Thuli Phiri: Founder and M.D.

Her core competencies encompass strategy formulation, partnership cultivation, and relationship management.

She is noted for her successful execution of investment conferences and investor visits to major African markets, enhancing brand visibility and formalising relationships among corporations, civic groups, communities, governments, investors, and the media.

Thuli has held senior leadership roles in several multinational companies, including TOTAL and General Electric (GE).

In July 2017, she established The African Storyteller, a Pan-African public affairs consultancy specialising in government and stakeholder relations, market entry strategy, investment positioning for countries and sectors, communications, reputation management, executive profiling, crisis management, and stakeholder communication for business-to-business (B2B) clients.

The African Storyteller has delivered significant projects across Africa and internationally, serving countries such as Egypt, Eswatini, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the USA, and Zambia.

The firm has supported clients in key economic sectors, including financial services, healthcare, mining, and rail transport.

The client portfolio includes prominent global and African organisations such as Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), Bureau Veritas, Business France, Capital Works, Exxaro Resources, General Electric (GE), Gilead Sciences, Minerals Council of South Africa, Minet Africa Holdings, RATP Dev, Transmashholding, and others.

In 2019, her contribution to promoting Africa’s investment potential and redefining the continent’s narrative was acknowledged with a Special Recognition Certificate from the BRICS Women in Innovation Contest.

Thuli is an Accredited Public Relations Practitioner (APR), the highest expertise recognition accreditation by the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA).

She currently serves as Co-Vice Chairperson of the French South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a member of the International Advisory Council for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative, a Japanese scholarship programme supporting orphaned children worldwide.

Beyond her professional life, Thuli is deeply interested in agriculture, climate adaptation and mitigation across Africa, and global diplomacy.