Africa's Most Influential CEOs to Watch in 2025 June2025

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Jessie Bester CEO and Founder diginu

Editorial

-Alaya Brown

Trailblazers of Transformation

LeadershipinAfricaisundergoingapowerful

transformation—onethatblendslegacywithinnovation, traditionwithagility,andchallengewithopportunity Atthe forefrontofthistransformationareindividualswhoarenotjust buildingcompanies,butshapingindustries,economies,andfutures. Africa’s Most Influential CEOs to Watch in 2025 isatributetothose visionarieswhoseleadershiptranscendsnumbers,boardrooms,and quarterlytargets.

Thiseditionisdedicatedtothebuilders,thechange-makers,andthe voicesofimpact.TheseCEOshavedemonstratedthatinfluenceisnot justaboutpower—itisaboutpurpose.Whethertheyleadintechnology, finance,energy,healthcare,agriculture,orsocialenterprise,their decisionscarryweightfarbeyondtheirorganizations.Theyinspire, uplift,andmovethecontinentforward.

Africaisrichinresources,culture,andcreativity.Butitisthrough leadershipthattheseelementsareconvertedintoinclusiveprogress. TheCEOsfeaturedhereunderstandthatinfluencecomeswith responsibility—towardtheirpeople,theplanet,andthepromiseof tomorrow Theyhaveredefinedresilienceinthefaceofglobal challengesandreimaginedwhatitmeanstoleadwithvisionand empathy.

Inhonoringtheseleaders,thisfeaturealsoreflectsabroader narrative—oneofAfricarisingnotinisolation,butinconnectionwitha globaleconomy,throughstrategicforesight,digitaltransformation,and sustainablebusinesspractices.Theseindividualsexemplifywhatit meanstobegloballyminded,yetdeeplyrootedinlocalrealities.

Thisismorethanarecognition—itisamomenttopauseandcelebrate thestewardsofAfrica’sfuture.Theirjourneysofferlessonsin perseverance,innovation,andleadershipgroundedinauthenticity Theirimpactechoesbeyondborders,servingasabeaconforthenext generationofentrepreneurs,executives,andnation-builders.

Toeverynameonthislist—thankyouforleadingwithcourage,clarity, andcommitment.Thecontinentiswatching,andtheworldistaking note.

Why Jessie bester Founder and CEO of diginu, is Building the Most Disruptive Ecosystem South Africa Has Seen in This Generation F E A T U R I N G

contents

PROFILE

Lynne Krawchuk Powering the Future of Fleet

ARTICLES

The Mindset of a Leader: Clarity, Condence, Commitment

The Silent Strategist: Leadership That Speaks Through Results

Art

Business

Business

Digital

Co-designer

Marketing

AFRICA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL CEOS TO WATCH IN 2025

Company

Dr. Hugh O'Donnell

Execuve Chairman & Co-founder

Jessie Bester

CEO and Founder Lynne Krawchuk

Chief Execuve Officer

Oliver Loomes

Chief Execuve Officer

Deirdre Ryan Founder & Managing Director Featuring The Producon People produconpeople.ie diginu diginu.com SIMPLY FLEET LTD simplyfleet.com eir Ireland eir.ie

Brief

Deirdre Ryan is the Founder and Managing Director of The Producon People, a respected talent and recruitment agency specializing in broadcasng, media, and content producon.

With decades of execuve experience across mulnaonal corporaons, Hugh brings a strategic, systems-level approach to leadership development and change management.

With a passion for human-centered innovaon and systems thinking, Jessie is known for bridging the gap between technology, leadership, and organizaonal culture.

With a background in business strategy and operaonal efficiency, Lynne has been instrumental in building Simply Fleet into a trusted partner for fleet-dependent organizaons.

With a dynamic career spanning senior leadership roles across major consumer and technology brands, Oliver brings a strategic and customer-first approach to eir’s mission of connecng Ireland to what maers most.

essieJ B E S T E R

Founder and CEO of diginu, is Building the Most Disruptive Ecosystem South Africa Has Seen in This Generation

When conversations begin around the most influential CEOs to watch in 2025, it’s easy to default to names in finance, mining, or telecom. Buttrueinfluenceisn’tjustaboutscaleorcapital—it’sabout impact. And probably no one in South Africa is improving more lives and futures right now than Jessie Bester, the visionaryFounderandCEOofdiginu.diginuistherewarding food,drinksandgroceryorderingApp,withamassivetwist. “WewantSouthAfricanstofeelthatdiginuistheircompany too. So, we put our money where our mouths are, and we launched the Profit Share Program, where anyone in South Africa can not only place orders on diginu, but also earn commissioneverysingleFridayfromdiginu,”Jessiereveals.

Inaworldcravingnewanswerstooldproblems,Jessieisn’t justrunningacompany—he’sarchitectinganeweconomy.

ALeaderBuildingWhatOthersDidn’tDare

Jessie’sriseisn’trootedinprivilegeorconvention.It’srooted inconviction.Hesawfirsthandthecracksinthefooddelivery space,thefailureoftraditionalrewardssystems,andthelack of opportunity for everyday SouthAfricans to build wealth. Where others saw complexity, he saw clarity. Where others settledforprofit,hepushedforpurpose.

