For Siya Ngcobo, 35, marketing isn’t just about brand visibility — it’s about building legacies that shape Africa’s future. As marketing, CSI and communications manager at Isanti Glass, he leads the strategic positioning of the company as a purpose-driven manufacturing force. His job integrates brand building, stakeholder engagement, sustainability and partnerships that drive social, environmental and economic impact. With a career spanning global giants like Volkswagen, Uber and BET Africa, Siya has learnt that success in Africa requires more than strategy — it demands cultural fluency, deep listening, and solutions anchored in local realities. His leadership on Volkswagen’s New Energy Vehicles portfolio, BET Africa’s continental expansion and Uber’s Southern African marketing demonstrated his ability to turn complex challenges into growth opportunities. A chartered marketer and TransUnion Rising Star Award winner for Industrial Manufacturing, Siya embodies a blend of creativity, commercial acumen and purpose-driven leadership. Beyond his job, he has served on the board of Ubuntu Football, empowering young talent through sport, education and leadership, while championing sustainability and conservation storytelling.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Futures Studies, Stellenbosch Business School (*in progress)
• Chartered Marketer [CM(SA), Marketing Association of South Africa
• Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in Marketing Management, IMM Graduate School
• Digital Marketing Certificate, Red & Yellow Creative School of Business
• Media Management Honours.AAA School of Advertising
• Diploma in Marketing, IMM Graduate School
I am inspired by leaders who turn vision into generational impact — people such as Strive Masiyiwa, Aliko Dangote and Patrice Motsepe — who have shown that African excellence can compete, lead and transform at a global scale. At the core of my journey stand my parents, two people who sacrificed endlessly to give me opportunities they themselves never had. Their quiet resilience, faith and determination built the platform for everything I pursue today. Every milestone is a reminder that their sacrifices were not in vain and that true leadership is measured not by personal gain, but by how many others you empower along the way.