On Rise & Shine, we profile an outstanding South African academic and business leader whose career spans the classroom, the boardroom, and the global stage. Professor Pumela Msweli is the Executive Dean and CEO of UNISA's Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL), one of Africa's most prestigious business schools, recently internationally accredited by the Business Graduates Association. She has built her career on excellence in teaching, research, and mentoring the next generation of leaders, having supervised more than 20 PhDs and 40 Master's students, many of whom now hold senior academic and leadership positions.

She is also a thought leader in intra-African trade, editing a major new book Intra-Africa Trade: Will the AfCFTA Unleash Africa's Development Potential? which brings together scholars and practitioners across the continent to tackle Africa's unique trade challenges and opportunities.

Next month, she will deliver a keynote address at the 2nd Annual Leadership Development for Women in Higher Education Africa Summit 2025 in Sandton, Johannesburg, where she will spotlight Women's Leadership and Global Excellence.

This morning, we speak to her about her life journey, her work in academia and leadership, the challenges and opportunities for women in higher education, and her vision for Africa's development.