Andthat’stheheartbeatofdiginu.It’snotaone-dimensional app that only delivers food, it’s a revolutionary ecosystem backedbythreeinterconnectedcompanies-diginu,theirfood delivery company, diginuPay, their Fintech company, and diginuEgo,thelatestadditiontotheirecosystem-anelectric vehiclecompany.Eachoneisengineeredtosolveadifferent problem with one unified vision: to become the number one fooddeliveryappglobally,bycreatingamorejust,efficient, and profitable ecosystem for customers, drivers, and entrepreneursalike.

The diginu story is already rewriting the script in South Africa.ButwhatmakesJessieinfluentialisn’tjustthesizeof whathe’sbuilding-it’salsothetiming.Heistakingthelead exactlywhenSouthAfricaneedssomethingdifferent.

ThediginuTrioThat’sChangingtheGame

Under Jessie’s leadership, diginu has become the first of its kind—athree-tieredeconomicenginethatincludes:

1. The diginu delivery platform, now making waves across the nation, with lower service fees than most other food deliverycompanies,noorderbatching,fasterdrop-offsandan opportunity for anyone in SouthAfrica to earn commission weekly

Never let anyone decide on your behalf whether something will work or not. If someone hasn’t done what you want to achieve, Do Not Listen to Them.

2. diginupay, the fintech platform on which they conduct all their payouts to drivers, independent marketers, customers andstoreslistedontheirplatform.

3. diginuEgo, whereby “Ego” stands for “electric go”, the cutting-edge electric vehicle division, built around the world’s most advanced AI-powered e-bike, designed for deliveriesandreadytofuelacleaner,moreprofitablemobility economyacrossAfrica.

This three-headed ecosystem is the diginu team’s genius at work: seamlessly aligning logistics, lifestyle, and long-term wealth-building, while creating opportunity across every layerofsociety Nohandouts.Justabetter,fresherandmore relevantmodel.

Alongside the group of companies they built, they also now offer an optional monthly-paid membership model, called diginuCashBack. It offers customers up to R3,500 in discounts,vouchersandphysicalcashbackpaymentsforonly R99/month. This model compliments what diginu already offers customers - an ecosystem of relevant rewards that customersactuallycanandwanttouse.Wellknownnational brands like Spur, Mugg and Bean, Panarottis, Woolworths andWimpy,tonamebutafew,arepartofthisprogram.

Our adaptability led to diginu's current vision:
“a food delivery app that charges much lower service fees than the average other last mile delivery app out there, faster delivery times and an opportunity for anyone to join in and earn income from diginu.

TheFaceofDisruption—OntheCover,OntheGround

It’snocoincidencethatJessieisattractingattentionallover He’s not the kind of CEO who sits behind emails or prefer being in boardrooms. He’s on the streets, in the various provinces,andinthetrenches-testingthee-bikes,trainingthe teams and even engaging directly with customers and marketers who are the lifeblood of his vision. “I am not ashamed to say I am obsessed with our vision and the wellbeing of every person involved in diginu. As a result, havingbuiltdiginufromthegroundup,Igenuinelycareabout our team, our customers, our merchants and our drivers, because I remember what it felt like when there was no one else in the company but myself. Putting in 16-18 hours per day,6daysaweek,isnoproblem,becauseIfoundmypassion -helpingothersandmakingthevisionareality,”Jessiesays.

The e-bike itself is a statement-one of the most stunning examples of African ingenuity: internet-connected, AIenabled,remotepower-offtechnologyovertheinternet,GPStracked,swappablebatteries,andblazingwithlooks.It’sfast. It’s smart. It’s made to lead a delivery revolution and shift South Africa’s relationship with energy and mobility “We assembledateamofexpertsfromacrosstheworld,andI’ve never seen any e-bike come even remotely close to what we havebuilt.Andthebestpart-it’snotjustfitfordeliveries-it’s alsofitforeverydayuse,”Jessiestates.

And it’s only available through the diginu owned company, called diginuEgo, a subsidiary of the main company, which ownstheintellectualpropertyonthosee-bikes.“Withover20 million South Africans projected to order food online this year, the environmental impact is massive having so many traditional motorbikes on the road with all that fuel emmissions. Can you imagine what damage that does to the environment in the long run? So we realised back 2022 that weneedtogete-bikes.Atdiginuwefeelwehaveanobligation to look after the environment as much as we can, especiallywiththescalewearesoongoingtobeoperatingon. Sowestartedlookingate-bikesafewyearsago,couldn’tfind any e-bikes fit for our needs, and as a result, we decided to haveitbuilt.Iamveryexcitedtosharewithyouthatthefirst two prototypes have successfully been built and are already being tested in Pretoria right now,” Jessie states. When the teamatdiginucouldnotfinde-bikesclosetotheirstandards, having decided to have it built is another indication of a company with a culture making the impossible, possible, despitetheodds.

