Mummy Mthembu-Fawkes is a South African entrepreneur, business and digital strategist, keynote speaker, MC and facilitator whose career spans technology, telecommunications, business development, entrepreneurship and brand strategy.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Mummy spent approximately 14 years in the corporate environment, building an impressive career in the telecommunications and technology sector. She held senior sales, technology and business development positions, including roles at Nashua Mobile and MTN, where she progressed to Head of Business Development.
Her experience operating in highly competitive and traditionally male-dominated corporate environments shaped much of the practical business insight she now brings to audiences – particularly around leadership, resilience, transformation, technology and the advancement of women in business.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
In 2014, Mummy founded Earthy, a natural hair and body-care business created from her own journey of embracing natural African hair.
What began through experimenting with natural ingredients developed into a commercial brand serving customers across South Africa. Her entrepreneurial journey has subsequently become an important case study in identifying a market opportunity, understanding consumers and building a brand around an authentic customer need.
Mummy’s experience gives her the ability to speak about entrepreneurship from a practical perspective – including the realities of leaving corporate employment, developing a product, building a customer base, growing a brand and recovering from business challenges.
SPEAKER, MC & MODERATOR
As a keynote speaker, Mummy combines personal storytelling with extensive commercial experience. Her presentations explore how changing generations, technology, entrepreneurship and diversity are reshaping African business.
She is also an accomplished MC, moderator and facilitator, able to lead conversations involving senior executives, entrepreneurs and industry specialists.
Her moderation work has included business and technology discussions such as Business Day’s SME Matters, in partnership with Nedbank, where she facilitated a panel examining how technology can help small businesses transform, access new markets and accelerate growth.
SPEAKING TOPICS
African Millennials – First World Thinkers
Exploring Africa’s emerging consumer generation and how businesses need to adapt to changing expectations, behaviours and purchasing decisions.
WOKE: Your Business in the Eye of the Millennial
Understanding how millennials engage with brands, technology, communication and customer experiences.
Lose It All and Climb Up Again
A candid exploration of entrepreneurship, failure, resilience and rebuilding.
Let’s Agree to Disagree
How diversity of thought can strengthen organisations, leadership teams and decision-making.
Technology, Conservation & Women: The Three That Can Change It All
Exploring the potential impact of technology and female leadership on Africa’s development.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Mummy’s entrepreneurial and business journey has earned recognition from a number of prominent South African publications and organisations, including:
- Top 10 Disruptors in the Beauty Industry – Foschini & Nedbank Future of Beauty, 2020
- Power of 40 – Destiny, 2019
- Glamour Magazine – Businesses to Support, 2018
- ELLE Boss Nominee, 2017
- 9th place – Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs in South Africa, Sowetan, 2017
- Businesswoman to Watch – Woman & Home, 2016
Her combination of corporate leadership experience, entrepreneurship, technology knowledge and engaging storytelling makes Mummy an excellent choice for conferences and events centred on business, women in leadership, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, consumer trends and Africa’s next generation of leaders.
