Sizwile Sibindi

Power Strategist

Ottawa, Canada

TOPICS
Leadership
Feminist Leadership
Women of Color

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Sizwile “Zwi” Sibindi is a nonprofit executive, governance strategist, and leadership development advocate. She speaks candidly about power, positioning, integrity, and the strategic decisions that shape long-term career trajectories. Her work is grounded in a commitment to equipping women to lead boldly, build credibility, and expand influence, regardless of background or structural constraints. She currently serves as Co-CEO of the Financing Alliance for Health and her work focuses on building resilient organizations that can withstand funding shocks while maintaining mission integrity.

In 2023, she was selected to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference, a global leadership forum bringing together senior leaders from across the Commonwealth to examine inclusive leadership and the future of work. Sizwile was also a member of the practitioner advisory group for IFR4NPO, which developed the first internationally recognized accounting standard for the nonprofit sector, and a contributing author to “When secrets become stories: When women speak”, and anthology examining the many forms of gender-based violence.

Sizwile holds an MBA and is an ACCA graduate. She is currently completing a Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Carleton University in Canada

SPEAKING TOPICS INCLUDE:

Governance, institutional accountability and building resilient organizations

The emotional labor of executive leadership

Designing your career when the system wasn’t designed for you

Sitting at the feet of a truly empathetic leader has taught me that leadership balances humanity with high standards. Understanding what people need to succeed while still driving meaningful impact, I have come to value the quiet strength of leading with compassion and accountability : an iron fist in a velvet glove

Ayoti Bukachi-Thande, Director of People and Culture, Financing Alliance for Health

Sizwile is an emerging African leader who was selected for the 2023 Commonwealth Study Conference with Princess Anne as conference president. As conference director, I got firsthand exposure to Sizwile’s empathy, composure and capacity for leadership. She is a difference maker, who has made her mark in the philanthropy sector

Ian Anderson, Chair, Temple Scott Associates

FRESH Speakers, Inc. is a next-generation speakers bureau, uniquely representing women and people of color--two groups historically left off the public stage. Our speakers range from business leaders to artists, scientists to athletes. They have given ground-breaking TED talks and written best-selling books, but, more importantly, their wisdom comes from real world, lived experiences. FRESH speakers routinely grace the world's biggest thought leadership stages, host nonprofit benefits, and keynote Fortune 100 corporate retreats, university lecture series, leading tech conferences, grassroots organizing convenings, and countless other venues, the world over.

Sizwile Sibindi

Sizwile Sibindi

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