The need for social justice arises from the stark realities of inequality and exclusion that persist in societies. It emerges from the spaces where systemic barriers prevent people from realizing their full potential, where voices are silenced, and opportunities are limited based on race, gender, class, or circumstance. These injustices, though often deeply embedded in history and culture, continue to shape lives in profound ways, creating a cycle of disadvantage that spans generations. It is from these very challenges that the call for change rises—demanding not just a shift in policy, but a transformation of hearts, minds, and systems to restore balance and dignity.
Quest for a Just Tomorrow
In this relentless pursuit of justice, Dr. Judy Dlamini has devoted her life to dismantling the very systems that keep inequality alive. Whether through business, education, or philanthropy, her focus has always been on creating opportunities for those who have long been excluded from the table. But what truly sets Dr. Judy apart is her belief in the power of seeing people—not just as statistics or problems to be solved—but as individuals whose stories deserve to be heard and whose struggles must be addressed.
Dr. Judy’s incredibly diverse career, spanning medicine, business, philanthropy, and academia, is rooted in her childhood dreams. From the age of four, she aspired to become a medical doctor. As a teenager, she set her sights on earning a PhD, and throughout her life, she was driven by the desire for financial independence. This ambition motivated her to pursue multiple streams of income, which she achieved through her ventures in business. Each step in her journey reflects her determination to fulfill these lifelong goals while making a meaningful impact in various fields.
Dr. Judy’s doctoral thesis, which focused on the intersection of race, gender, and social class in women leaders’ career progression, revealed some surprising and profound findings. One of the most striking insights was how little progress had been made over time. Her main supervisor had published a book nearly two decades earlier exploring gender and race issues in the United States, and Dr. Judy’s study in South Africa confirmed that individuals with multiple social attributes of disadvantage continue to face significant challenges.
She highlighted the importance of using an intersectional lens, particularly appreciating the inclusion of social class, which had often been overlooked in research. In a society as unequal as South Africa, she believes leaders bear the responsibility of driving meaningful transformation. However, she noted that focusing on a single attribute—such as gender or race—can inadvertently exclude those with multiple intersecting disadvantages.
This research has profoundly shaped her approach to leadership and transformation. Dr. Judy is committed to identifying and supporting those who are “furthest left behind,” often black women from working-class backgrounds. This perspective informs her work and ensures her efforts are inclusive and impactful.
Paving the Way for Inclusive Leadership
Dr. Judy’s book, Equal but Different, became a bestseller, although writing a book was never part of her initial dreams. She was deeply inspired by the stories of the women she encountered and the lessons she learned from their experiences. This inspiration ignited a new passion for writing—to inform, mentor, and inspire.
Through the book, Dr. Judy aims to encourage women across all races, social classes, and sectors to never give up and to become the change they wish to see in the world, lifting others as they rise. She also hopes the book serves as a mentor for both men and women whom she may never meet in person.
The impact of Equal but Different has been both gratifying and humbling for Dr. Judy. Many young women have found the book validating and inspiring, viewing it as a source of empowerment. Additionally, the book has opened up conversations with leaders across various companies about gender equity in leadership and the persistent challenges women face in achieving it.
The Art of Building a Lasting Legacy
As the Executive Chairman of the Mbekani Group, Dr. Judy Dlamini’s leadership has been pivotal to the company’s 27 years of enduring success in a competitive market. Her approach to achieving longevity in business centers on finding a niche, assembling the right team, and embracing the value of collaboration.
Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Judy acknowledges that stepping into industries where she lacked initial expertise posed significant challenges. However, she believes that the real key to Mbekani Group’s success lies in the people. Building a team of individuals you can trust, grow with, and empower is paramount in creating a thriving organization.
Dr. Judy’s leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity and humility. She advocates for leaders to recognize their mistakes, apologize when needed, and remain open to learning from everyone in the organization. This transparent, people-first approach fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and innovation, which has become the cornerstone of the Mbekani Group’s lasting success.
Dr. Judy stepped down from her role as chair of the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre to focus on her second PhD, which explores entrepreneurship. Serving as Chancellor of her alma mater, Wits University, is an honor she deeply values. Now in her second term, she cherishes the privilege of meeting people from diverse backgrounds whom she may not have encountered otherwise.
Her time is primarily divided between managing her business, leading the philanthropic organization she founded as Chancellor—the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship NPC—and pursuing her academic studies. With her children grown and her husband engaged in his own pursuits, Dr. Judy describes this phase of their lives as one where they are both dedicated to following their passions.
