From rural Eastern Cape to award-winning engineer, manufacturing leader and mentor, Ncebakazi Nompula is proving that women do not have to fit into one role to make a lasting impact.
Women’s Month is a time to celebrate women who lead with courage, purpose and resilience. Ncebakazi Nompula is one of those women.
She has built an impressive career as a chemical engineer, manufacturing leader, award-winning scientist and innovator, while also embracing her roles as a mother, mentor, community leader and advocate for women’s empowerment.
A proud Pan-African Xhosa woman and long-time resident of Alberton, Ncebakazi is also a semi-finalist in Mrs Universe South Africa 2026, an aspiring author with two book ideas, and a passionate gym enthusiast.
Above all, she describes herself simply as ‘a child of God’.
Strong foundations built on faith and family
Ncebakazi ‘s story began in the rural Eastern Cape, where she was born and raised between Flagstaff and Port St Johns. Growing up between the homes of her divorced parents, she spent much of her childhood with her grandparents, who were both teachers and devoted Christians.
Surrounded by love, faith and a family that valued education, she developed the determination that would later define her career. With almost every family member holding a university degree, academic excellence was simply expected.
One lesson from her grandfather has remained with her throughout her life. ‘He said, ‘You are an intelligent child. Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise and work on things no one can take away from you.’
Today, family remains central to her life. She is the mother of two boys from her late husband and has recently remarried traditionally.
Together with her husband and his three children, they are building a blended family rooted in love and support.
For Ncebakazi, family extends far beyond blood ties. Her mother has always been her greatest supporter, while her aunts played an important role in raising her. One aunt cared for her until she completed matric, while another proudly considers her a daughter. Her in-laws have also embraced her as one of their own.
‘I am spoiled for choice when it comes to family because I am blessed with so many cheerleaders who believe in me, support me and contribute to my personal and professional growth.’
She even jokes that she has treated herself like a company since she was 19. ‘I call myself Ncebs.Inc and I have a mission and vision with values. Integrity is something I protect with everything I have. I remove myself from spaces where my values clash. I give excellence, not perfection.’ Away from work, Ncebakazi enjoys music, dancing, reading and cooking, proudly earning the title of ‘MasterChef’ from her children.
She was once a ballroom dancer and enjoys everything from classical music and jazz to gospel, Gqom and Amapiano. She also finds fulfilment serving through church, soup kitchens and community outreach programmes.
Choosing the hard road to success
Interestingly, engineering was not always part of Ncebakazi‘s plan. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a pharmacist simply because she liked the sound of the word.
That changed during high school when she discovered how few women were entering engineering. Instead of being discouraged, she saw an opportunity.
‘I heard chemical engineering is difficult and I said, ‘That is the one,’ and never looked back.’ Her determination paid off. She graduated cum laude with an incredible 23 distinctions and quickly established herself as one of South Africa’s rising engineering talents.
‘I thrive on challenges. I always call myself an eagle who loves the storm because it gets to showcase its massive wings.’ Working in engineering and manufacturing, industries traditionally dominated by men, presented challenges, but she refused to let stereotypes define her career.
‘Competency, consistency and confidence beat the stereotype.’ She adds with her trademark humour, ‘Every handshake I treat like arm-wrestling. I walk in like my uncle owns the company.’
Her advice is simply to invest in yourself, ignore labels and focus on excellence rather than gender battles. Among her proudest professional achievements are receiving the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers (SAIChemE) silver medal, graduating cum laude, designing, building and commissioning a R50 million factory within eight months, and receiving global recognition across several organisations.
Yet her greatest achievement is not measured by awards.
‘Seeing my mentees becoming industry leaders is the greatest satisfaction.’ Throughout her career, several influential leaders have helped shape her journey. She credits Nicole Kok for giving her an early opportunity to move from brewery team leader to process engineer for Africa and the Middle East at Cadbury.
She also values the guidance of her former managers, whom she affectionately calls her trial council. Her greatest global inspiration remains former PepsiCo chairperson and CEO Indra Nooyi.
‘I admire her because she broke barriers as a woman of colour in global business while leading with courage, authenticity and purpose.’
Creating opportunities for others
Mentorship has become one of Ncebakazi ‘s greatest passions. In every organisation she has worked for, she intentionally identifies one or two women to mentor and she expects nothing in return.
‘The only payment I want is seeing them shake the industry.’
Motherhood has also transformed her leadership style. Once a perfectionist, she now believes empathy and patience are equally important.
‘Motherhood taught me to listen, nurture potential and understand that every human being has a different purpose.’
As brand ambassador for the Kgothatso Foundation, she supports child protection initiatives, educational enrichment programmes, youth empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, food security projects and humanitarian support in Katlehong.
She is also involved with Ladies in Safety Shoes (LiSS), a sisterhood that empowers women working in manufacturing, helping them find employment and succeed in maledominated industries. Her personal platform, Evolve 360, focuses on holistic personal growth by integrating leadership, faith, wellness, purpose and legacy.
Leading with purpose beyond the workplace
Ncebakazi ‘s latest journey has taken her onto the Mrs Universe South Africa stage. What started as a dare after losing 48 kilograms has become a meaningful opportunity to inspire women across the country.
She hopes to demonstrate that women do not have to be defined by one role. ‘We can excel in our careers, support our families and communities, and still pursue our dreams with confidence.’
The competition’s strong advocacy against domestic violence and abuse deeply resonates with her, and she plans to continue championing this cause long after the pageant ends.
For Ncebakazi, female empowerment is about much more than equality. ‘Women who aspire to be equal to men lack ambition. Women should never measure themselves against male standards, but instead celebrate their own unique strengths.’
If given the opportunity to represent SA internationally, she wants the world to see that, ‘We may be a third world country, but we have first-class citizens with incredible brains and qualities to conquer.’ Looking ahead, she hopes to continue breaking glass ceilings on the global stage, expand Evolve 360, strengthen her advocacy against domestic violence and build future generations of leaders.
‘Don’t let fear decide your future. Everything you need is in you. Work hard and make excellence your brand.
Photos: RAKGADI RAPODILE. Hair: TSHIDI MAKARA. Stylist: GEORGINA RAMAREMELA. Make-up: GUGU NGWENYA
