South African media personality Kayise Ngqula is stepping into a new chapter in her career — this time as a student and future media leader. Known for her work as a television host, actress, and executive producer, Kayise recently revealed that she has been awarded a part-scholarship and selected as a delegate in the first-ever cohort of the Executive Programme in Media Leadership by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
Taking to social media to share the proud moment, she wrote: “Incredibly proud to be a part-scholarship recipient and delegate of the first cohort of the recently launched Executive Programme in Media Leadership by @gibsbusinessschool. This is an intensive fourth-month initiative designed to equip African media professionals with the strategic and practical tools to lead with disruption.”
The GIBS Executive Programme in Media Leadership is a four-month, high-impact course created to empower African media professionals with the knowledge and tools to lead in a rapidly changing industry. The 2025 group is the programme’s very first cohort, making Kayise part of a historic launch.
She continued, “My mission has always been to carve my personal and professional ambitions and trajectory with passion & purpose, whilst navigating a career transition from being on-screen talent to being a leader in the business of media & creative, which is currently solely focused on @knn_mediagroup.”
The programme includes professionals from across Africa, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. This matches GIBS’ goal to grow a pan-African leadership network in the media space. The first cohort is also proudly women-led, with two-thirds of the participants being women — highlighting the institution’s commitment to inclusive leadership.
For Kayise, the scholarship is not just financial support, it’s a symbol of recognition and motivation.
“I feel incredibly honoured & privileged to use the skills & knowledge gained from my co-delegates, programme directors and faculty heads as inspiration to create the foundation for platform & content collaboration amongst Africans as a centre tool of exchange.”
With this achievement, Kayise is showing her commitment to growing not just as an on-screen talent, but as a leader in the future of African media.
