From a small village in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, to the national entrepreneurship spotlight, Ntsako Mahlaule, 33, is proof that vision, resilience and hard work can transform lives. She is the founder and chief executive of Charged Up, a dynamic branding and printing company that has grown from a street vending operation to a fully fledged production hub employing seven people. Under her leadership, Charged Up has become a household name in its community and partnered with universities for practical student training, hosted annual entrepreneurship exhibitions and won prestigious awards, including recognition from MTN and the Hollywood Foundation. Her accolades include: Innovative Entrepreneur Award; Top 10 MTN Entrepreneur in SA (2024); Best Brand of the Year and Top 2 at the Hollywood Foundation Pitch Competition. A self-taught entrepreneur who’s completed numerous short courses through the Small Enterprise Development Agency, National Youth Development Agency, and FNB, she is now pursuing formal studies in business and financial management. Ntsako is also a published author, motivational speaker, model and former radio host.
Completed various short courses in entrepreneurship through institutions such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and First National Bank (FNB)