Jessiehascommittedthatalldiginudeliverieswilleventually be done only by their e-bikes, creating an eco-system with zero fuel dependency, improved turnaround times for deliveries, and even better quality control. No competitor in Africa has successfully done what diginu is busy doing at scale,whichagain,makesdiginuadisruptorinthisfield.They areevenavailableforpublicpurchasesoonaswell.“Having shown our e-bikes to a couple of people, we already have a waiting list for people wanting to order diginuEgos for themselves,andsomeevenwanttobuyfleetsofthee-bikesas an investment into their businesses.Through a joint venture with another company, there will also soon be battery swapping stations available across the country, to make it evenbetterforsomeoneowningadiginuEgo.Seeitasafuel station,butfordiginuEgobikes,”heshareswithexcitement. “It’samassiveundertakingwearebusywith,butIknowthe team handling the execution is the best team imaginable to handleit,”headds.

FillingtheGap,OnPurpose

Our biggest milestone was building an ecosystem of solutions, where we reached the point where merchants and customers alike tell us 'this is a no-brainer.

WhatmakesJessie’sleadershipsoinfluentialinthismoment is that he didn’t wait for corporate validation or favourable economic climates. He moved because he saw a gap in the marketin2019andhadthecouragetosay:“I’llbuildwhat’s missing.” The first company Jessie founded was diginu, in 2019. Then, experiencing challenges with expensive payments, he set his sights on a more affordable platform where instant payments are done at only R1 per wallet to wallettransfer,sotheylauncheddiginuPayin2022.Withthe mostrecentadditiontotheirgroupofcompanies,diginuEgo, it is evident every time the diginu team comes across a stumblingblock,theybuildasolutiontosolveit.

Hesawthatsomebigfooddeliverycompanieswerecharging more while offering less benefits That drivers were sometimesbeingexploited,communitieswerebeingignored, andcustomerswerebeingtreatedlikenumbers.Soheflipped theentiremodelonitshead.

Today, diginu customers can earn weekly commissions by referring others to diginu through their own unique referral links.“MyselfandMariusAdams,ourNationalHeadofField

Marketing,realisedin2022weneedtochangetheexpansion model diginu has, to one where every single South African looking for an income opportunity, can join our team as an independent marketer, build the company with us, and in returnearnweeklycommissionsonordersplacedondiginu. We decided to name this model diginuPSP (profit share program),”Jessieshareswithpassion.Marketersarebuilding passive revenue streams by getting more customers and/or stores onboard the diginu platform nationwide, and when orderstakeplaceeitherbythecustomertheyonboarded,orat the store they onboarded, they earn commission on every singleorder,paidoutweeklyonFridays.

“With the South African food delivery industry being projectedby Statista tohaveaturnoverofoverR50billionin 2025, the commission-earning opportunity is massive for anyonewantingtojoininandbuilddiginuwithus.Ourvision is to assist 1 million SouthAfricans to earn an income from diginu,everysingleweek,by1December2025.Furthermore, weareworkingaroundtheclocktoonboardanother22’000 storesnationwideontodiginuthisyear,”Jessieshares.

Many franchise groups are coming onboard diginu now nationwide,aftertheysawthevaluediginuoffersnotonlyto them as businesses, but also to the greater public. “We are currently in the process of onboarding almost 20 very wellknown franchise groups nationwide, with many more to follow soon after, and it is an honour working closely with these franchise groups’ head offices. The look on the one lady’sfacewhoworksatoneofthefranchisesjoiningusnow, wasoneofthebestexperiencesofmylife,afterIsharedwith herthebenefits,theyasmerchantsgetfromdiginu.Shetold me she couldn’t believe what she heard, as no other food delivery company in South Africa offers their company the benefitsdiginudoes.”

Another company tried to copy diginu’s business model by implementingdiginu’scommission-basedmodelbutfailedto succeed in what diginu has achieved. “Some independent marketers were involved in diginu about 2 years ago and decided to steal our model and ran to another company with theplan.Unethically,thatcompanycopiedourmodeltotheT, yettheyfailedmiserably Whenweheardtheycopiedus,we lookedattheirbusinessmodelandconfirmedittobetrue,and we just laughed at it and decided to remain focused on the vision. They can look at the Rolls-Royce, touch it and even take it for a spin. But we are only a handful of people who knowwhat’sgoingonunderthebonnetofdiginu,sotospeak. Andthatiswherethetruegeniusofourmodelislocated-how itworksbehindthescenes.”

Whenaskedaboutwhydiginuisspeltwithalowercaseletter “d,”Jessiestates,“diginuisnotmeanttobeaname,it’smeant to be a verb. Something so integral in every household in SouthAfrica,andlateronintherestoftheworldaswell,that wedecidedtoalwayswriteitwithinall-lowercase.”

What Jessie has created isn’t just a company It’s a peoplepowered economy, running on digital rails and driven by some of the boldest and fearless leadership the African continent has seen in a generation. Empowering ordinary peopletoearnanincomefromdiginubyhelpingthembuild evenfaster,istrulyaremarkablebusinessmodel-onethatno otherfooddeliverycompanyoffers.

WhytheWorldisWatchingdiginuRightNow

Inatimewhenmuchoftheworldisstuckinoutdatedsystems or slow to adapt, the entire diginu team is moving fast - and verymeticulous.Jessie’svisionisuniquelyAfrican,basedon the principles of Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a term from Southern Africathatexpressesadeepsenseofinterconnectednessand humanity It’softensummarizedbythephrase,“Iambecause weare.”

At its core, ubuntu is a philosophy that emphasizes community,compassion,mutualrespect,andtheunderstandingthat anindividual’swell-beingistiedtothewell-beingofothers.

