Nokuhle Kumalo, 27, was raised in a home that valued both education and holistic development. She discovered a talent for numbers and gravitated toward accounting — a path that earned her a string of scholarships and, eventually, the coveted title of chartered accountant. Kumalo studied at the UCT and qualified as a CA through Deloitte Johannesburg. She later worked across Philadelphia, New York and Melbourne as part of Deloitte’s international JIT programme before returning to South Africa to launch Lomaku — a personal finance and career platform for young professionals. Nokuhle leads a growing multimedia brand focused on financial literacy, career coaching and personal development. Her work spans content creation, mentorship, publishing and product development. She is the author of the guidebook GRWM: Work Edition. Her mentorship programme has supported 85 young people across SA, and she continues to mentor through her platform and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. Her YouTube channel has attracted 100 000 subscribers, offering relatable, practical advice on money, mindset and navigating adulthood.
I admire many different people for various things they have done and achieved. However, when I dig deeply, I believe the people who inspire and shape me the most are my parents. My dad is a natural problem-solver, which is what makes him such a great entrepreneur. When faced with challenges, he finds a way to resolve them so that the next person has a smoother journey. My mum, on the other hand, is my greatest example of how following your passion and values makes your work easier and more enjoyable. She loves what she does, and she is great at it. Together, my parents have taught me the value of being purpose-driven, regardless of the field I am in. Furthermore, I have had several mentors over the years — some from my Allan Gray Orbis Foundation community, some from my Deloitte community, and others through various networks. All of these individuals have helped breathe life into the work that I do, my goals, and my vision, and they have been fantastic sounding boards for key career decisions.