Shaping a Generation of Empowered Leaders of Africa
Dr. Judy and her husband experienced an unimaginable loss 12 years ago when their son, Sifiso, passed away at the age of 27. Losing a child, she notes, is the hardest thing any parent can endure. Sifiso, despite disliking school during his childhood, deeply understood the transformative power of education. After earning his honors degree and starting his career, he and his friends established an NPC dedicated to improving township schools.
After his sudden passing, Dr. Judy and her husband decided to honor his legacy by donating a school in his name. Over time, this vision evolved into founding their own school, focused on investing in the quality education of future leaders. Their approach aims to nurture critical thinkers and job creators.
As a family, they have always been passionate about quality education. Dr. Judy explains that they founded Future Nation Schools to create the kind of institution they wished had existed in the 1990s—a school that embraced children for who they were and helped bring out the best in them. Through Future Nation Schools, they aspire to shape a generation of empowered and innovative leaders for Africa.
Feathers in Her Cap
Dr. Judy treasures each award she has received, as they all hold a special place in her heart. She believes that recognition of any kind carries immense significance and is deeply grateful for it. While her work is driven by purpose rather than the pursuit of accolades, being recognized affirms that her efforts are valued and impactful.
To Dr. Judy, such recognition makes everything she does feel even more meaningful. It serves as a powerful reminder that she and her contributions matter to others—a sentiment she never takes for granted.
Dr. Judy considers it an honor to serve as one of the founding directors of the SA SME Fund. She highlights two of the most pressing challenges facing South Africa today: economic inequality and unemployment, both of which are deeply intertwined with issues of race and gender.
Creating an Ecosystem for Sustainable Innovation
Dr. Judy believes that entrepreneurship requires substantial investment in youth, ranging from early childhood education to tertiary education, as well as the creation of an ecosystem that nurtures their potential. She notes that the country has not made sufficient progress on either front. She also points out two critical gaps within the ecosystem: a lack of venture capital and patient capital to support startups and innovation, and the minimal number of patents registered from university research, with an even smaller number being commercialized. Attracting funding for those few patents is another significant hurdle.
In its eight years of existence, the SA SME Fund has made strides in addressing these challenges by funding private equity funds, contributing to venture capital, supporting debt capital, and facilitating technology transfer at universities, among many other interventions. Dr. Judy expresses her gratitude for the business sector’s support in capitalizing the fund, as well as the fund’s excellent leadership.
She emphasizes the need for more job creators, particularly those from historically excluded groups, whose innovations and entrepreneurial efforts were once criminalized. Dr. Judy believes that collaboration across sectors is essential to addressing these challenges, leading to sustainable economic growth. She is hopeful that, through such efforts, South Africa could achieve SDG 10 within one or two generations.
Striving for Societal Justice
Dr. Judy considers herself fortunate to have been one of the investors in Aspen Pharmacare Limited, where she had the opportunity to work alongside passionate entrepreneurs who believed in her more than she believed in herself. She credits Stephen Saad for offering her this opportunity. Dr. Judy acknowledges that Aspen’s achievements in the 1990s, particularly making ARVs affordable to the majority, have not received the recognition they deserve. She continues to appreciate Aspen’s role in providing quality medicine at affordable prices, both globally and in her own life.
Dr. Judy has a deep passion for social justice and equity, and this was reflected in her role as the founding chair of the GBVF Response Fund 1. She was invited to take on this responsibility by the International Women’s Forum South Africa, specifically by Irene Charnley, who was president at the time, and by the South African presidency. Dr. Judy accepted the challenge because she believes that gender inequality and gender-based violence (GBVF) are two sides of the same coin. She emphasizes that addressing one cannot be done without tackling the other, making it a natural fit for her to take on this significant role as a proponent of gender equality.
Dr. Judy observes the rise of patriarchy in global leadership and the tolerance, and sometimes even celebration, of toxic masculinity. She believes that society has yet to fully embrace women’s capacity and right to lead in all sectors, except for raising children. She suggests that some might even find women leaders emasculating to men. Dr. Judy’s strategy for overcoming these challenges is to never be despondent. She emphasizes that just because something is hard, it doesn’t mean one should give up. She advocates for increased investment in women’s leadership and calls for stronger support for women leaders, especially from those who have the privilege to lead, both men and women.
Leaving an Enduring Legacy
Dr. Judy believes that a legacy resides in the lives of the people one touches, both in small and significant ways. She feels that society often underestimates the difference made by consistently doing what’s right and caring for others. Through her work in business, education, healthcare, and philanthropy, she hopes to inspire the next generation to be authentic, to own their voice, and to always act with integrity. When she’s gone, Dr. Judy’s wish is that those who mattered most in her life will acknowledge her flaws but recognize that she always meant well and strived to do good.
