Prof Ngao Motsei

Her consulting work bridges theory and practice equipping leaders to navigate complexity while fostering environments grounded in respect, accountability, and psychological safety. Drawing on extensive experience as a senior leader and executive across different public and corporate sector contexts, Ngao specialises in leadership effectiveness, psychological safety, and workplace bullying. She is particularly known for advancing civility and psychological safety as strategic leadership capabilities integral to performance, trust, and sustainable outcomes.

Ngao is also Professor of Practice in Leadership and Civility at Work at GIBS, and lead faculty for the School’s flagship executive programme, the Global Executive Development Programme (GEDP). In both her teaching and consulting roles, Ngao employs evidence-based frameworks, case-driven learning, and reflection to help leaders translate learnings into applied behaviours and practices. She is a sought-after facilitator for leadership effectiveness programmes addressing power, responsibility, and creating psychologically safe work environments. Her approach to leadership effectiveness reflects a commitment to practical impact: developing leaders who lead with clarity, courage, and civility in increasingly demanding, and often inhumane work environments.

Ngao holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour (UP), a Master of Regional Planning (Cornell University), A BSoc Sc (Hons) (UCT. She also holds certificates in Business Strategy for HR Leaders (INSEAD), Associate Coaching Course & The Professional Coaching Course, both from UCT GSB Centre for Coaching, and The Science & Practice of Coaching Abrasive Leaders, from Boss Whispering Institute, Oregon, USA.