Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Governance & Community Roles
Certification
Traveling, Enjoying the wild, Collecting wine and whiskey
Timeline
Generic
Samuel Chakela

Samuel Chakela

DEI & L&D Director
Germiston,Gauteng

Summary

Strategic human capital executive with over 25 years of experience specializing in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Learning and Development, and Talent Management. As a member of the Executive Committee at DSV, established transformative functions including a Learning Academy, Talent Pools, and a dedicated DEI Office. Global exposure includes leading coaching and leadership programs across multiple continents, overseeing teams in Spain and Germany. Committed to governance and social impact through roles as a Retirement Fund Trustee and Community Liaison Officer, actively sponsoring initiatives such as the DSV Shift Academy Cycling program in Paarl.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
4
4
Languages

Work History

Director: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & General Manager: Learning & Development

DSV
Johannesburg
01.2022 - Current
  • Lead enterprise-wide DEI and L&D portfolios.
  • Founded the DEI Office, embedding inclusivity, compliance, and transformation.
  • Oversee global leadership program implementation and national graduate, learnership, and technical training.
  • Lead full suit of L&D, Talent and Technical Training, Compliance, Operations etc
  • Steered organisation through several mergers and acquisitions
  • Achievements: Established DEI Office in 2022; scaled graduate and leadership pipelines; embedded compliance and driver training; aligned L&D with global strategy.

General Manager: Learning & Development

DSV
01.2013 - 01.2022
  • Directed national L&D, covering leadership, graduate, compliance, and driver training.
  • Led the Learning Academy until 2019, consolidating leadership and technical training.
  • Expanded learnerships to create sustainable career pathways.
  • Achievements: Embedded national learnerships; delivered compliance and driver training; aligned L&D to global leadership programmes.

Senior Manager: Talent Management

UTI
Johannesburg
01.2010 - 01.2013
  • Established the organisation’s first Talent Management Department.
  • Designed talent pools, succession frameworks, and formalised development plans.
  • Introduced global coaching programmes, managing L&D specialists in Spain and Germany.
  • Achievements: Institutionalised talent pools and succession planning; launched international coaching; built leadership development frameworks.

Leadership Specialist

Nedbank
Johannesburg
01.2008 - 01.2010
  • Managed talent pools, leadership development, and executive programmes.
  • Strengthened leadership pipelines across the bank.

Human Resource Development Manager (HRDM)

Gold Reef City
Johannesburg
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Directed national L&D and talent development initiatives.
  • Established the Learning Academy as a centre of excellence.

Assistant Manager: Learning & Development

Spoornet
Johannesburg
01.2002 - 01.2006
  • Managed a team delivering L&D across business operations.
  • Oversaw Learnerships and Trainee Technical Programmes, ensuring alignment with operational and transformation needs.
  • Streamlined compliance and training reporting systems.
  • Recruitment of Graduate Engineers

Senior Training Officer

Metrorail
Durban
01.1997 - 01.2002
  • Designed and facilitated technical, compliance, and professional training.

Facilitator

Metrorail
Durban
01.1995 - 01.1997
  • Delivered classroom-based training and coaching interventions

Education

BA (Hons) - Arts

University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban
02.1995

MPhil Candidate - Change Leadership

Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
Johannesburg
04.2026

Skills

  • Executive Leadership & Change Leadership

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy

  • Talent Development, Succession & Leadership Pipelines

  • Global Coaching & Leadership Programmes

  • Compliance & Driver Training Implementation

  • Learnership & Trainee Programme Oversight

  • Strategic Thinking & Stakeholder Engagement

References

References available on request

Governance & Community Roles

  • Retirement Fund Trustee, DSV
  • Community Liaison Officer, DSV
  • Programme Sponsor, DSV Shift Academy Cycling (Paarl)

Certification

Certificate in Diversity

Traveling, Enjoying the wild, Collecting wine and whiskey

Travelling around South Africa, 

collecting Wine and Whiskey

Enjoying the Wild

Sports on Television and live games, Cricket, Soccer 

Timeline

Director: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & General Manager: Learning & Development

DSV
01.2022 - Current

General Manager: Learning & Development

DSV
01.2013 - 01.2022

Senior Manager: Talent Management

UTI
01.2010 - 01.2013

Leadership Specialist

Nedbank
01.2008 - 01.2010

Human Resource Development Manager (HRDM)

Gold Reef City
01.2006 - 01.2008

Assistant Manager: Learning & Development

Spoornet
01.2002 - 01.2006

Senior Training Officer

Metrorail
01.1997 - 01.2002

Facilitator

Metrorail
01.1995 - 01.1997

BA (Hons) - Arts

University of KwaZulu-Natal

MPhil Candidate - Change Leadership

Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)

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Samuel ChakelaDEI & L&D Director