined with growth. My Dreams and Ambitions | I always wanted a life that is exciting. Ndaba Ntsele 3Climbing Mountains | I don’t look at mountains that are insurmountable. I look at how I’m going to climb the mountain. And I look at relationships, because as human beings you can do a lot more if you network with other people. Principles I Live By | Don’t believe in things that will affect your mind negatively. What Drives Me | It moves your adrenaline to keep on going higher and higher and higher.
