Maggie Mojapelo shared an inspiring tale of how she started from virtually nothing and worked her way up to become a consultant, successful entrepreneur, and co-founder of a business that has been reshaping the HR sector.
Mojapelo, who has since amassed numerous accolades, said that her parents’ unwavering commitment to their careers had always motivated her.
“It started with my father. I was raised by people who were hungry for something. So, I know nothing – I just know hunger, and I know follow-through. That has always made me look at what I can do.”
Mojapelo is a highly sought-after executive, board member, committee chairperson, consultant, and co-founder of a company that has significantly impacted the HR industry since 2011.
In 2011, Mojapelo launched The HR Touch, an HR consultancy based in South Africa, independently.
Mojapelo is turning 60 in September, and The HR Touch is rebranding as The Human Touch (THT).
“Our job as The Human Touch is for companies to see that HR is actually a function that enables businesses to get value out of their key asset – people – and to create and sustain an environment that supports people to add exceptional value to their company,” she said.
Honouring her father’s wishes, she first studied medicine but quickly discovered that her true calling lay elsewhere.
She also did more research on psychology, pharmacy, and teaching. She completed several leadership programmes at prominent universities, including Harvard and Wits Business School, in addition to earning an MBA from Henley Business School.
Despite her academic journey taking many turns, she found her passion, and Mojapelo attributes her achievement to her spouse as well, who she said is her mentor.
“My husband is still my mentor to this very day. He was the one who told me, after we’d just gotten married, that I should register for psychology – what I’d always wanted to do. So I did.”
Led by her inquisitive mind and equipped with an array of qualifications and credentials, Mojapelo stepped into significant roles in various organisations across South Africa.
Throughout her career, she has changed HR departments at major companies such as IBM, Nedbank, Avon Justine, and Coca-Cola South Africa.
Mojapelo revealed that in addition to being sought after for her strategic vision and ability to match HR objectives with business goals for prestigious firms such as McDonald’s South Africa, she has shared her skills across a range of industries.
“I always start by considering the value I can add to an organisation. I always ask, ‘What can I do for you?’ That has served me well for decades,” she said.
The Star