With her origins in a sugar cane farm in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, Ntwenhle Linda, 31, never imagined she would return to her roots through agriculture. Trained in consumer science and formerly a corporate buyer at a top retail group, her path was altered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Back home, she began raising 50 chickens in her backyard. She runs Qandalami, a 10 000- layer commercial egg farm. As co-director, Linda is both a leader and hands-on operator. She oversees animal welfare, supply chain management, financials and team train- ing. Her work is grounded in sustainability, empowerment and service, creating employment for 10 people and training 50 aspiring farmers. Mentored by industry veteran Robbie Kruger, she navigated an often-exclusionary sector as a young black woman. Ntwenhle was the winner of the Entrepreneur Programme (University of KwaZulu-Natal and MIT). Outside of farming, she leads Gals That Brunch Durban, a wellness initiative for young women that fosters emotional well- being. She believes young leaders must redefine agriculture through technology and inclusive growth. She urges policymakers to remove barriers to entry and equip rural youth with land, training and funding.