GEORGE NEWS - Prof. Adele Potgieter, a senior lecturer at Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) George Campus, has achieved international acclaim, being featured in the international edition of The Leaders Worlds online magazine and web page.
The feature was part of the magazine’s prestigious focus on the ‘Most Inspiring Professors Driving Innovation and Impact in 2026’.
Potgieter is a senior lecturer at the NMU’s Department of Marketing Management within the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences. She started her career in South Africa’s financial services sector, where she gained extensive experience in investment management, treasury, capital markets and governance.
She relocated to George and here her career path shifted toward higher education at NMU, turning what initially started as a part-time lecturing post into a dedicated vocation of teaching, research and mentorship.
Her academic work in a unique way connects theory with industry challenges in the real world. Her research portfolio explores branding, organisational reputation, consumer behaviour, employer branding and digital transformation, focusing closely on how modern organisations cultivate trust.
Outside of her departmental duties, she also contributes heavily to university governance, executive coaching, business development and community engagement.
In 2025 she received two Nelson Mandela University Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards to recognise her contributions to research and societal engagement.
She serves as a board member for the George Business Chamber where she actively champions SMME and entrepreneurial development across the region, and operates as a certified senior coach.
Read the full cover story here.
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