Michelle Govender

For Michelle Govender, 32, storytelling has always been her north star. Growing up in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, she developed a fascination for writing at a young age. At 15, she launched her website, Mish Informed,  boldly building a space to share think pieces on pop culture and conduct interviews with local and international talent. That paved the way for a dynamic career across the media and digital landscape. Today, Michelle leads social media strategy for Spotify in sub-Saharan Africa, using her platform to celebrate the continent’s vibrant music culture, spotlight new talent and bridge the gap between artists and their audiences. Whether curating content, running campaigns, or travelling to capture exclusive moments with some of Africa’s biggest stars, no two days are the same. Her career journey has included shaping social media content for Showmax across South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya — notably working on the Real Housewives franchises and earning a Promax Africa Award for The Real Housewives of Lagos. Michelle is passionate about mentoring young professionals navigating the fast-paced media world. Michelle believes in using her voice unapologetically. “Your opinion matters — never shrink yourself,” she says.

• Media Certificate, Boston Media House
  Digital Marketing Certificate, Red & Yellow Creative School of Business

• Founded a website at age 15, building a personal brand during the early shift into the modern social media landscape.
• By age 18, I earned opportunities to be published in print and online, gaining a voice in the industry and developing storytelling skills that became central to my current career.
• Shaped the social media strategy for Showmax across South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.
• Worked on several The Real Housewives franchises, contributing to: winning a Silver Promax Africa Award for work on The Real Housewives of Lagos – implementing the initial social strategy for the Nigerian brand accounts and evolving the brand’s social content positioning.
• Nominated for Employee of the Year, recognising dedication, passion and tangible results across multiple projects.

I look up to the first role models I ever had in my life: my mother and my sister. My mother was always resilient and strong as a single parent. Watching her navigate life with strength, softness and grace has shaped how I show up in every space I am in. For my sister, she offered me my first glimpse into building a lane and going after what you want. Seeing her be unapologetically great at what she does in the creative industry has been a source of motivation over the years. They are the blueprint and the go-to for advice when things seem too big or daunting. Within the industry, I have always looked up to different voices and their passion for bringing stories to the forefront, such as Debora Patta, Nicky Greenwall and Devi Sankaree Govender.