Lerato Mbele joined the BBC in 2012. Prior to that, Lerato served as a Senior Business Anchor for CNBC Africa. She hosted a variety of business programs and discussions related to the economics, business strategy, stock markets, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Lerato Mbele began her journalism career in 1999 at South Africa’s state-owned broadcaster The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

She eventually served as an anchor for the channel’s daily news show News at 10 and also fronted the weekly show, Public Interest and The Ambassadors.

Lerato Mbele has interviewed notable international figures, including Christine Lagarde, Jim Kim, Bill Gates Aliko Dangote, John Kerry, Nobel laureates Kofi Annan and Mohamed Yunus.

She has also interviewed several African presidents such as Paul Kagame, John Dramani Mahama, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, James Michel and more.

In early 2016, Lerato Mbele was nominated for the inaugural New African Women Awards in the media category.

Previously she was named on the Oprah Magazine Power List of 21 African women “rocking the world”.

In 2014, Lerato Mbele – Economic Speaker was named a Young Global Leader, by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. Lerato is also the co-edited the book of “Designing Democracy” alongside Ayesha Kajee, that was during her short tenure as a researcher at the SA Institute of International Affairs.

She is also a recipient of a literary award from the World Association of University of Women.

Lerato Mbele is a regular speaker at international conferences that focus mainly on economics and investments in Africa.

She has hosted moderated plenaries and hosted television debates, at World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, African Development Bank, the United Nations, Nigerian Economic Summit and various international platforms.

Lerato Mbele is a Chevening Scholar who holds an MSc degree in Development Studies from The School of Oriental and African Studies, at the University of London.

She completed her undergraduate and Honours degrees from the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch respectively.