When Shift Happens: She stepped away from success and rebuilt her life
She had the title, the career and the success. Then life forced her to redefine who she was.
In Episode 2 of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo sits down with Nedbank Group Chief Marketing Officer Khensani Nobanda to explore how life’s most difficult moments can reshape your identity, your leadership and your sense of purpose.
You have to know who you are without the title. Because titles can disappear.
When everything shifts
Behind one of Africa’s most respected executives is a story of profound loss, difficult decisions and the courage to rebuild from within.
Khensani shares how stepping away from her career after her brother’s death, and later navigating further personal tragedy, forced her to confront who she was beyond her title and what kind of leader she wanted to become.
ALSO READ | LISTEN: The climb that changed everything: Saray Khumalo’s story
What followed was a quieter, deeper rebuild grounded in self-awareness and purpose.
Khensani speaks honestly about identity, vulnerability and how leadership evolves when life changes you.
It’s a conversation about identity, perspective and how people find their way forward.
Listen to Episode 2 of the JacPod Original podcast, When Shift Happens, at the top of the page, or directly below:
About Khensani Nobanda
Khensani Nobanda is the Group Chief Marketing Officer at Nedbank and one of South Africa’s most respected marketing leaders. With more than two decades of experience, she has helped shape the Nedbank brand and led some of the country’s most recognised campaigns. Her work has earned multiple industry awards and recognition, but her leadership extends beyond marketing. She is widely respected for her authenticity, emotional intelligence and ability to lead through change. Her story in When Shift Happens reveals the personal experiences behind the professional success, and the shifts that shaped the leader she is today.
The podcast that started with Saray’s own story
When Shift Happens is a JacPod Original podcast by Jacaranda FM. Episode 1 introduced host Saray Khumalo’s journey to becoming the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest after three failed attempts.
It set the tone for a series about resilience, leadership and navigating change.
Listen to Episode 1 below:
Listen and subscribe
Listen on JacarandaFM.com under JacPod | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on YouTube
About Saray Khumalo
Saray Khumalo is an award-winning mountaineer, business executive, speaker and author. She made history as the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest and has also completed the Seven Summits challenge, climbing the highest mountain on each continent. Beyond mountaineering, Saray has built a successful corporate career and is the founder of Summits With a Purpose, an initiative that raises funds and builds physical and digital libraries in disadvantaged African communities. Through her partnership with Jacaranda FM, she now brings her leadership insights to audiences through When Shift Happens, a JacPod Original podcast dedicated to helping others navigate change and realise their potential.