Sally Nhlanhla, Founder & CEO, Rekindle Learning - South Africa

Mar 04, 2026

Please tell us your name, where your business is located and what is it you do?

My name is Sally Nhlanhla. I am the Founder and CEO of Rekindle Learning, headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with an active presence in Cape Town and Durban.

Rekindle exists to solve a challenge many organisations have wrestled with for decades: how to turn workforce capability into real, measurable performance and organisational success. At our core, we help organisations move beyond training for training’s sake, and instead design systems that enable people to perform, grow, and contribute meaningfully.

I believe this is important work because when organisations truly get the best out of their people, they grow and thrive and that growth translates into stability, wealth creation, and long-term prosperity for Africa.

Tell us about how you got started.

My journey with learning began much earlier than my career. I vividly remember being about four years old, watching a CNN report on the struggles across the African continent, and instinctively knowing that learning and capability, particularly the capability to build, trade, and grow wealth, would be central to Africa’s progress.

This belief was reinforced by my upbringing. Both my parents were educators in South Africa’s rural education system, and I witnessed first-hand how learning could truly change the trajectory of people’s lives.

That foundation shaped my career path: from an initial background in audit and accounting, to creating international learning opportunities for intercontinental students; from building a multi-million-rand digital learning business for one of the world’s largest learning organisations, to supporting over 30 African universities as they embarked on their e-learning journeys.

Today, Rekindle represents the culmination of that journey - an organisation focused not merely on education or training, but on building the capabilities that truly matter.

What makes your company unique?

Rekindle goes beyond training, and we go beyond technology, even though our technology itself is award-winning.

What truly differentiates us is that we design and operationalise capability systems. We help organisations clearly define what “good performance” looks like, map it to real-world roles and skills (often aligned to global frameworks such as SFIA), and then activate those capabilities through practical, human-centred experiences.

 In short, we don’t just help people learn, we help organisations perform.

No business is without setbacks, can you tell us about a time when you faced a significant setback and how you recovered from it?

Like many organisations operating in crowded markets, we initially found ourselves in a classic “red ocean”, leading primarily with technology. This often meant arriving after clients had already purchased similar tools, or being forced into price-driven comparisons that diluted our true value.

That period was pivotal. We realised we were not in the business of selling technology; technology was simply the enabler. Our real value lay in partnering with organisations to supercharge their workforce capabilities.

Once we repositioned ourselves around that truth, everything changed. We gained confidence, increased our share of our clients’ strategic spend, and moved decisively into a “blue ocean”, where we are now positioned as an essential partner in strategic workforce and capability planning, rather than just another vendor.

How do you define success and to what do you attribute your success?

We define success as being a trusted, strategic part of our clients’ workforce story. When organisations think about skills, capability, or unlocking human potential, they think of Rekindle.

Our success comes from an unwavering obsession with truly understanding our clients—not just what they ask for, but what they actually need—and from our ability to draw out the best in every individual within an organisation.

What’s next for your business, what will it look like in 5 years?

Our next chapter focuses on scaling and automating our capability engine - the mechanics that allow organisations to consistently assess, build, and mobilise capability at scale.

This includes launching an international skills and capability assessment framework that we believe will meaningfully reshape both the learning and recruitment landscapes. In five years, Rekindle will also be recognised as a most-desired employer, with a strong operational footprint across Africa and a growing global presence.

What does the future hold for Africa-focused entrepreneurs, and what advice would you give those just starting out?

I believe we are standing at the African frontier. Africa has always had extraordinary talent, abundant resources, and deep entrepreneurial instinct. What is different now is that we are beginning to truly see it and believe it ourselves.

My advice to entrepreneurs is simple but not easy: have grit. Lean into the deep, faith-filled resilience that is so characteristic of our continent. If you do not give up, especially when the terrain is difficult, the reward will come.

Owning a business while balancing a personal life can be challenging; how do you take care of yourself?

I’ll be honest - it’s still a learning journey. As a high-performing over-achiever, self-care doesn’t always come naturally.

What I am proud of is recognising the small but powerful practices that keep me grounded and effective (what fills my cup essentially). These include regular exercise, meditation and moments of silent prayer throughout the day, serving and walking alongside others, and spending intentional time with my family - my husband Tim, our new puppy Trixie, my brother Thando, and our wider family.

And, of course, my newest tradition: Friday dance parties - sometimes alone in my lounge. They reset my energy and remind me to return to my work with joy.

What is your favorite quote or mantra?  What keeps you going?

“Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the right time you will reap a reward, if you do not give up.”

That truth continues to sustain and energise me, even in challenging or thankless seasons.

What is your favorite app or a business tool that you can't live without?

This may sound biased, but my favourite app is our RekindleGo App. I love learning, and time is always limited - being able to grow one skill at a time is a privilege I value deeply.

A close second is YouTube. As a visual learner, I often study how leaders throughout history have built purposeful, world-changing businesses.