Y-Brand founder named finalist for three Nedbank Oliver Top Empowerment Awards

Kabelo Ncholo (42), founder and CEO of Y-Brand, a through-the-line marketing agency, was named a finalist for three Nedbank Oliver Top Empowerment Awards at a ceremony that took place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 31 July 2025.

Hosted by Topco Media and moderated by Leeann Manas, these prestigious awards honour South Africa’s trailblazers in transformation, diversity and empowerment. Now in their 24th year, the awards spotlight excellence in B-BBEE, leadership, innovation and sustainable impact, championing inclusive economic growth by celebrating companies and individuals that are actively building a more equitable, empowered and transformed South Africa.

Some of the dignitaries at the event were prominent legal, political and business leader, such as Dr. Mathews Phosa, Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.

At this year’s Oliver Top Empowerment Awards, Y-Brand was a finalist in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace of the Year Award and a Finalist in the Job Creation of the Year Award. Kabelo was named a finalist in the Richard Fletcher Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

These achievements add to the multitude of recognition he and Y-Brand have received in the agency’s 20-year existence. His awards, include, but aren’t limited to, winning the Richard Fletcher Entrepreneur of the Year Award at last year’s Top Empowerment Awards and being a finalist for the Top Empowered Entrepreneur Award at the awards in 2023, 2019 and 2017. He was a finalist in the CEO of the Year category by The Future of HR Awards in 2024.

Y-Brand’s work has also been recognised. At the Top Empowerment Awards, the company was a runner-up in the Top Empowered Company: Fast Growth Black-Owned SMME of the Year in 2023. Y-Brand was also named winner in the Employer of Choice: Small – Medium Organisations by The Future of HR Awards in 2024 and the company has won numerous other awards.

Speaking about his latest achievement, Kabelo says: ‘I am pleased that our talent acquisition strategy, which embraces diversity and equity by building a youth-powered workforce, growing female leadership representation and creating pathways for interns to become industry professionals, has been acknowledged through us being finalists in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Award.

Kabelo adds that being nominated for the Richard Fletcher Entrepreneur of the Year Award expresses his hard work, commitment to marketing excellence and passion for transformation.

One of his greatest objectives is reducing South Africa’s high unemployment rate, so he is fulfilled about being a finalist in the Job Creation of the Year Award. ‘I am glad that Y-Brand providing employment opportunities to 300 full-time staff and over 1000 seasonal employees was acknowledged through this nomination,’ he says.

In addition to attending the awards ceremony, Kabelo was a speaker at the Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference held on 1 August 2025. Under the theme, Empowerment Through Bold Transformation, the conference explored how purpose-led transformation can help organisations build long-term success by aligning their operations, culture and strategies with their purpose. 

The conference featured panel discussions on a variety of transformation-related topics. Kabelo was part of the panel on the topic: Youth Leadership Development.  Other panelists were Matoti Buthelezi, the Group Chief Executive and Chairman of the National Executive Economic Collective (NEXEC), Asanda Luwaca, the Executive Chairperson, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Margret Molefe, the Executive Deputy Chairperson, South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA).

Much of the discussion featured key points around youth leadership and the urgency of addressing South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. ‘There needs to be greater commitment from government and corporates with regard to investing in young people,’ said Kabelo.

‘The poor quality education many of our young people are receiving is also contributing to our high unemployment rate. Entrepreneurship is one way for youth to be employed, but it’s important that they are given the tools to sustain their businesses such as by providing them with mentorship and jobs to give them leadership, goal-setting and self-motivation skills.’

Y-Brand is playing a major role in tackling youth unemployment by providing job and internship opportunities that enable young people to unleash their passion, talent and potential in marketing.

With its job creation and skills development opportunities, innovative campaigns and culture of inclusion, compassion and excellence, it looks like Y-Brand will receive further recognition for years to come.