Heunderstandsscale,strategy,andsoul-andthatrareblendis why investors, analysts, and thought leaders across the continentarewatchingthiscompanygrowclosely.

“With diginu growing so fast due to our unique and valuecreating business model, we recently heard of international investorswantingtogetonboardwithus.Soaswearegoing into capital raising phase now for diginuEgo, our electric vehiclecompany,I’mgettingthatwarm,excitedfeelingagain Ihadbackin2019whenwestartedwithcapraisingfordiginu. The joy of massive investment firms seeing the vision I saw years ago in my mind, really warms my heart,” Jessie notes nostalgically.

diginu isn’t just poised to take over the local market. It’s designed to scale across borders, across industries, and into the hearts of millions who want a fairer, faster, and more inclusiveeconomy

Jessiehasalreadyprovenhecanexecuteonvision,building diginu up out of nothing into this impressive company it is today Soon he’s setting his sights on scaling globally - and doingitwiththesameboldnessandcommitmentthatgot

Most importantly, we want to give people hope again and, together with that, offer a genuine opportunity to deliver on that hope.

diginuthisfar.“Assoonaswearethebiggest food delivery company in SouthAfrica, we areexpandingabroad.Thenextcountriesare alreadyidentified,butweremainsteadfastin our focus - first become the biggest food delivery company in South Africa, then double-check whether the expansion priorities are still relevant and then expand accordingly.”

Jessie’s mentality and visionary personality is much akin to giant tech disruptors like SteveJobsandElonMusk,whowerealsonot thefirsttomarketinsomeoftheirrespective fields. And they also went up against giant competitors when they started out. On face valuediginuisafooddeliveryapp,butupon thoroughinvestigationitisevidentthatdiginu isasuniqueandrelevantintheirfieldasApple was against IBM, or Tesla was against General Motors back in the day when they werefounded.

ANewKindofCEOforaNewKindofAfrica

JessieisnotthekindofCEOwhoclimbsaladder Heseemsto be building new ones. He isn’t interested in copying Silicon Valley playbooks. Together with his team, they are writing their own, straight from the heart of SouthAfrica, which is probablyoneoftheleastexpectedcountriesintheworldfor animpactfultechcompanytobefounded.

One of the main reasons Jessie decided to build diginu from his home country of South Africa, instead of moving to popular tech destinations like Silicon Valley and launch diginu there, was because he wants to show the world that South Africa can also offer the world a disruptive tech company “I think many people look down on us as South Africanandthinkweareathirdworldcountrywheretheycan come watch lions roam our streets or kids riding on their hippopotamusestoschool.Icannotwaitforthedaywherewe as SouthAfricans show the world what we are made of.Justimaginehowwonderfulitwouldfeel when international news agencies rank a South African founded

disruptivetechcompanyamongthetop-rankedcompaniesin theworld.”

“When I look at the key fundamental reasons why diginu is growing so fast, it is because we have a team of A-Team captainsindiginuwhoallboughtintothevision.Yes,inthe beginning it was a one-man show, but those days are over Today, we have thousands of people across the country in diginu,allworkinginunitytowardsthesameboldvision.God blessedmewiththebestteamontheplanet.Notonlyarethey highly experienced in their respective fields, but they also havethesamerelentlesstenacityIhavetomakethevisiona realityandIloveourteamtobits.”

JessieisinvitingthewholeSouthAfricancountrytorisewith them. “We are so focused and committed to the vision of having1millionpeopleinSouthAfricaearningcommission from diginu every single week, that we offer free, online training in marketing on our website after you log in on diginu.com. We even host weekly Live Zoom calls every Tuesday which new people can attend to see how they can benefitfromdiginuandwealsohostmonthlytrainingsonline. Andthebestpart-allofouronlinetrainingis100%free.We realisedinorderforourboldvisiontobecomereality,weneed to make all the training and support platforms 100% free of charge, easily accessible and easily navigable. We even launchedourstate-of-the-artAIAssistantnamedGini,togive ourteamanswersondemand,24/7/365.”

Jessiedidnotalwaysthrive.Infact,hislifestoryisoneofthe biggestreasonswhysomanyotherpeoplearethrivingtoday. “When I was a student, I had quite a lot of financial challenges.IevengotanevictionnoticetovacatetheapartmentI wasrentingbackthen,duetobeingbehindonmyrent.That wasreallyscary SoIstartedlookingforpart-timeworkwhile attendingclassesfulltime,butIcouldnotfindanything.The things I found online either cost me an arm and a leg to buy packagesorpaysignupfees,whichIdidnothave,oritwasin industriesIhadnoknowledgeon.Sooneevening,afterbeing a bit emotional, I made myself a promise - if I’m ever in a position to offer others an opportunity to earn income part time or on an independent marketer basis, joining that opportunitywouldbefreeandthetrainingplatformwillalso befree-nomatterwhatittakesofmyselftohavethatvision built.Today,thatpromiseImademyself,isreality,andlotsof peoplealreadybenefitfromit.Iwilldobackflipsthemoment ourdataindicateswe’vereachedthegoalof1millionpeople earningcommissionfromdiginueveryweek,becauseIknow what it feels like to have absolutely no hope due to lack of finances.”

