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Dr. Noxolo Kubheka-Dlamini - Chief Digital and Information Officer at Telkom CSB

Holding space in the boardroom means ensuring my voice is heard, and heard elegantly,” says Dr Noxolo Kubheka- Dlamini, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Telkom Consumer & Small Business. “I don’t make noise. I don’t do noise. But I know when to stand firmly on my authority.”

Kubheka-Dlamini initially planned to study accounting at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and become a Chartered Accountant, until an offer from the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN) set her on the path of IT. “Until I got to the interview, I didn’t know much about IT, and when I did my research, I realised it was incredibly interesting, it was changing the way the business world works,” she recalls.

And so she chose IT, studied information systems, and fell in love with the discipline. “I have been in love ever since, with zero regrets,” she says.

What followed is a career path that looks deliberate, but that she describes as “divinely orchestrated”. “There has never been a time when I’ve moved into a role and regretted it,” says Kubheka-Dlamini. “It has always felt as if each step I’ve taken was ordered for me to be there, and to prepare me for the next job.”

She started her career as an analyst programmer, moved into business intelligence and analytics, completed an MPhil in Information and Knowledge Management through Stellenbosch University, then specialised in enterprise architecture before stepping into Chief Information Officer (CIO) roles across aviation, Transnet and now Telkom. What may look like a straight, upward trajectory is in fact the outcome of persistence, grit and a willingness to take calculated risks.

“I am not afraid of territories that haven’t been explored yet – they excite me,” she says. “I also find IT fascinating. Who would have thought, when I was doing my undergraduate degree, that I would now be talking about artificial intelligence and the power it brings?”

Kubheka-Dlamini has an inherent understanding of business need, what the business needs from its solutions and which solutions will truly address those needs. She has always understood that you can design and develop a solution, but if it doesn’t meet business requirements, the business will reject it. Her intuitive grasp of business dynamics and technical requirements has played a significant role in her accelerated career trajectory.

“I have used the experience I’ve gained over the years to deliver credibly on my mandates across the different companies I’ve worked for,” she says. “I believe there is no point in my being there if I am not going to make a meaningful contribution and drive real change. I am still growing today, even in my third position as a CIO, because I have to look deeper to ensure I show up correctly and support the organisation’s objectives.”

Another defining part of her story is how committed Kubheka-Dlamini is to listening to other people’s stories. For all her technical range, her leadership rests on the conviction that people sit at the heart of technology and change.

“Even with all the disruptions and emerging technologies like AI, without people there isn’t much we can achieve,” she explains. “This belief shapes how I engage with the people I work with and the people I hire.”

At junior level, Kubheka-Dlamini looks first for attitude and a willingness to learn, rather than deep technical expertise, because she feels that without the ability to collaborate, people become the weakest link. “It is nonnegotiable. With the right attitude, you have people who can co-create across multiple functions; but if you can’t do that, you impact the quality of the team,” she says.

She doesn’t pretend that the room is level for women either. “We still have to do two times more than everybody else,” she says, adding that she still wonders when that will change. To navigate this challenge, she comes to every meeting well prepared. “I don’t wait for anyone to empower me or give me authority. I walk in understanding that I belong here and that I have something worthwhile to contribute as the expert I am,” she adds.

Noise, she has learned, is often a distraction by design, intended to pull focus from the real work. “I do not allow myself to be derailed by noise. I stay focused on what is important, delivering impact and honouring my mandate,” she says.

When asked what she believes must change so more women can build lasting careers in technology, she is specific. “Companies need to be more accommodating of the multiple roles women carry at home, at work and in life. They must take work–life balance and hybrid working models seriously and invest in the development of women,” she says.

Importantly, she adds, the opportunities must be real. “Meaningful opportunities, not window dressing, where women can contribute to the direction of the organisation at a strategic level are key,” she says. “I am proud to say I work for one such organisation, Telkom, which is deliberate and intentional about creating these opportunities for women.” 

telkom.co.za