Brenda Khumalo

What does your company do?

The story of Shaka is known among many but there was another figure, another history-maker during this period of disorder, destruction, and dreams of defiance not often spoken about, but whose story our agency is rooted in. Mzilikazi, the chief of the Khumalo clan, a general highly treasured by Shaka, and one of the most gifted commanders of this explosive period. Beyond these labels, Mzilikazi was a man strong in his conviction, expansive in his thinking, and fearless in standing for both. It was with this energy after a disagreement between himself and Shaka over creative differences, Mzilikazi headed north, into what we know now as Western Zimbabwe and established the Ndebele Kingdom. Lobengula was his son. Inherited from his father, Lobengula knew who he was and what he'd fight for; conversation, collaboration, loyalty, and disciplined commitment to the craft of leadership without fear of being seen as a rebel. Lobengula was the last of the Zulu Chieftains to make a stand for black independence. For the most part of history, the story of Lobengula was unwritten but we are living proof of this legacy; a tribe fearlessly moving beyond the norm to create new nations from original creative ideas. Our approach is anything but traditional. Our approach is anything but traditional. We've crafted an agency model that breaks the mold, offering a fresh, tactical approach that speaks to the heart of today's audience.

What is your biggest success?

Starting Lobengula Advertising in the middle of a pandemic is still the boldest and best thing I’ve done. I wasn’t just launching an agency; I was building a movement anchored in purpose, a home for the misfits, the outsiders, and the voices that rarely get centre stage. In four years, I’ve grown the business from cold calls to winning every pitch we entered in 2023, including Mercedes-Benz SA, Redefine Properties, and Old Mutual. I launched LA Truth and LA Films to take our storytelling deeper, earned a Bronze Loerie, and tripled our revenue. Being named Standard Bank Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year and serving on The One Show 2025 Jury are proud milestones, but they’re not the heart of it. My biggest success is building a brave, diverse team and proving that creativity anchored in purpose and truth doesn’t just belong in the room, it can lead it.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

My biggest hurdle has been proving that a Black, female-owned agency isn’t a “diversity hire”; we’re here to lead, not to tick a box. At every turn, I’ve had to challenge the unspoken bias that creativity and leadership look a certain way. Securing funding without generational wealth or corporate backing was tough. Convincing major brands to bet on a new agency, even tougher. But the hardest part? Keeping the fire lit through the early days of uncertainty, when self-doubt crept in and the wins felt far away. I had to learn to back myself loudly, consistently, and without apology. To build a team that believed in purpose as much as the work. That mental shift, from proving my worth to owning it, changed everything. Now, I walk into every room knowing I’ve earned my place, and I make sure the door stays open for others to follow.