Nompilo Morafo Received the Catalyst Award

The MTN Group executive was honored for her leadership at an event held at The Michelangelo Hotel in New York City.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People

A close-up of a polished gold-toned brass doorframe molding in a luxury hotel lobby. — MTN Group executive Nompilo Morafo was honored with the Catalyst Award at the African Leadership Roundtable in New York City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Nompilo Morafo, the chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer at MTN Group, received the Catalyst Award during the African Leadership Roundtable. The ceremony took place in New York City to recognize leaders driving transformative action.

Why it matters

The Catalyst Award highlights individuals whose vision and actions accelerate progress and foster collaboration across industries. By gathering senior leaders in New York, the roundtable emphasizes the importance of capital, policy, and institutions in global development.

Morafo has served as the chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer for MTN Group since February 2022. She previously joined the organization as a Group Executive in 2019.

The players

Nompilo Morafo

She serves as the chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer at MTN Group.

African Leadership Roundtable

This organization hosts high-level summits to address capital, policy, and institutional infrastructure.

MTN Group

This is a major telecommunications corporation providing services across Africa and the Middle East.

The details

The African Leadership Roundtable convened at The Michelangelo Hotel to discuss critical issues regarding capital, policy, and institutional development across Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States. The award is specifically designed to honor those who combine vision with tangible action to inspire progress.

Morafo joined MTN Group as Group Executive in 2019.
Morafo assumed her current role at MTN Group in February 2022.
Morafo received the Catalyst Award in September 2026.

Market Landscape

The African Leadership Roundtable functions as a central hub for policy and institutional networking, effectively bridging the gap between corporate leadership and systemic economic development. This event reflects a broader trend of leveraging high-level corporate advocacy to influence regional infrastructure and capital flows across emerging markets.

The recognition of senior executives like Morafo typically signals a company's continued focus on sustainability and corporate affairs as a primary operational pillar. Customers and stakeholders may see increased emphasis on these initiatives in future corporate reporting and service transparency.

The takeaway

Leadership awards often underscore the strategic priorities a company intends to emphasize in its long-term growth trajectory. Observing these trends can provide valuable insight into which corporate functions are gaining the most internal and external investment.