Vol. 1 No. 1 (2022): Volume 1, Issue 1 (2022)

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Decolonising Leadership Development: A Systematic Review of Ubuntu-Informed Executive Coaching for Women in South African Corporations, 2010–2024

Thandiwe van der Merwe, South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR) Mandy Brooks, Department of Advanced Studies, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Naledi Moloi, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
Published: January 22, 2026

Abstract

This systematic review critically examines the decolonisation of leadership development to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in South African corporate leadership. It interrogates the efficacy of Ubuntu-informed executive coaching programmes for women within this context, covering literature from 2010 to 2024. The primary objective is to evaluate how integrating the African humanist philosophy of Ubuntu—with its emphasis on interconnectedness, communalism, and collective growth—into coaching frameworks challenges Western-centric, individualistic models and fosters more authentic leadership pathways for women.

The review employs a rigorous systematic methodology, following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of academic databases and grey literature was conducted using predefined search strings. Studies were screened against explicit inclusion criteria, with data extracted using a standardised template and synthesised via thematic analysis.

Key findings indicate that Ubuntu-informed coaching can facilitate a transformative shift, enabling women leaders to integrate communal values with corporate demands, thereby enhancing resilience, ethical decision-making, and relational practice. However, significant impediments are identified, including tokenistic adoption, a lack of standardised evaluation metrics, and organisational cultures resistant to decolonial change. The review concludes that leadership development authentically rooted in indigenous knowledge systems is essential for cultivating contextually relevant leadership. This necessitates a fundamental reimagining of coaching praxis by policymakers, corporate boards, and practitioners to advance gender equity and foster leadership that serves both organisational and societal well-being.

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How to Cite

Thandiwe van der Merwe, Mandy Brooks, Naledi Moloi (2026). Decolonising Leadership Development: A Systematic Review of Ubuntu-Informed Executive Coaching for Women in South African Corporations, 2010–2024. African Journal of Women in Leadership and Governance, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2022): Volume 1, Issue 1 (2022), 34-52.
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Keywords

decolonisationUbuntuexecutive coachingwomen in leadershipSouth Africasystematic reviewleadership development

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