Not only does diginu offer free skills development for marketers,theyarealsoplanningonlaunchingdrivertraining academiesacrossthecountrysoon.“Wegenuinelycareabout immaculate service delivery, and having our team of drivers nationwide trained to the highest standards, is pivotal in achievingthevision.”

diginu will focus predominantly on bringing young South Africans, especially young women, onboard as drivers. “We feel the driver market is mostly dominated by men, and we wanttoofferladiestheopportunitytoalsojoininandearna goodincomefortheirhouseholds.”

The current unemployment rate in South Africa is 31.9%, meaningmillionsofpeopleareimpoverished.Withdiginu’s vision being so big, they are about to make a measurable impact in the SouthAfrican economy. “Our service fees are much lower than most other food delivery apps in South Africa, which means more people can afford our food deliveries.Thatresultsinalargernumberoforders,ahigher number of drivers needed, which in turn results in more job creation. So, what our team has built here at diginu is pretty amazing,”Jessiesays,smiling.

“Even though we have bold goals, we are still ordinary people, working really, really hard to build something meaningfulthatmanypeoplecanbenefitfrom.”

When asked about whether Jessie has any plans for adding morecompaniestotheirecosystem,hesmiledandsaid,“Who knows? There might be something coming in the very near future. Stay tuned and feel free to join us on this wonderful journey.”

Clarity,Confidence, Commitment

Leadership starts in one place—the mind—before it ever appears in decisions, actions, or results. The leader's mindset is the unseen force behind every decision, the fire that fuels every relationship, and the architect of every result. It not just determines how a leader showsup,butwhotheybecomewhenitmattersmost.

Leadership is no longer a role marked by authority or experience in a world characterized by complexity, ambiguity, and acceleration. Leadership is now defined by purposeclarity,trustinoneselfandothers,anddedicationto long-term development. These three pillars of the mind—clarity, confidence, and commitment—become the buildingblocksofleadershipthatinspires,lasts,andchanges.

Clarity:SeeingthePathandLightingtheWay

Clarityisthebasisforleadership.It'slookingpastthenoise, possessing a clear vision, and getting others in line under

uncertainty Aleader with clarity not only knows what he or sheneedstodo—heorsheknowswhyitmattersandhowto getotherpeopletothefuturetoo.

Clarityisnotafunctionofknowingeverything.It'samatterof knowing what questions to ask. It's a way of simplifying complexity, and establishing priorities that reflect strategic intent, as well as human consequence. It allows leaders to focus their teams, make decisions when they must, and cut throughdistractionsthatsuckenergyanddirectionaway

Mostcrucially,clarityiscontagious.Teamsyearnforclarity and direction. Especially during change or crisis. When a leader talks clearly, they anchor others in shared meaning. Theyprovidenotjustaplan,butasenseofpurpose.Andthat sense of purpose becomes a rallying point for momentum forward.

Confidence:BelievinginYourselfandInspiringOthers

Self-confidence is the internal fuel that propels leaders forward. It's the faith in oneself to do better, learn, and be a true leader Authentic leadership self-confidence, however, isn't in bluster or control—it's being confident in oneself basedonknowledgeofoneself.

Strongleadersarehumble.Theyareawareoftheirstrengths butwillnotbeafraidtoacknowledgegapsorseekfeedback. Theydonotperformtodemonstratethemselves—leadership is rooted in conviction. This quiet, relentless confidence creates psychological safety, which allows others to collaborate,play,andgrow

Equally valuable is confidence in others as a leader. Micromanagingismostoftenbroughtaboutbyinsecurity,not worry. Leaders who trust their teams create high levels of autonomy, creativity, and ownership They delegate intentionally,coachoutofempathy,andknowthattheirroleis nottohavealltheanswers—buttomaketheanswershappen withintheteam.

Confidencealsohelpsleadersfacechallengeswithease.They donotworryunderpressureorwaverinthefaceofcriticism. Instead, they pause, think, and move forward with honor. In doingthis,theyshowhowstrongtheyareandinspireothersto staycalm.

Commitment:ShowingUpfortheLongHaul

Clarityprovidesguidance.Confidencemotivatesaction.But commitment sustains momentum. It's what keeps leaders grounded during setbacks, grounded during uncertainty, and firmwhenprogressismaddeninglyslow

Dedicatedleadersdon'trespond—they'recommitted.They're drivenbypurpose,notpraise.Theyshowupwithreliability, even when there's no guarantee of outcome or thanks. This sortofcommitmentisnotloudorflashy—it'ssubtle,reliable, anddeeplyimpactful.

Commitment extends beyond goals—it is commitment to people. Great leaders do not commit only to results; they commit to development, diversity, and trust. They invest, develop potential, and lead with commitment. Their people knowthatsuccesswillbepursuedwithqualityandethics.

Commitment,inessence,isintegrity.It'skeepingyourword anddoingwhatyousaidyouweregoingtodo,evenwhenit's inconvenient It's staying true to values even when

circumstances change. And it's leading not for short-term outcomes,butforlong-termoutcomes.

TheInterplayofClarity,Confidence,

andCommitment

Whileeachoftheseattitudesisstrongonitsown,itiswhen theyworktogetherthatrealleadershipexists.Claritywithout confidence feels tentative. Confidence without clarity feels arrogant. Commitment without either causes burnout. Together, however, they forge a leadership presence that is centered,empowered,andlasting.

