Basetsana Kumalo has built a career that refuses to fit neatly into one box. Since being crowned Miss South Africa in 1994, she has evolved from a television personality into a producer, media entrepreneur, fashion designer, property developer and mining executive, while also becoming a mentor and advocate for creating opportunities for others.
Her journey began in business at just 20, when she launched her first media production company.
It has since taken her across industries and through both major successes and difficult setbacks, including five challenging years establishing herself in the male-dominated mining sector.
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“When things got tough in mining, I thought about quitting, but I told myself: ‘Basetsana, you do not have the choice or an option to quit. You have a responsibility to use the platform, use the stage for the greater good,’” she says. “And so, we charged along.”
Now, ahead of her appearance at the MANCOSA Jacaranda FM Business Breakfast next week, Kumalo shares five principles that have helped shape her approach to business, leadership and longevity.
1. Let passion carry you through the difficult seasons
Entrepreneurship inevitably comes with challenges, but Kumalo believes genuine passion is what keeps you moving when things become difficult.
“You have to have the passion for your business, because when the going gets tough, that’s what’s going to drive and motivate you to keep going,” she says.
For Kumalo, passion is not simply about loving what you do. It is about having enough belief in your purpose to keep going when the results don’t come quickly.
2. Surround yourself with people who are better than you
Kumalo believes good leaders understand that they don’t need to be the smartest person in the room.
“Surround yourself with people who are smarter, sharper and brighter than you. That’s what it takes to be a leader,” she says. The key, she adds, is finding people who bring their own talent while sharing the broader vision.
3. Reinvest in the business
For entrepreneurs, making money is only one part of building a sustainable business. What happens to that money can determine how far the business ultimately goes.
“Make sure that you reinvest in the business. Once you make some profit, don’t go out and buy a Lambo; reinvest in your business,” says Kumalo. “That’s how you can scale up. That’s how you grow your business and have sustainability and longevity.”
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4. Remember the bigger purpose
For Kumalo, entrepreneurship is ultimately about more than personal success. “You have to wake up in the morning and say to yourself as an entrepreneur, I have an opportunity to create jobs,” she says. “That inspires me every day to wake up, dream big, and work hard.”
It is a philosophy that has shaped her own approach to business and reflects her belief that successful businesses can create opportunities far beyond their founders.
5. Stay true to your course
After more than three decades in the public eye and a career spanning multiple industries, Kumalo’s final piece of advice is deceptively simple. “Stay true to your course,” she says.
Her own career demonstrates that staying true to your course does not mean following a straight line. It can mean changing direction, entering unfamiliar industries, learning from failure and continuing to evolve without losing sight of what drives you.
It is this combination of resilience, reinvention and purpose that Kumalo will bring to the MANCOSA Jacaranda FM Business Breakfast on 17 August 2026, where Kumalo will be joined by an elite lineup of speakers, including former Springbok Bryan Habana, founder and speaker Pavlo Phitidis and CEO and founder of Loop Kimberly Taylor.
Over the past four years, the event has grown into more than a speaker breakfast, becoming a platform for South Africans to exchange ideas, build relationships and gain practical inspiration from leaders who have navigated success, setbacks and reinvention.
Guests can look forward to a morning of powerful insights, networking and conversations designed to inspire action, and encourage a bigger question: what kind of legacy are you building?
The MANCOSA Jacaranda FM Business Breakfast will take place on the 17th of August at Vodacom Dome. Tickets are available via iTickets
Also see: Basetsana Kumalo honoured with prestigious award in leadership
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