Sphume has a huge respect for HR professionals, lives for narratives, and is committed to lifelong learning. She couldn’t be in a better place.
Sphumelelo Khumalo, senior writer at CHRO South Africa, a part of Executive Communities, began her career in radio, as a newsreader, despite not thinking of herself as “the most articulate speaker”. But she soon found her voice in the written word. “Writing became the space where I could express myself clearly and confidently, and that’s where I fell in love with it,” she recalls.
She sampled the world of public relations, and then health and agriculture journalism, but says her love for telling human stories brought her to Executive Communities. “Here, I get to blend everything I enjoy, like writing, research, connecting, and learning something new every day from leaders.”
At the heart of Sphume’s work is people, which she says is fitting, since she writes about HR leaders who work with people every day. Her respect for CHROs is vast, and contributes to how much she enjoys her job. “The CHROs I write about are leaders with rich, complex journeys. They’re navigating high-pressure roles yet remain grounded, fun, and human. I enjoy capturing those layers, including the achievements, the lessons, the turning points, and the personal stories beneath their titles.”
Sphume loves the variety of the work. “There’s always something new to learn. I couldn’t have chosen to write for a better community: CHROs blend it all into a ball of fun, making the work something one can resonate with.”
She also enjoys her colleagues – “an amazing team full of personality” – who she says make even the busiest days feel manageable.
Balancing studies and work
Managing her time is crucial, because Sphume is committed to her ongoing studies, and has her heart set on a PhD one day. She says it can be a tightrope though: “My biggest challenge has been balancing work deadlines with school assignments and weekend research. There are weeks where everything overlaps, and it feels like I’m carrying three calendars at once. Discipline and planning, though not always easy, have been essential to balancing it all, breaking it down into manageable pieces, and being realistic about what I can accomplish. What’s helped me is planning ahead, being honest with myself, and giving myself grace.”
Sphume’s hunger for knowledge makes the hard work worth it. “My studies give me new perspectives, strengthen my skills, and keep me growing professionally, and make me want to do it again and learn something new again each year.”
It’s the same hunger that keeps her engaged in her job. “Every interview teaches me something new about leadership, the workplace, and resilience. It’s a privilege to listen to CHROs and bring their stories to life.”
Sphume says a love of education runs in the family. Her mother was “an education guru, and watching her balance education and her job, which was also in education, instilled in me the value of learning and consistency”. She also shares a close bond with her grandmother and her brother, whom she calls her strongest support system. Lastly, “taking quiet moments to pray and a reminder of the end goal helps me reset and find my rhythm again,” she says.
Sphume’s trademark consideration and groundedness also shine through in her answer to questions about her career trajectory.
“What matters most to me is purpose,” she says. “I don’t think I have a dream job yet, but I do have a dream life. In 20 years, I hope to be doing meaningful work, still learning, still growing, and surrounded by people who inspire me.”