Mteto Nyati

About Mteto Nyati

Dr Mteto Nyati is the Chairperson of Eskom and Executive Chairman of BSG. He was previously CEO of Altron, CEO of MTN SA, and MD at Microsoft SA. Known for driving performance through culture and values-based leadership, he is a Yale World Fellow and holds an honorary doctorate in IT Management from the University of Johannesburg. His bestselling memoir, Betting on a Darkie, reflects on his journey through South Africa’s corporate halls and his principles of turnaround success.

Key message

Leadership Matters | Values Based Leadership | Tough love, clarity, and execution: how culture, people and delivery systems unlock real results.

Speaking topics and expertise

• Leading Turnarounds that Stick
• People-Centred Strategy Execution
• Governance & Ethics at the Top
• Transformation in Complex Enterprises
• Eskom: The Realities of National Recovery

Achievements

Author: Betting on a Darkie (NB Publishers); Led cultural reform at Altron; Headed Microsoft SA and IBM EMEA division

Education

BSc Mechanical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Honorary Doctorate (IT Management), University of Johannesburg

Talks and speeches

1. Tough Love Leadership: Turning Big Ships Without Breaking Them; 2. From Strategy to Results: Closing the Execution Gap; 3. Fixing the Powerhouse: Lessons from Eskom’s Recovery Journey

Delivery style

Firm, structured, sincere; simplifies complexity without diluting truth.

Why audiences listen

These are hard-earned insights from the top: applicable, honest and timely.

What the talks address

Culture, clarity, leadership accountability, and execution under pressure.

What participants will learn

Real tools for turnaround and strategic delivery; leadership principles that work.

What audiences take home

Courage, clarity, and a model for delivery.

Benefits for individuals

Clearer sense of how to lead under pressure.

Benefits for organisations

Strategic discipline; cultural reset; delivery model that works.