Pumela Salela is the Country Head for the United Kingdom (UK) under Brand South Africa, the custodian of the South Africa Country Brand. Her role is to market South Africa in the UK, attract foreign direct investment (fdi) into South Africa, mobilize Global South Africans (GSA) abroad and to manage the brand reputation of South Africa. In 2018, Pumela was featured as a POWERHOUSE in DESTINY magazine .She is the 2018 recipient of the African Achiever Award. In 2019 she received the BRITISH Award for African Development. Prior to serving in this role Pumela was the Chief Director for Economic Policy Development and Planning at the Department of Economic Development in South Africa.
The Rockefeller Foundation acknowledged her contribution and innovation in formulating systems which address poverty by selecting Salela to be one the 18 global recipients of the foundation’s inaugural Global Fellowship on Social Innovation–an only South African to receive the honour.Pumela has also worked as aConsultant for the World Bank, based at the organisation’s headquarters in United States, Washington D.C. and a Director: BPO at the dti, South Africa, The Director role was preceded by her position as Deputy Director for Investment Promotion at Trade and Investment South Africa. She has also been a lecturer in Strategic Brand Management at VEGA, The School of Branding.
Salela studied to complete her MBA with distinction (cum laude) in England through a Nelson Mandela Scholarship where she received the Council Award for being the Best MBA student. Pumela is the Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Scholarship Alumni Association and a Mentor to GracaMachel Scholars. She is featured in the 2013 issue of the book: South Africa’s Most
Inspirational Women. She has also been featured in 2012 issue DESTINY magazine as one of South Africa’s Young and Powerful Achievers.In 2013 DESTINY magazine showcased her as one of the Top 40 young leaders, innovators and job creators in South Africa.Ms Salela has served as an On-air Advisor to investors on an Entrepreneurship Television Show called Rize Mzansi (Rise South Africa).
