Sharnay Botha: Driving empowerment through education and brand leadership
Sharnay Botha, executive director of Emerald, has built her career on one clear foundation: empowerment.
With a professional journey that began in child development and education, she has since expanded her impact into the media and brand management space, shaping strategies that strengthen both communities and businesses.
Botha’s early career was rooted in education and child empowerment programmes. Her transition into media came through the African Child Development Trust (ACDT), where she led initiatives focused on education and community development. Today, she bridges two worlds: continuing to lead ACDT’s mission to expand access to education while also guiding Emeraldsand Platform's brand management arm, Emerald, into new territory.
Her academic path reflects the same depth of commitment. Currently pursuing a PhD in child development, Botha combines evidence-based decision-making with non-profit and organisational management training. This foundation has shaped her leadership style, which she describes as empowerment-driven, collaborative and vision-focused.
Asked what inspired her to step into leadership, Botha points to her desire to use education, media and brand platforms as vehicles for transformation. “I enjoy creating standards, templates and more efficient ways of working, because when tasks are simplified and streamlined, it frees people up to focus on what matters: delivering impact,” she explains.
Results-driven
Her daily motivation comes from witnessing the results of her work. Through ACDT, she celebrates the joy of children gaining access to education, with over 14 million books distributed to date. At Emerald, she finds purpose in growing brands across Southern Africa, building systems and ensuring that ESP’s more than 80 brands remain innovative, consistent and impactful.
Among her most meaningful achievements, Botha highlights ACDT’s nationwide literacy efforts and the successful step into brand management at Emerald. Both milestones reflect her ability to lead in spaces both familiar and new, balancing education and business while driving meaningful change.
That balancing act has not been without challenges. Juggling multiple roles, from her doctoral studies to leadership across sectors, has required clear processes, delegation and a willingness to learn on the job. “I’ve also learnt the importance of listening before speaking, taking the time to understand what each brand needs and wants, so that decisions are grounded in clarity rather than assumption,” she says.
Collaboration is king
Looking ahead, Botha envisions Emerald strengthening its position as ESP’s central brand management and strategy hub while expanding into consultancy work for businesses outside the group. At the same time, she hopes to see ACDT extend its educational footprint beyond Namibia and across Africa.
When asked what change she would most like to see in her industry, Botha points to collaboration. “Too often, education, media, business and community development work in silos. By creating stronger partnerships and sharing resources, we could multiply our impact and create solutions that last.”
For Botha, leadership is about creating the structures that allow others to thrive. Whether through education, storytelling or brand strategy, her work remains anchored in one principle: building pathways of empowerment that extend far beyond her role.
With a professional journey that began in child development and education, she has since expanded her impact into the media and brand management space, shaping strategies that strengthen both communities and businesses.
Botha’s early career was rooted in education and child empowerment programmes. Her transition into media came through the African Child Development Trust (ACDT), where she led initiatives focused on education and community development. Today, she bridges two worlds: continuing to lead ACDT’s mission to expand access to education while also guiding Emeraldsand Platform's brand management arm, Emerald, into new territory.
Her academic path reflects the same depth of commitment. Currently pursuing a PhD in child development, Botha combines evidence-based decision-making with non-profit and organisational management training. This foundation has shaped her leadership style, which she describes as empowerment-driven, collaborative and vision-focused.
Asked what inspired her to step into leadership, Botha points to her desire to use education, media and brand platforms as vehicles for transformation. “I enjoy creating standards, templates and more efficient ways of working, because when tasks are simplified and streamlined, it frees people up to focus on what matters: delivering impact,” she explains.
Results-driven
Her daily motivation comes from witnessing the results of her work. Through ACDT, she celebrates the joy of children gaining access to education, with over 14 million books distributed to date. At Emerald, she finds purpose in growing brands across Southern Africa, building systems and ensuring that ESP’s more than 80 brands remain innovative, consistent and impactful.
Among her most meaningful achievements, Botha highlights ACDT’s nationwide literacy efforts and the successful step into brand management at Emerald. Both milestones reflect her ability to lead in spaces both familiar and new, balancing education and business while driving meaningful change.
That balancing act has not been without challenges. Juggling multiple roles, from her doctoral studies to leadership across sectors, has required clear processes, delegation and a willingness to learn on the job. “I’ve also learnt the importance of listening before speaking, taking the time to understand what each brand needs and wants, so that decisions are grounded in clarity rather than assumption,” she says.
Collaboration is king
Looking ahead, Botha envisions Emerald strengthening its position as ESP’s central brand management and strategy hub while expanding into consultancy work for businesses outside the group. At the same time, she hopes to see ACDT extend its educational footprint beyond Namibia and across Africa.
When asked what change she would most like to see in her industry, Botha points to collaboration. “Too often, education, media, business and community development work in silos. By creating stronger partnerships and sharing resources, we could multiply our impact and create solutions that last.”
For Botha, leadership is about creating the structures that allow others to thrive. Whether through education, storytelling or brand strategy, her work remains anchored in one principle: building pathways of empowerment that extend far beyond her role.