Theseinternalanchorsdonoteliminatechallenge—butallow leaders to meet those challenges with elasticity and grace. They transform uncertainty into opportunity, and pressure into performance. They take leadership from a role to a responsibility—one that serves not merely goals, but people andpurpose.

DevelopingtheLeadershipMindset

Aleader'smindsetisnotset—itisdeveloped.Itisformedby reflection, feedback, and learning Intentional leaders establishhabitsthatsupportit:journalingtokeepthingsclear, coaching to develop confidence, and persistent action to increasecommitment.

They are surrounded by people who stimulate and motivate them,aswell.Leadershipisnotanindividualtask—itthrives incommunity Pursuingmentorship,peersupport,andother perspectives sharpens leaders' minds and expands their impact.

Most importantly, leaders have to lead themselves.Astrong mind is the result of inner discipline—of putting purpose aboveimpulse,visionabovedistraction,andresiliencyabove resignation.

Conclusion:LeadershipBeginsWithin

In a world that appreciates speed, transparency, and disruption, the strongest leadership begins with something lessnoticed—butfarmorepowerful:mindset.Claritygivesa leader direction Confidence gives them strength Commitmentgivesthemstayingpower

Together, they create a leadership approach that is not just effective, but meaningful—one based on honesty, guided by reason,andbuilttoinspire.For intheend,leadershipisless about what you do. It's about who you become—and how youroutlookaffectsthelivesandlegaciesofyourteam.

Lynne Krawchuk

Powering the Future of Fleet

Lynne Krawchuk's path to the CEO position at Simply Fleet is exemplified by strategic moves, a depth of cross-industry executive experience, and a sheer dedication to innovation. Her professional career is rootedintheworldofadvertising,whereshewasinstrumental inspearheadingbrandredefinitionformanyofthemostwellknowncorporationsthroughoutSouthAfricaandthegreater Africancontinent.

Intheseroles,shegainedfirsthandexperiencewithstrategic expansion, marketplace positioning, and leadership of staff—abilities later used to catalyze the shift into fleet management.

SimplyFleetwasLynn'snextchange,butitwasoneinspired by a vision. Lynne recognized the need to infuse new ideas anddigitalthinkinginanindustrywhichwasrapidlydeveloping Nowadays, she heads with purpose and vision executing operational excellence, propelling technological integration, and advocating customer-focused solutionsaddressingthemultifacetedneedsofcontemporary fleetoperations.

Withheratthehelm,SimplyFleetisnotmerelygrowingits presence throughout Africa but is also influencing industry best practices in sustainability, data insights, and mobility solutions.

Inthisexclusiveinterview,Lynneoffersathoughtfulreflection on her professional journey and shares strategic insights drawnfromhercareerexperience.

What key experiences and decisions have shaped your pathtobecomingtheCEOofSimplyFleet?

Stepping into the role of CEO at Simply Fleet is an exciting new chapter in my career, but my journey here has been shaped by years of executive leadership experience across diverse industries. Before entering the fleet management space, I had the privilege of working with leading blue-chip companies and some of the biggest brands across South Africa,theAfricancontinent,andbeyond.Myexperiencein top advertising agencies sharpened my ability to drive strategic growth, build strong brands, and lead highperforming teams. These skills have been invaluable in shaping my approach to leadership at Simply Fleet, where I am focused on innovation, operational excellence, and creatingrealvalueforourclients.

AsCEO,whatareyourcoreresponsibilities,andhowdo you ensure the company's continued success in the fleet managementsector?

MyroleasCEOrevolvesaroundsettingaclearvision,driving business growth, and ensuring that we stay ahead in a competitivemarket.Iworkcloselywithourteamtorefineour strategy, develop cutting-edge solutions, and enhance customerexperience.AkeyfocusareaismakingsureSimply Fleetremainsattheforefrontofdigitaltransformationinfleet management.Thismeanscontinuouslyinvestingintechnology,optimisingoperations,andadaptingtoindustryshiftsto maintainourcompetitiveedge.

I believe in a leadership style that is collaborative, results-driven, and people-focused. I encourage open communication and empower my team to take ownership of their ideas. “ “

How would you describe your leadership style, and how doyouinspireandempoweryourteamstodriveinnovationandgrowth?

I believe in a leadership style that is collaborative, resultsdriven,andpeople-focused.Iencourageopencommunication and empower my team to take ownership of their ideas. By fosteringacultureofinnovationandaccountability,wecreate an environment where creativity thrives. My approach is to leadbyexample—settinghighstandardswhileensuringthat my team has the support, resources, and confidence to push boundariesandachievegreatthings.

Whataresomeofthemostsignificantchallengesyouhave facedasabusinessleader,andhowhaveyousuccessfully navigatedthem?

Everyindustrypresentsitschallenges,andforme,oneofthe biggesthasbeensteppingintoanewsectorwhileensuringa strong strategic direction for growth. The key to navigating this has been leveraging my past leadership experience, stayingadaptable,andsurroundingmyselfwithastrongteam thatbringsdeepindustryexpertise.

Anotherchallengehasbeenkeepingpacewithrapidtechnologicaladvancements,whichwe’veaddressedbyfosteringa cultureofcontinuouslearningandinnovationwithinSimply Fleet.

