From a split-second click to a continent-shaping mission: how Nontobeko Magala turned opportunity into transformative African IP

Nontobeko Magala had no idea that a casual tap on her phone was about to answer a question that had been quietly haunting her: Is success the same as impact?

Her understanding of leadership wasn't forged in a corporate office. It was built by her grandparents – Salvation Army officers who raised her between the deep, quiet grounding of a rural village and the vibrancy of a South African township, where she later lived with her hardworking mom and dad. Watching them serve their communities with unwavering devotion taught her a visceral lesson: leadership isn't about the status you hold. It’s about being the anchor to the world around you during uncertain times.

She carried that into a successful career in broadcasting. Yet, despite the accolades, she found herself wondering if she was actually building something that would outlive her.

Walking onto the Henley campus, Nontobeko braced herself for prestige and strategic frameworks. What she found instead was warmth, courage, and the deeply uncomfortable mirror of the Personal Development module.

Henley didn’t just ask for her business acumen; it demanded her absolute honesty. It forced her to confront her fears, her blind spots, and the realisation that leadership isn't a switch you flip on at work. It flows directly from who you are.

The MBA journey contributed to Nontobeko's conviction that leadership, at its best, is purpose-driven and impact-led. Guided by this clarity, she founded Coah (City on a Hill) Network, a pan-African, multilingual children’s IP company. The network tackles the underrepresentation of authentic African storytelling in global media through faith-based, culturally grounded animated content that inspires a new generation of empowered African children.

Read her story from successful career to continent-shaping calling in her own words ...

I have always believed that leadership begins long before you carry the title. I spent my formative years with my grandparents who were ministers in the Salvation Army, which is a voluntary office with no perks and no profit. I believe this was my first reference point for strong leadership. They served in disadvantaged communities yet remained committed, resilient, and kind. From them I learned that true leadership is about integrity and service to others. That lesson has guided every chapter of my journey.

My childhood was shaped by two very different worlds. Before I became a pre-teen, I left the rural village where I’d enjoyed a care-free childhood and moved with my mom and dad to a township environment where life was a lot more fast-paced and challenging. Although these were contrasting environments, the common threads that define what it means to be African have remained with me: a sense of community, hospitality and resilience despite the social ills and economic challenges. The environment may change, but your values ultimately inform your identity. This understanding is fundamental to decision-making and impact-making, both in business and in life.

My career in broadcasting has been defined by deep ends. I’ve worked in fast-paced newsrooms, produced live broadcasts, helped launch major platforms, and eventually digital and cross-functional teams. I thrived on the adrenalin and the results. But along the way, I started asking myself the tougher questions around my life’s purpose, whether or not success translates to impact, and whether I’m building something that will benefit future generations.

I have always believed that leadership must be anchored in something greater than ambition. Scripture reminds us not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The idea of constant renewal has guided me. Growth requires reflection and purpose requires honesty. I had been considering an MBA as a launchpad to senior management. Then, when a Henley MBA scholarship link landed in my WhatsApp group, I applied at the eleventh hour, not knowing it would shape the next chapter of my life.

Walking into Henley, I expected prestige, but there was also warmth, depth and courage. The academic rigour was and is real. I did, in fact, battle imposter syndrome in those early weeks. But Henley is practical. The discussion-driven approach created a space where I could challenge myself and stretch myself beyond certain limitations. This was sustained, in part, by the Personal Development module.

The Personal Development module was one of the most confronting parts of the programme. Unlike the other courses, PD isn’t about innovation in management or strategy frameworks; it’s about honesty. It made me examine my values, my fears, my leadership style and my blind spots. I couldn’t progress unless I was truthful. That level of introspection can be uncomfortable, but it is also transformative and necessary in leadership.

Henley’s programme helped reframe leadership. Titles don’t make leaders. Leading is about sustainable value creation – for the customer, yes! But also, for your organisation, your teams, your partners - every stakeholder. It starts with building trust and stewardship. If the people you work with don’t grow, you have not led. If they don’t believe they add value to the work, you have failed as a leader. If they can’t do well without you, you have failed.

Henley Africa’s motto guided my strategic resolve. It helped me become intentional and I started asking: what problems am I uniquely positioned to solve within my continent? The answer was Coah Network, the children’s pan- African IP company I founded. We address the glaring underrepresentation of Africa and Africans in value-based, culturally rich, multilingual children’s content in global media. The work is not just edutainment, it’s future-forward. It’s about shaping values and helping a new generation of African children see themselves as capable and called to lead. Outside of formal structures and educational institutions, this is how you begin to build an Africa that is ready to live up to its potential: by helping youth identify themselves in positive stories.

This is where my faith and my MBA intersect beautifully. My faith defines leadership as service and Henley encourages us to build businesses that advance Africa. The work we do at Coah Network fits right into that mission, equipping children to be rooted in faith and live purposefully from an early age.

If you are considering an MBA at Henley, just know it will stretch you. It will challenge your intellect. But more than that, it will refine your character. Come with ambition but also come with openness. Be willing to reflect. Be willing to grow. Be willing to be transformed. I arrived wanting to strengthen my career. I left understanding my calling. And that has made all the difference.