Interview with Dr. Kolosa Madikizela for Women's Month 2024
In continued celebration of South Africa’s Women's Month, we spoke with Kolosa, whose upbringing in a privileged family of professionals in Bizana, Eastern Cape, provided her with a unique perspective on life in South Africa.
Despite her sheltered upbringing, it was during her university years in Cape Town that she first confronted the harsh realities of black poverty and racial inequality.
Now an accomplished leader, Kolosa is dedicated to being a transformative force in society, committed to making a meaningful impact and continuing her family's legacy of contribution to South Africa.
Kolosa was born in Bizana in the Eastern Cape, a town that produced influential figures like Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Oliver Tambo. She grew up in a privileged family of professionals, with doctors and lawyers as role models, and reflects on her childhood as a protective bubble, attending the best schools and only realising the extent of racial inequality in South Africa during her university years – she arrived in Cape Town and was exposed to black poverty for the first time, and realised what her uncles and aunts had been ‘struggling’ for all along.
The realities of black poverty and discrimination in the urban context broadened Kolosa’s perspective on the diverse experiences of black South Africans.
Kolosa has garnered significant experience at Managing Director, C-Suite and Board, primarily in the Built Environment. She recently paused to complete her PhD, and now sees her purpose as a transformer, aiming to change spaces, businesses, and societies. She is only interested in roles where significant impact is possible, so that she can continue the legacy of her family's contributions to South Africa.
Reflecting on advice to their younger self, Kolosa would say -
Look Up. She’d encourage her younger self to look beyond their protected bubble, recognizing life's adversities, and affirming their inherent worth and potential to contribute to society.
