African Leadership University (ALU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sidee Dlamini as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Veda Sunassee, who will conclude his tenure in February 2026.
Sidee brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong track record across talent, partnerships, and ecosystem building. As a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, she led the early Scholars Program’s awareness efforts in Eswatini and later worked with the Scholars Program during her MSc at UC Berkeley. She also helped build ALU from its earliest days, joining as a founding staff member and rising to lead Talent Acquisition. More recently, she served as Director of Stakeholder Engagement within the AL Group and as Chief Ecosystem & Partnerships Officer at Delta40 Venture Studio in Nairobi.
As ALU enters its next chapter, Sidee’s return reflects our belief in elevating exceptional leaders from within our community. Leaders who combine bold vision with grounded execution and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for Africa’s next generation.
Announcing the appointment, Fred Swaniker, Founder of African Leadership University, shared his reflections on Sidee’s appointment:
“After a rigorous search, the ALU Council has selected Sidee Dlamini as our next CEO. Sidee brings deep institutional memory, proven operational leadership, strong ability to lead through complexity, and a rare combination of bold vision and disciplined execution. Her passion and care for our community sit at the heart of this decision, and we are thrilled to welcome one of our own back to lead ALU into its next chapter.”
Reflecting on the leadership handover, outgoing CEO Veda Sunassee shared:
“Few people could be better suited to take on this baton. Sidee was part of ALU’s story from the very beginning, and she brings a grounded operational instinct and a long-tested commitment to our mission. Even upon her return, she remains strongly aligned on how to take ALU to the next level. I’m genuinely excited for what lies ahead for her and for ALU. Onwards and upwards!”
