Neliswa Nkani
Hub Head – MEISEA South African Tourism
Neliswa Nkani, a South African national, has a holistic tourism experience that includes marketing, strategic government relations, negotiating, tourism, sales, and investment facilitation. Fluently able to converse in seven languages, she exudes passion, drive and commitment, and a never-ending quest for learning.
Neliswa Nkani is currently at the helm of affairs, spearheading initiatives of the South African tourism board in the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. She has indepth expertise in national government and local government positioning and familiarity with legislation, strategies, and policies pertaining to the travel & tourism sectors.
Neliswa believes in giving her teams the creative freedom to explore new territories, make bolder choices, to experiment and grow. She feels people tend to enjoy work better when they are invested in it and challenged to go beyond the ordinary. The other thing that her team does well is –communicate. Effective communication is key to better collaborations and synergies.
She has also learned to look within. As a leader, one can only give what one has! So, to make an impact at places of work, leaders must first work on themselves. Along with professional development, Neliswa says it is also important to constantly work towards personal growth and focus on all dimensions of wellness – physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional.
“I firmly stand by one principle – always put people first. In South Africa, we center our belief system around the ideology, Umntu Ngumtu Ngabantu, which translates to ‘I am who I am because of others’. This calls us to look out for our colleagues, our communities, and each other. Even at South African Tourism, our citizens and visitors are the top priority.”
There is another simple mantra that Neliswa follows, “Be Present Completely.” When she works, she gives it her 100 per cent and ensures no distractions. She has a space designated solely for work. When she is done for the day, she leaves her workstation – both physically and mentally – to switch off and spend quality time with her son or with herself.
Neliswa says that there cannot be good leadership without empathy. Little things matter, and it is important to reach out to colleagues and actively listen to what they have to say. It allows one to connect and relate to people and brings in a nuanced understanding of what makes them operate optimally and what empowers them.
Next Vacation: Neliswa is not thinking of a vacation, but she is excited to be back in India after two years! She has missed the country, the people, the food, and the vibrance it exudes.