The Power of Listening in a World That Shouts

In an era consumed by noise, few leaders make their mark by listening — really listening. Linda Reddy is one of them. Whether it’s a boardroom in Dubai or a chilli farm in South Africa, she brings the same unwavering presence, the same deep respect for voices that often go unheard.

"Respect isn’t about being liked. It’s about recognizing every voice — especially the uncomfortable ones," she says.

This quiet strength has defined Linda’s rise from apartheid-era South Africa to the helm of global operations. With over two decades of supply chain leadership spanning 27 countries, she’s not just reshaping logistics — she’s redefining what leadership rooted in both profit and purpose can achieve.

Grace in Grit: A Foundation Built in Resilience

Raised in Durban during the height of apartheid, Linda grew up watching her mother, Mogie, navigate adversity with pride and grace. Mogie worked in a shoe factory and raised three daughters, dressing every day as though she were walking into a boardroom.

"She taught me that dignity isn’t tied to your title — it’s about how you show up," Linda recalls.

That lesson became the anchor of Linda’s own journey. In her twenties, she worked full-time while studying part-time for over 12 years. She balanced single motherhood with relentless ambition — a combination that developed the deep empathy and grit that now define her leadership style.

Her formal credentials include an MBA from the University of South Africa, an Advanced Management Programme from Harvard Business School, and an IEDP from Wits University. Yet her true education, Linda often says, came from the lived experience of striving, failing, rising — and lifting others along the way.

From Intrapreneur to Global Executive

Linda’s professional ascent was marked by bold vision and tangible results. In her 30s, she spearheaded the Innovation Programme at FirstRand, fostering intrapreneurship in one of the world’s most forward-thinking financial institutions. During her tenure, FirstRand was named “The Most Innovative Bank in the World” three years in a row.

In her 40s, she evolved into a global powerhouse. As Global Supply Chain Executive at Nando’s Group, Linda leads a team of 160 professionals across 27 countries, managing procurement, logistics, product development, and ethical sourcing for over 1,500 restaurants and retailers.

Under her leadership, the supply chain has become a strategic asset — resilient, inclusive, and remarkably effective. Highlights of her impact include:

• 100% revenue growth across 16 countries
• 53% increase in EBITDA
• 30+ new IP product innovations launched
• 3x ROI on shareholder capital investments
• Scaling of 800 small hold farmers in Southern Africa
• Direct oversight of Nando’s proprietary sauce manufacturing facility

Colleagues across the organization echo the same sentiment: Linda transforms systems, yes — but more importantly, she transforms people.

"Linda created an environment of trust and psychological safety. Her leadership allowed us to take risks and grow into entrepreneurs inside a corporation," says Evasen Reddy, Agriculture Manager.

A CEO’s View: Leading with Depth and Discipline

Perhaps no endorsement carries more weight than that of a CEO who has seen Linda’s leadership firsthand.

“Linda is a driven, highly capable professional with an impressive track record of achieving step change results in complex, large scale, multi-geography supply chains. She is also an inspirational leader, widely respected and admired in the organisations where she works. Her transformation of Nando’s Africa, Middle-East, Asia Supply Chain into a machine capable of excelling, even under the extreme challenges of Covid-19, is testament to Linda’s broad ability, exceptional work ethic and attention to detail.”
— Geoff Whyte, Group CEO, ADvTECH Limited

This recommendation not only validates her operational strength — it also highlights the core of Linda’s philosophy: build systems that thrive in chaos and build people who rise in adversity.

Scaling Impact — and Human Potential

Recognition has followed Linda throughout her journey. Her awards include:

• Supply Chain Executive of the Year (2023)
• Finalist, Most Inspiring Leader (2025)
• Global Leadership Recognition Award (2025)

But for Linda, accolades are not the finish line — impact is. She measures success in human lives, not just metrics:

• Mentored over 200 women across industries
• Developed 45 leaders into senior roles
• Built 9 school libraries in underserved regions
• Summited Mount Kilimanjaro, trekked Machu Picchu, and most recently climbed Mt. Fuji in September to raise funds for 3,200 children learning to read

Her leadership has become a beacon — not of authority, but of alignment between what one believes and what one builds.

“Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about how you empower others to see themselves as leaders,” she often says.

Vision: A World Where Boldness Replaces Settling

Linda is not content with past success. Today, she serves as a board advisor for the Global Fund, which delivers life-saving medical supplies across 100 countries. Her focus: building resilient, values-driven supply chains that uplift local economies and women-led enterprises.

“Everything shifts the day you decide you’re done settling. You stop chasing. You start choosing. The right people stay. The wrong ones drift away,” she says.

Her mission moving forward is clear: develop the next generation of women leaders, champion ethical commerce, and scale human potential with clarity, compassion, and courage. Her leadership lens is focused sharply on the CEO role — not for status, but for stewardship.

Conclusion: Legacy, Not Just Leadership

Linda Reddy’s journey isn’t a linear success story — it’s a layered legacy. One that spans factory floors and boardrooms, spreadsheets and schoolbooks, supply chains and soul work.

She doesn’t just drive performance — she redefines leadership. Not with bravado, but with integrity. Not with hierarchy, but with humanity.

Her story is a timely reminder that when profit meets purpose, leadership becomes more than a role — it becomes a ripple effect.

Editorial Note

At Executives Diary Magazine, we believe the most impactful leaders are those who balance vision with values — who build systems, uplift people, and leave industries better than they found them. Linda Reddy stands at the intersection of bold leadership and deep compassion. Her journey, grounded in resilience and elevated by purpose, offers a roadmap for the next generation of leaders — especially those ready to lead not just with ambition, but with intention.

May her story inspire you to lead courageously, mentor generously, and build your legacy with both strength and heart.