Thembalethu is the Co-Founder & Chief Creative Partner at BlackSwan (BSA), a boutique agency based in Johannesburg. At BlackSwan, she has developed communication and brand experiences for some of South Africa’s most beloved brands, including Telkom, Absa, Glencore, Miway, Bidvest Group, and Clicks. Her career spans two decades, with experience on global brands such as KFC, Sprite, Unilever, South African Airways, and more. She has been intentional and invested in learning across the industry's full spectrum, with a body of work that includes noteworthy and award-winning Through The Line, Brand Design, and Sponsorship campaigns. She has served as a judge at the Loeries, Clios Awards, and an EXCO member of South Africa’s Creative Circle. She is a firm believer in purpose-driven communication and vivid ideas that create commercial and cultural impact. As the CCO of BlackSwan, she has grown the agency into one of South Africa’s most formidable independent agencies, named ‘one to watch for 2026’ by the country’s eminent advertising publication. Her long-term ambitions include building BSA into a globally celebrated, distinctly African creative powerhouse.

On the journey to greatness, she is easily distracted by videos and pictures of miniature pigs.