With rapid advancements in digital transformation and fleettechnology,howdoyouensureSimplyFleetremains competitiveandaheadofindustrytrends?

The fleet management industry is evolving quickly, and staying ahead requires a strong focus on technology and customer needs At Simply Fleet, we are committed to innovation—whether it’s throughAI-driven analytics, smart vehicletracking,orpredictivemaintenancesolutions.

We actively monitor industry trends, collaborate with key partners,andusedata-driveninsightstorefineourofferings. By staying agile and forward-thinking, we ensure that our solutionsremainrelevantandimpactful.

Whatprofessionalachievementsorindustryrecognitions areyoumostproudofinyourcareer?

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to lead successfulteams,drivetransformationalgrowth,andworkon some of the most iconic brands across various sectors. I am particularly proud of the international recognition I have received for my contributions to the advertising and brandbuildingindustry.Havingservedasaglobaladvertisingjudge formultipleyearsacrossdigitalandbrandcategories,Ihave had the privilege of shaping and celebrating world-class creativework.

Thisrolenotonlyaffirmedmyexpertisebutalsoallowedme to stay at the forefront of innovation and industry trends. In addition, leading high-performing teams and contributing to the success of iconic brands across sectors has been deeply rewarding. Now, as CEO of Simply Fleet, I am excited to

channelthisexperienceintoreshapingthefleetmanagement space and driving measurable value for businesses across Africa.

How do you maintain a balance between the demands of yourleadershiproleandpersonalwell-being?

Leadership comes with its demands, but I firmly believe in maintaining a balanced approach. Time management is critical—Imakeaconsciousefforttosetboundariesbetween work and personal life. Regular exercise, time with family, andmomentstorechargehelpmestayfocusedandenergised. I also believe in empowering my team, which allows me to delegateeffectivelyandmaintainasustainableworkload.

Howdoyouseeyourroleasabusinessleadercontributing tothebroaderevolutionofAfrica’sfleetmanagementand mobilityindustry?

Africa’s mobility and fleet management landscape is undergoingrapidandnecessarytransformation.Iseemyrole as a catalyst in accelerating this evolution by introducing

Leadership comes with its demands, but I rmly beli in maintaining a balanced approach. Time management is critical, I make a conscious efort to set boundaries between work and personal life. “ “

modern, technology-driven solutions that enhance operationalefficiencyandpromotesustainablepractices.

BeyondSimplyFleet’simmediateofferings,Iampassionate about contributing to the broader ecosystem—championing better industry standards, advocating for responsible and data-informed decision-making, and fostering partnerships that encourage innovation. By helping businesses unlock efficienciesandembracesmarterfleetmanagement,weaimto playameaningfulroleinshapingamoreconnected,efficient, andfuture-readymobilitysectoracrossthecontinent.

Whatkeyinsightswouldyousharewithaspiringbusiness leaders looking to make a significant impact in their industries?

Foranyonelookingtomakeanimpact,myadvicewouldbeto stay adaptable, stay curious, humble and committed to continuous learning. The business landscape is constantly changing, and success comes from being open to new ideas andwillingtoevolve.

Surround yourself with great people, focus on solving real challenges,andneverlosesightofyourvision.Leadershipis about resilience and making bold, informed decisions that drivemeaningfulprogress.

What are your strategic goals for Simply Fleet in the comingyears,particularlyintermsofgrowth,innovation, andmarketexpansion?

Looking ahead, my focus for Simply Fleet is on scaling our impact. We aim to expand our footprint across Africa, leveraging technology to deliver even more advanced fleet managementsolutions.Innovationremainsapriority—we’re continuously exploring AI, automation, and data-driven insightstoenhancefleetperformance.

Another key goal is deepening our partnerships with businessesandgovernmentstostandardisebestpracticesinfleet management.Ultimately,wewantSimplyFleettobethegoto solution for organisations looking to optimise their fleets anddriveoperationalefficiencyacrossemergingmarkets.

Leadership ThatSpeaksThrough Results

Inanoisyworld—constantupdating,bombastic pronouncements,anddramaofleadership—theloudest leadersarenotalwaysthemostpowerful.Themost powerfulareoftenthequietest.Theyarethequiet strategists:theoneswhoshuntheatricsandposturingbut ratherchoosedisciplinedimplementation,calculated strategy,anddeedsthatspeaklouderthanwords.

Theyarenotthefirsttospeakupinameeting,northemost vocalintheroom.Buttheyarealwayspresent,always listening,andalwaysthinkingaboutthebigpicture.Their leadershipisnotaboutcommandingattention;it'sabout commandingrespect—throughaction,through dependability,andthroughresultsthatmatter

Astoday'sleaders'needschange,thequietstrategistisa powerfulcounter-medicineforego-leadership.Itisalowkey,highlyeffectivestyle,notabouttheatrics,butabout vision,precision,andiron-cladfollow-through.

LeadershipBeyondWords

Quietstrategistsleadfromthecenter Theydon'tdependon charismatogettheirmessageacross.Instead,theyshow thattrueleadershipisgaugedbyeffect,nottimeoncamera.

