ZONE FENI TAKES CONSULTANCY HONOURS AT FORTY UNDER 40 SOUTH AFRICA
Ntombizone “Zone” Feni, Group CEO of 21st Century, has won the Consultancy Award at the 2026 Forty Under 40 Awards South Africa, held on 3 October at The Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg. Feni took the honours in an eight-person field, with Consultancy one of the most contested categories.
The awards recognise leaders under 40 across South African industries, assessing their professional achievements and the contribution they have made through their work.
The organisers’ published judging criteria cover professional and entrepreneurial achievements, innovation, vision and leadership, power and influence, and business and community involvement. Public voting also forms part of the assessment.
Feni’s work includes reward governance and organisational design, as well as change management and transformation. She has led specialist reward projects and strategic public-sector relationships, including work on remuneration policies for public office bearers. These assignments involve decisions about how organisations structure responsibility and reward the people doing the work.
Her first response to the award was to acknowledge her colleagues.
“This is for all of us at 21st Century! I am because we are,” says Feni.
Alongside her role as Group CEO, Feni is the founder and CEO of the 21st Century Foundation. Her qualifications include an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation, currently in progress at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business as well as a BA in international relations from UP. Her research focuses on establishing sustainable fundraising models for no-fee schools amid limited state funding. Zone also holds a BA in international relations from UP.
21st Century’s consulting services span remuneration and reward, organisational design, change management, people and talent, and analytics.
