By Shumirai Chimombe
“This is a journey of love because if you are given only one word to describe Brenda Khumalo, it’s ‘passion’. Passion for advertising, passion for people, passion for creativity, and passion for life.” – Lobengula Advertising
As the founder and Managing Director of Lobengula Advertising, Brenda’s career is a story of purpose-driven achievement, and her passion for positive change was recognised when she was named the Standard Bank Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2024.
“The award represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and passion for the work we do,” she said in an interview with BizCommunity. “For me, it symbolises values I hold dear – innovation, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact. It is also a validation of the agency’s growth and the strides we’ve made in the industry, particularly as a female-led business in a competitive space. I also feel the recognition will bolster our reputation, open new doors for collaborations and partnerships, and demonstrate our agency’s ability to lead and innovate.”
Her success trajectory in the advertising industry
Brenda’s journey into the world of advertising started at a young age when she was in high school, curious about the people who worked behind the scenes of her favourite TV shows, the creative process of advertising, and what made good radio. This love of all things communication and marketing took her to IMM Graduate School to study marketing. From there, she stepped into her first role in the advertising world at Ogilvy Durban.
It wasn’t long before her ambitious spirit was noticed, and she was chosen to represent her company at the Ogilvy Africa Training Programme.This week-long conference gave her the opportunity to rub shoulders with representatives from other countries and set her entrepreneurial trajectory on a new course.
She transferred to Ogilvy Johannesburg and after only five years she had earned an impressive reputation in the industry and within the WPP agency network for her hard work and trailblazing attitude. This resulted in her promotion to the position of Managing Director. Adding to the accolade, she was the youngest black woman in her region to achieve this level of success.
The realisation of a dream
In 2020 Brenda realised that if she wanted to change the landscape of advertising in a radical way, she would have to create it herself, and live her vision for the industry and for women.
She took the bold and courageous step of opening her own advertising agency. This was her opportunity to step out of the shadow of the people who had guided her, and to start something new, change how things are done and write her own set of rules.
Lobengula Advertising opened its doors as a 70% black female-owned company. It has over 60% of employees in female senior management roles and, overall, there is a 67% female employee complement – a game changer in an industry that is still very much male-dominated.
Under her leadership, Lobengula, which started with six employees, has seen exponential growth over the past three years. It now comprises over 30 employees and has four JSE-listed clients in its portfolio. The agency’s clients include the Standard Bank Group, Mercedes-Benz South Africa, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Old Mutual and Redefine Properties.
READ: Standard Bank Haley Fletcher Top Women Business Leader of the Year: Navlika Ratangee
Since Brenda launched Lobengula Advertising, the company has experienced phenomenal growth. Between 2021 and 2024, the company achieved a remarkable 3506% increase in revenue growth. Today, the agency is thriving under her leadership and innovative thinking, especially in advertising, where she has significantly impacted employee engagement and internal communications. In 2024 the business expanded and launched LA Truth, a strategy consultancy business and the film production business LA Films.
A respected and much-loved leader
According to her team at Lobengula, Brenda has built a reputation as a beloved mentor, friend, and leader.
“She leads with strength, intellect, compassion, and joy, creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to bring their best selves to the table. Brenda’s commitment to lifting others up and her positive outlook on life bring light to those around her, inspiring her team and peers to approach their work with the same dedication and enthusiasm she brings every day.
Her journey is one of vision, drive, and a heartfelt commitment to the values that define her. As a leader, she has transformed her workplace; as a creative force, she has redefined industry standards; and as an advocate for women and cultural diversity, she has made an indelible impact on the advertising landscape.
“In Brenda we see a leader and a visionary, someone whose work continues to inspire a brighter, more inclusive future for the advertising industry. She has shown that through creativity, empathy, and determination, we can create work that is purpose-driven and that, together, we can build a world where everyone has a seat at the table. With each milestone, Brenda reminds us all of the extraordinary power of purpose and the boundless potential of resilient, compassionate leadership.”