Theirsuccessisn'tfoundedonperformancebuton content—onthecapacitytocarryoutwithclarity,toalign teamswithpurpose,andtodriveorganizationsforward steadily,unhurriedly.

Thiskindofleadershipisnotuniqueinseekingneither praisenorcredit.Theonlythingitdemandsis excellence—andthisimpliesthatitaccomplishesthis anonymously,consistently,andwithoutapology.

Theseleadersplanlong.Theydonotmakearuckusforthe purposeofmomentum.Everymovementisthought through.Everydecisionispurposeful.Andwhenoutcomes come,theyrarelyneedtoexplainthemselves.Theevidence liesintheperformance,themorale,theculture,andthe trusttheyquietlyestablishovertime.

TheStrategyisintheStillness

Behindeverystoicstrategistisanactivemind—listening ratherthanspeaking,observingratherthanacting,thinking throughratherthanleapingtoconclusions.Inaneraof instantpunditryandreflexiveaction,thisabilitytohold backandthinkstrategicallyisaforce.

Quietleadersleadthroughaskingquestions,typically beforeanyonehasevenfiguredoutthereisanissue.They takethetimetolearnsystems,people,andtrends.They tendtothinkinstructureandanticipation,ratherthan slogansorsoundbites.Whileothersarerushingtodo something,thequietstrategistisbuildingastrong foundationforlong-termsuccess.

Thisisn'ttosuggestthey'repassive.Farfromit.Their silenceisn'thesitation—it'sdiscipline.Theirrestraintisn't indecision—it'sfocus.Andtheirsilenceisn'tabsence—it's intentionality

ExecutionOverExhibition

Inculturesfixatedonopticsandappearances,quiet strategistsaremercifullyuntroubledbytheirownselfpromotion.Theydon'tspendtimebuildingpersonas—they spendtimesolvingproblems.They'reexecution-focused, believingthebestcommunicationisperfectexecution.

Theydonotdroptheballonstrategyandleavethe building.Instead,theystayconnectedtotheexecution loop—aligned,removingroadblocks,andrevisingplansat speed.Theyareobservednotwithapplausebutwith momentum.

Theirco-workersrespectthembecausetheydeliverresults. Theirpeerstrustthembecausetheyarereliable.Andtheir organizationsrelyonthembecausetheybringclearness, capability,andpeacetothemostfrustratingproblems.

TrustEstablishedThroughConsistency

Thesilentstrategist'sgreateststrengthisperhapsthatheor sheisabletocreatetrust—notbyargument,butby dependabilityandintegrity.Peopleknowwhattoexpect fromhimorher:thoughtfulcomments,carefullyconsidered advice,andasteadfastdedicationtodoingtherightthing, nottheeasything.

Theyshowupwhereitmatters.Theylistenwithout judgment.Theyvowsparingly—butwhentheydo,they makegoodonit.Overtime,thiskindofdependability becomesavaluableandhard-foughtassetinanyleadership situation.

Andwhenareflectivethinkerdoesspeakup,people listen—notbecausetheydemandit,butbecausetheirwords arerootedinwisdomandaugmentedbyresults.

EnablingOtherstoLead

Anothercharacteristicofthisleadershipapproachisits altruism.Silentstrategistsdon'tnecessarilyhavetobeinthe spotlightofeverysuccess.Forsure,theymayworkbehind thescenessothatothersareinthelimelight.Theybelieve inempoweringleadershipatalllevelsratherthan concentratingpowerorlimelight.

Theyleadhumbly,guidewithoutmicromanaging,and empowertheirteamstogetthejobdone.Theirimpactis quietbutdeep-reaching—transformingcultureswhere ownershipthrives,andsuccessisshared.

Byvaluinglessaboutpersonalcreditandmoreabout collectivesuccess,theycreatetheplatformwhereteamsare empoweredyetaccountable.Thategodecentralizationis whatallowsorganizationstoscaleleadership—and achievement.

WhenActionBecomesInfluence

Inaworldfilledwithmoreinformationthanwecanmanage andvisibilitymistakenforvalue,quietstrategistsremindus thatleadershipisnotaboutvolume,butaboutvalue.They showusthatyoudon'tneedtoscreamtogetlistenedto. Youdon'tneedtoblinktogetresults.Andyoudon'tneedto seekoutinfluencewhenyouractionsearnitonitsown.

Theyshowthatstrategicsimplicity,emotionalintelligence, andconsistentfollow-througharemorepotentthan charisma.Andindoingso,theyredefineleadership—not throughdominance,butthroughintentional,resultsproducingpresence.

Conclusion:LetResultsSpeak

Allleadersdonotleadfromthepodium.Someleadfrom thebackoftheroom.Someleadsilently,throughstrategy, structure,andservice.Andyet,theirleadershipisfelt throughoutteams,departments,andentireorganizations.

Thequietstrategistremindsusthatsubtletyisnot weakness—it'ssavvy Thatleadershipdoesn'tmeanbeing noticed,butaboutmakingothersfeelnoticed.Andthat outcomes,notstatements,arethetruelegacyofleadership.

Ultimately,theirworkspeaksforitself—andspeaks volumes.

For Subscripon: www.insightssuccessmagazine.com

www.x.com/insightssuccess

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Africa's Most Influential CEOs to Watch in 2025 June2025 by Insights Success Media - Issuu