Manzini – Eswatini entrepreneur Siphiwo Lushaba has been shortlisted for the Leadership Excellence Award at the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development (RAA-ED) Alumni Awards. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, at the Johannesburg Business School Auditorium, JBS Park, from 12:00 to 15:00.
Lushaba completed the Academy’s six-month entrepreneurial course in 2024 and a year-long mentorship programme, and has since made significant contributions to entrepreneurship, public relations, and mental health advocacy. He is the Founder and CEO of Talksy Wellness, a digital mental health startup, and the winner of the Standard Bank Ematfuba Ami Startup Competition. His ventures also include YHWH Merchandise, a Christian clothing brand promoting local craftsmanship, and To-Fo Digital, a communications agency supporting SMEs with branding and public relations.
Beyond business, Lushaba serves as Chapter Director of Startup Grind Manzini and Chairperson of the YALI RLC Eswatini Alumni Chapter. His work in media includes serving as an editor and journalist with Pro Media News (Online) and hosting The Marketplace Platform podcast, documenting Eswatini’s business ecosystem. 
The awards, held under the theme of celebrating excellence and achievement, coincide with the Academy’s 20th anniversary, marking two decades of nurturing entrepreneurial talent since 2005. The recognition acknowledges alumni who have built businesses while demonstrating leadership and community impact. Lushaba described the nomination as “an opportunity not only to reflect on personal growth but also to represent Eswatini on an international stage.”
