Nomzamo Mbatha advocates for the creative economy at Davos

Nomzamo Mbatha took Davos, pushed empathy-first leadership, and argued creativity belongs at the grown-ups table, not the sidelines.

Global forum appearance

• Nomzamo Mbatha showed up at the World Economic Forum.
• Attended as a Young Global Leader delegate.
• Represented South Africa and Nomzamo Lighthouse.
• Engaged directly with international decision-makers.

Ideas she pushed hard

• Framed empathy as power, not soft branding.
• Argued that the creative economy drives real national wealth.
• Connected creativity with science and innovation.
• Treated culture as infrastructure, not decoration.

High-level rooms and nerves

• Joined the TIME100 dinner.
• Faced tech and finance heavyweights head-on.
• Closed with people-centered language over cold metrics.
• Described a strong affirmation from that space.

Message to fellow changemakers

• Urged resilience during global political tension.
• Encouraged deeper focus on purpose-driven work.
• Called disruption a form of protest.
• Framed long-term change as collective labor.

Recognition beyond Davos

• Earned TIME100 Next Generation Leader recognition in October 2025.
• UNHCR praised her advocacy.
• Credited her work on refugee dignity and inclusion.
• Positioned her as empathy-led leadership in motion.