2025 has been a year defined by meaningful work, deeper partnerships, and expansion into new territories. As we reflect on the journey, a clear theme emerges: transformation happens when trust, capability, and purpose meet.
Across sectors and regions, our team has been called into spaces where governance, leadership, people development, and responsible transformation truly matter. Here are some of the highlights shaping Liyema’s story this year.
1. Strengthening Community Governance with Rio Tinto
Our work with the Rio Tinto Community Development Trusts stands out as a powerful example of what collaboration can unlock.
Over the past year, we supported the appointment of 12 trustees across three regions, ensuring that each individual carried both deep community legitimacy and strong alignment with Rio Tinto’s corporate governance standards.
This project demanded sensitivity, precision, and an ability to bridge traditional leadership structures with modern governance requirements — a space where Liyema excels.
The impact:
Communities now have empowered, technically capable governance structures that can make informed decisions on development and resource management. Rio Tinto, in turn, has strengthened its stakeholder relationships and deepened its commitment to responsible, community-centred operations.
2. A Transformation Partnership with BASF
Our partnership with BASF marks one of our most strategic transformation engagements to date. Beyond building a BBBEE roadmap, we are co-creating a comprehensive value-creation model that integrates:
- ESG commitments
- Local procurement
- Talent development
- Leadership and organisational culture
This work moves far beyond compliance. It is about embedding transformation into the fabric of how BASF operates.
What makes this partnership different:
Liyema is not consulting from the sidelines — our teams are embedded within BASF’s processes, shaping decisions, co-designing solutions, and ensuring transformation is lived, not laminated. The result is a partnership grounded in trust, accountability, and measurable change.
3. Developing Purpose-Led Leaders with the Nelson Mandela Foundation
In partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, we developed a bespoke Leadership Coaching Framework for emerging leaders in the non-profit and community development sectors.
This programme has already supported over 40 leaders across four African countries, nurturing a pipeline of transformation-focused, community-grounded talent.
Why this work matters:
Leadership is ultimately about impact, not titles.
This framework centres Ubuntu, service, and African renaissance values — cultivating leaders who uplift communities, steward resources wisely, and drive change with integrity and courage.
4. A Technology Breakthrough That Strengthens Our Service
This year, we introduced a fully integrated CRM and talent management platform — a milestone that has transformed the way we work. The system has already increased operational efficiency by 40%, allowing our teams to serve clients with:
- faster turnaround times
- sharper insights
- a more personalised, human-centred experience
What began as an internal upgrade has now become a client-facing solution. We are proud to offer the platform as an optional service, turning innovation into a new revenue stream and extending its value to partners who want to strengthen their own talent ecosystems.
5. Entering New Markets: Expansion into East Africa
One of our most exciting developments is Liyema’s official expansion into East Africa, with established operations in Tanzania and Kenya.
We have already secured partnerships with multinational organisations and regional consulting networks, positioning the region as a key growth hub for the group.
Early projections indicate 35% growth potential in our first full year — but for us, the numbers tell only part of the story.
This expansion deepens our commitment to African organisations navigating transformation, growth, and complexity. It allows us to bring African insight, connection, and care to a region rich with opportunity and momentum.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead, one truth feels clearer than ever: the future belongs to organisations that invest intentionally in their people, their leaders, and the communities connected to their work. Everything we’ve shared in this series, the wins, the partnerships, the innovations, the regional expansion, represents our contribution to that future.
Liyema’s work continues to grow in scope and significance, but our commitment remains constant: to show up with integrity, to honour the places and people we serve, and to partner with organisations who believe that transformation is not an event but a journey.
Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Here’s to building, learning, and leading with purpose, with courage, and with Africa at the centre of the story.