Growing up in Daveyton, a township east of Johannesburg, Nokwanda Thobile Thango, 27, was driven by a desire to heal, originally aspiring to be a doctor. But her path shifted. She is the founder and chief executive of Agri_Ladder, a platform that builds partnerships with farmers and identi- fies growth opportunities in the agricultural value chain. From leading strategic vision to managing teams, Nokwanda wears many hats. Her background in information technology and human resources management equips her with the versatility to steer innovation while building and motivating high-perform- ing teams. Her milestones include launching Agri_Ladder, securing partnerships with local farmers and fostering a col- laborative team culture. Inspired by her father — a school transport entrepreneur who rose above physical hardship to create his future — Nokwanda believes in taking ownership of one’s destiny. Her vision is to drive ethical, tech-driven change, especially in marginalised communities. She calls on policymakers to prioritise agricultural technology, rural infrastructure and farmer empowerment, especially for climate resilience.
My dad, a businessman, started his own transport business after losing his arm in a car accident and being unable to find employment. He now runs a business transporting schoolchildren.