Unathi Mahaluba: Leadership Speaker

Unathi Mahaluba: operations leadership expert, keynote speaker, and author equipping leaders with proven frameworks to drive performance, autonomy, and accountability.

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • 23+ years’ experience in supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing
  • Founder of People to People Academy
  • Author of 6Ps of Operations Leadership
  • Keynote speaker on leadership, autonomy, and accountability

Formats:

Keynote Speaker, Leadership Trainer, Operations Expert


Audiences:

Operations leaders, corporate executives, supply chain teams, employee engagement events


Outcomes:
  1. Practical frameworks for building high-performing operations teams
  2. Tools to transition from micromanagement to autonomy in leadership
  3. Motivation to embrace ownership, initiative, and self-leadership
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Pretoria

Keynote Topics

In today’s demanding operational environments, leadership isn’t optional—it’s the competitive edge. This keynote introduces the 6Ps of Operations Leadership, a practical and proven framework that helps operations leaders drive clarity, purpose, and team performance. With over two decades of experience, Unathi Mahaluba brings actionable insights for aligning people, process, and partnerships with business strategy.

Takeaway Messages:

  • Understand the six essential leadership pillars: Pledge, Prepare, Purpose, People, Performance Environment, and Partners.
  • Learn how to inspire accountability and measurable results.
  • Build operational teams that are aligned, focused, and high-performing.

Leadership in operations must evolve from control to trust. This talk equips leaders with six powerful ways to lead with autonomy—fostering innovation, ownership, and performance. Unathi Mahaluba helps audiences understand how autonomous leadership transforms decision-making and empowers teams to thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.

Takeaway Messages:

  • How to create an environment where people feel trusted and accountable.
  • Practical tools to shift from micromanagement to empowered leadership.
  • Real examples of autonomy driving operational excellence.

Every person in an organization—regardless of title—can lead from where they are. In this motivational keynote, Unathi Mahaluba inspires teams to take ownership, act with initiative, and become change agents in their roles. This is a message of self-leadership, accountability, and resilience, ideal for employee engagement events and team-building programs.

Takeaway Messages:

  • Discover the power of leading without a title.
  • Learn how initiative and personal excellence drive team and business success.
  • Foster a culture where everyone feels empowered to make an impact.

Talent Short Bio

Unathi Mahaluba is a respected Operations Leadership Expert with more than 23 years of experience in supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing. As a keynote speaker, author, and leadership coach, he empowers operations leaders to unlock performance, align teams with strategy, and embrace a culture of accountability.

He is the founder of People to People Academy, a leadership development company dedicated to helping operations leaders thrive. His book, 6Ps of Operations Leadership, introduces a practical framework praised for its simplicity and impact, helping leaders shift from firefighting to focused performance.

Unathi’s talks are grounded in real-world results: he has led high-performing teams through complex environments, saving organizations over R60 million while achieving consistent growth. His delivery blends motivational storytelling with actionable leadership tools that resonate with frontline managers, executives, and teams across industries.

Unathi Mahaluba is a highly respected Operations Leadership Expert with over 23 years of experience in the supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. Known for his practical leadership style and results-driven insights, Unathi has led high-performing teams in complex operational environments, delivering over R60 million in cost savings and year-on-year performance growth across multiple organizations.

He is the founder of People to People Academy, a leadership development company focused on empowering operations leaders with the skills to lead confidently, drive performance, and build thriving workplace cultures. Unathi is also the author of “6Ps of Operations Leadership: How to Take Your Leadership to the Next Level and Thrive”, a framework that has been praised for its simplicity, depth, and transformational impact in the workplace.

As a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, Unathi Mahaluba combines compelling storytelling with practical frameworks that resonate with frontline leaders, middle managers, and senior executives alike. His signature talks—including 6Ps of Operations Leadership, 6 Ways of Leading with Autonomy, and Lift From Where You Stand—are designed to ignite leadership ownership, team accountability, and operational excellence.

With a background in organizational leadership, employee development, and performance coaching, Unathi is passionate about helping organizations align their people with purpose. His delivery is both motivational and actionable, making him a trusted voice for businesses seeking to grow capable leaders who move teams and strategy forward.

When he’s not speaking, Unathi Mahaluba consults and coaches leaders across industries, helping them unlock their leadership potential and build cultures of feedback, trust, and measurable results.

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Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.

Virtual speaking appearances can indeed offer cost savings compared to in-person events. Virtual speaking rates are often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates due to factors such as reduced travel expenses and logistics. This makes virtual events a cost-effective alternative for organizations looking to book speakers within a budget.

Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.

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  • Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
  • There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
  • Some motivational speakers are open to discounting their fee if hired for more than one event by the same organization.
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