Dr. Christa Bonnet

PhD in Organizational Leadership – Regent University

Dr. Christa Bonnet is a leadership strategist, educator, consultant, and executive coach with more than two decades of cross-sector experience spanning higher education, enterprise development, financial management, organisational leadership, and socio-economic transformation. As Founder and CEO of The Difference Makers Group, she has spent the past 15 years designing and delivering high-impact interventions that empower entrepreneurs, strengthen leaders, and support meaningful organisational and community transformation.

Her work is grounded in a distinctive philosophy of leadership development that integrates strategy, capability building, and personal transformation. She is widely recognised for her expertise in leadership development, learning and development, entrepreneurship, enterprise and supplier development, B-BBEE strategy, curriculum design, coaching, and mentoring. Through consulting, facilitation, and advisory work, she has supported corporates, public institutions, business schools, and development-focused organisations in building stronger leaders, more inclusive systems, and sustainable impact.

Dr. Bonnet has led and contributed to projects across a broad range of sectors, including executive education, supplier diversity, women’s leadership, socio-economic development, transformation strategy, and skills development. Her consulting and facilitation portfolio includes work with major organisations and institutions such as Wits Business School, FirstRand, Transnet, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, GIZ, SASDC, and other public and private sector stakeholders. She is especially valued for her ability to translate complex strategic and developmental priorities into practical programmes that equip individuals and organisations to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Alongside her consulting and leadership work, Dr. Bonnet has held academic appointments in higher education, including serving as Professor in Small Business Administration at Windsor University. Her academic and professional practice reflects a strong commitment to bridging theory and practice, particularly in the areas of leadership, entrepreneurship, ethical development, and organisational transformation.

Dr. Bonnet holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, an MBA from the University of the Free State, an MCom in Financial Management from the University of Pretoria, and advanced qualifications in coaching, theology, B-BBEE, and leadership formation.

Her scholarly work includes a doctoral dissertation on transformational leadership and publications in leadership and applied research.

Her contributions have also been recognised through multiple honours, including being named among the 100 Most Influential Women in Supply Chain in Africa, receiving the African Woman Leader Award, and being selected as a Woman of Stature Finalist in the education category. Across all her work, Dr. Bonnet is driven by a clear mission: to develop leaders, empower people, and help organisations create lasting impact through transformation rooted in both excellence and purpose.