By Shumirai Chimombe
“My story is not just about personal achievement; it’s about showing what’s possible when you refuse to let circumstances define your ceiling.”
Dr Phindile Nkosi was honoured with the Standard Bank Top Women Young Achiever 2025 award which celebrates the outstanding achievements of young women leaders aged 40 and younger.
At the end of 2024 she made history when she was appointed as the first female director of the Public and Environmental Economics Research Center (PEERC) at the University of Johannesburg. When her line manager requested her to lead the research centre, she was surprised as this role is typically held by professors. At the time she was still a PhD candidate.
“I was also grieving multiple losses so I did not even think I could lead anything. However I decided to take a leap of faith and accepted the challenge.”
The previous director had only served one month’s notice during December which meant that there was no proper handover. She inherited what she described as a ‘dead centre with no visibility – even the university PR people did not know it existed. In the Centre there were three research associates of which only one was active.
In March 2025, just before submitting her PhD thesis, Phindile hosted a German university delegation that was seeking collaboration.
“That meeting really opened my eyes,” she said. “We were six people in the meeting and I was the only woman present. I knew that I needed to make a change. That moment made me realize that if I don’t intentionally create space for women, who will? So when the time came to recruit additional research associates, I made sure that I included women.”
Transformation in ten months
By October 2025 the Centre had recruited eight new active research associates across 3 continents – two in the United States, one in Sweden, one in Ghana, one in Egypt, and the rest in South Africa). Two female research associates were recruited intentionally. In addition, Phindile recruited the first ever PR strategist, who was female because she knew that the centre needed to be visible so it could make an impact.
Within 10 months, she transformed a dormant center into a global research hub. “I didn’t just revive it, I reimagined it. I intentionally recruited women. I hired our first PR strategist. When a municipality offered a large project with an insufficient budget, I declined, protecting our reputation over short-term gains. That’s strategic leadership. I continue to write proposals with my team seeking funding, something I was never taught. I had to find my way.”
Global impact – international recognition and collaboration
Phindile continuously seeks collaboration nationally and internationally. In 18 months, her research took her across four continents. Among her many achievements she was selected to be part of the B20 Just Energy Transition Task Force contributing to policy for SA’s G20 presidency. She was invited to present at top conferences in Italy, Kenya, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, USA, and Tanzania. She is part of a group that is quantifying an index for the Women Energy Empowerment, an international collaboration involving several countries – “because women are at the centre of the work that I do”.
Lifting others as she rises
“Right now I am leading with lifting as you rise so I make sure that everywhere I go I motivate women around me of all ages because I did not have a blueprint generally throughout my life. So I hope that my life can be a blueprint in their lives. Now I’m creating the map for others. I mentor young women facing what I faced. Single mothers pursuing PhDs without parents to lean on. I gave student assistants opportunities to lecture. One is now at National Treasury, pursuing her PhD with my guidance. This is why I do this work.
Looking to the future
Phindile graduated in December 2025 with her PhD. But she is not stopping there.
She is now pursuing another Master’s degree in Marine and Environmental Law to complement her economics expertise, so the research center can become South Africa’s premier environmental economics institution. A trusted partner for government, nonprofits, and the private sector bridging research and real-world implementation.
“My long-term vision is entrepreneurship in green hydrogen; providing clean energy solutions to the marginalised communities I come from. From beneficiary to provider. From margins to center. Full circle.”
“So I believe anything is possible because that happened for me. I didn’t have a blueprint but I am still here and doing just fine, and I also believe that I will do even bigger things.”
Would you like to be the next Standard Bank Award winner?
The date has been set for the Standard Bank Top Women Top Women Award 2026. The event will take place on 3 December at the Sandton Convention Centre.
These awards stand as one of South Africa’s most prestigious platforms recognising outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to gender empowerment across business and society. Each year, we honour individuals and organisations that are actively shaping a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future.
Entering the awards positions your brand as a credible leader in gender empowerment, boosting your reputation across industries.
Visit the official awards portal to enter and view the criteria across business, public service, and social impact here
For enquiries and submission assistance, contact Quarnita Jumat at quarnita.jumat@topco.co.za
