African women are beginning to establish a strong presence in the world of business, showcasing their leadership skills across various sectors.
In Botswana, Faith Mabu Nteta is demonstrating to other women that success is achievable with her entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
In 2021, she was appointed as the Managing Director of Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited, making her one of the few female leaders in Botswana’s corporate apex. Her exceptional abilities and strong commitment to her work have established her as a forward-thinking leader in the beverage industry.
A self-made entrepreneur, she has served on several high-level boards and influenced many corporate leaders/managers through her training and consulting company, Service Bridge Consulting (SBC).
Just who is this woman managing her business and one of Botswana’s largest brewery companies?
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Education & Early Life
Mabu Nteta was born in Botswana and spent most of her childhood in Sebina village, Central Botswana, where her mother hails from. Being the seventh of nine siblings, she credits her passion for serving others to her upbringing in a warm and supportive family.
After her high school education, she joined the University of Botswana for her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, with a minor in French. Opting for a minor in French turned out to be a strategic move that opened doors for her first job in the corporate world.
She also holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Botswana.
Entrepreneurship Journey
She started her corporate journey right after graduating, landing an interview with Union de Transports Aériens (UTA) Airlines which trained and engaged her as a station manager.
For 6 years she worked at UTA, which eventually transformed into Air France. During this period, she worked in various stations including, in Paris and South Africa. However, when Air France stopped flying to Gaborone, she decided to relocate back to Botswana.
In Botswana, she joined the Botswana National Productivity Center as a Quality Service Consultant. Enhancing service excellence in Botswana was a major challenge but her skills from UTA had groomed her to work effectively.
Mabu Nteta left BNPC in 1999 to venture into consultancy. In 2000, she started Service Bridges Consulting (SBC), a principal management firm that plans, manages, and delivers projects in customer service training, consulting, and research.
She later joined Sechaba Breweries Holdings Ltd in 2005, as a Management Trainee. Her exceptional performance and innovative ideas made her stand out leading to her rapid ascent within the organization.
Mabu Nteta held several positions within Sechaba Breweries; including roles in marketing, operations, and strategic planning. These positions provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the company’s operations and industry dynamics.
In 2021, she was appointed the Managing Director of Sechaba Breweries Holdings Limited (SBHL).
Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited (SBHL)
Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited (SBHL) is a Botswana-based beverage company listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange. The company was established in 1970 as a joint venture between Diageo and Sechaba Investment Holdings.
SBHL holds 49.9% shareholding in Kgalagadi Breweries (Pty) Ltd (KBL) and 49.9% in Coca-Cola Beverages (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd (CCBB).
KBL is a company registered in Botswana involved in the manufacturing, import, distribution, and marketing of a portfolio of clear beers, alcoholic fruit beverages, and traditional beers.
On the other hand, CCBB is also a company registered in Botswana, involved in the manufacturing, import, distribution, and marketing of a portfolio of soft drinks, purified water, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
In addition to overseeing Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited and Service Bridges Consulting (SBC), Mabu Nteta is involved in several boards of private and public companies in Botswana.
She is a board member of First Mutual Reinsurance (FMRE) and has previously served as the Vice Chairperson of the National Development Bank (Botswana), Chairperson of the Board Transformation Committee, and Chairperson of the Board of the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA).
As lead consultant at SBC, Mabu Nteta has worked extensively on customer service improvement and effective governance projects, not just in Botswana but also in several southern African countries such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, and Malawi.
Beyond business
Philanthropy
Apart from entrepreneurship, Mabu Nteta is deeply involved in philanthropic work. She is a human rights activist championing women’s and girls’ empowerment with a current new focus on the Boy-Girl Agenda.
She co-founded Wave Women and Girls Organization whose mission is to empower women to find their inner wisdom, follow their passion, and live rich authentic lives. She is also part of the Ja Phala Youth Organization which focuses on empowering youths around Botswana to prosperity.
Additionally, she has a podcast “The Cinnamon Room” where she holds conversations with people across the globe on business and life.
Books
Mabu Nteta is also an author and has published The Loud Silent Women, Botswana; A Unique Destination and co-authored the Pandemic Diaries with a group of Batswana women.
Family
Mabu Nteta holds family in high regard and is a mother to three adult children and a grandmother to one.
Faith Mabu Nteta continues to inspire many, leaving an enduring legacy of success, integrity, and social responsibility in the corporate world. That’s why she can concurrently run both Sechaba Breweries Holdings and Service Bridge Consulting (SBC).
