By Melody Korongwe
When Akhona Qengqe dropped out of her accounting degree, she never imagined that one day she would be leading the biggest fast-food franchise in South Africa.
Her journey from uncertainty to becoming General Manager of KFC Africa is not just remarkable, but it’s a powerful lesson in resilience, self-discovery, and seizing opportunities.
Raised in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, Qengqe’s academic journey began under the influence of her father, who encouraged her to pursue accounting because of her strong math and accounting skills in high school.
However, deep down, Akhona knew this path wasn’t hers. After a year in a BCom Chartered Accounting program, she realized the life of audits and ledgers wasn’t for her.
Without informing her parents, she boldly switched her major to Economics, Politics, and Philosophy, a course more aligned with her love for reading, speaking, and critical thinking.
That courageous pivot marked the first of many.
Her career began humbly as a business analyst at Shell Petroleum, where she wore multiple hats, took minutes in executive meetings, and dived into strategy without knowing what it fully entailed.
She treated every job, no matter how unfamiliar, as a learning experience. From operations and property management to marketing, Qengqe took on roles she had no background in, simply to grow.
In 2015, she joined Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, is the director of franchise development. Within eight years, she rose through the ranks, becoming Chief People Officer, then Chief Development Officer, before assuming the top spot as General Manager in 2023.
Qengqe’s leadership philosophy is as refreshing as her career trajectory. She never chased titles. Instead, she focused on acquiring knowledge and experience across business functions. “My career was never curated,” she reflects. “I was just deliberate about saying yes to every opportunity that came my way.”
Under her leadership, KFC Africa has seen a shift toward greater diversity and inclusion, with 50% of leadership roles now occupied by women.
She’s not just running a brand; she’s redefining it from the inside out.
As she said, “For the first time, not only do I look like the majority of our customers, but I also look like the majority of our workforce.”
Akhona Qengqe’s story is a beacon of inspiration for anyone who feels boxed in by expectations.
She proved that success isn’t always linear and that with courage, curiosity, and commitment, you can carve your path to greatness.
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