Heidi Villa-Vicencio: Visionary Leader Redefining Leadership Coaching Through People-Centered Approach

In the high-stakes world of corporate consulting, where strategy meets execution, women are rewriting the rules of leadership. From negotiating multi-milliondollar deals with designing transformative business models, women are proving that corporate consulting is no longer just about analytics and numbers, it's about vision, adaptability, and resilience. Armed with expertise across industries, Heidi Villa-Vicencio, the Founder and Managing Director of Mthente Research & Consulting Services, has built a distinguished career marked by resilience, global experience, and a commitment to economic growth.

Joining CCMA at a pivotal moment in South Africa's democratic transformation, Heidi honed her ability to navigate complex challenges. Moving to London, she spent five years in business consultancy, gaining valuable insights into global business management. Inspired by a strong female mentor, Lucy, Managing Director of Larch Consulting, Heidi polished her leadership skills in a maledominated industry. However, her passion for driving change in South Africa led her back home, where she founded Mthente Research & Consulting Services with the vision of creating jobs and fostering economic development.

Introduce us to Mthente Research & Consulting Services and your role as Managing Director at the company.

Founded 20 years ago, Mthente Research & Consulting Services is a boutique consultancy specializing in collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to inform organization’s decisions. Its name and symbol carry deep meaning, because the thorn tree, or Mthente, is indigenous to South Africa, just like us. It's robust, deeply rooted in Africa, robust with its thorns, yet delicate with its leaves, a reflection of how we operate. We are strong and resilient but also sensitive to the environments we work in. We focus on four key areas, namely monitoring & evaluation, stakeholder intelligence and relationship management, coaching & leadership support, and big data research. Our team brings in the right skills at the right time rather than just relying on one.

My primary role is strategy, finance, and quality assurance, ensuring that everything runs smoothly while my incredible team drives Mthente Research & Consulting Services forward. I check in when needed, but they own and run the work, making our model effective.

What fundamental principles guide your approach to leadership and coaching?

The foundation of how I approach people is simple, ‘we are all human’. Whether you are at a prestigious post or university student, everyone has dreams, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. Titles and labels do not define us. Once we remove them, we can have meaningful interactions.

A lot of the challenges we face come from our narratives. When I work with people, I take a holistic approach. Someone might say that they’re struggling with motivation at work, but as we dig deeper, it’s often about confidence, emotional triggers, or deeper personal issues. I work with them on multiple levels, including cognitive, emotional, spiritual, and even how they physically show up in the world to uncover the real underlying issue.

Know your roots, be resilient, and push through challenges because sometimes, you have to make tough decisions, retrenchments, and dismissals, but always handle them with sensitivity because people have families and lives beyond work

What key business challenges do you encounter as a leadership coach? How do you successfully navigate through these roadblocks?

I work across a wide range of industries, from banking and government to healthcare, startups, and multinational corporations. The challenges vary, but some common themes stand out.

First, confidence issues, especially among women leaders. Many struggle with imposter syndrome, questioning if they’re truly qualified. They doubt whether they belong at the highest levels, even when they do. Secondly, leaders often believe that being the boss means knowing everything. But leadership today is about facilitating collaboration, not being the sole decision-maker. Thirdly, structure and systems. Entrepreneurs often start businesses out of passion, whether it’s research, design, or art, but without proper systems, even the best ideas struggle to reach the market. Finally, changing the mindset. Holding onto old ways of thinking in today's fast-changing world brings barriers. Several senior professionals haven’t upskilled themselves beyond formal education received years ago. Staying relevant doesn’t always mean fancy courses, it can be as simple as reading and keeping up with trends.

What core expertise do you bring as an experienced industry leader?

In today's globalized world, managing diversity is a key skill. Understanding how to work with people from different backgrounds is essential for growth. Teamwork is just as important. I have learned that hiring people who are smarter than me, and who bring different skill sets to the table is what drives success.

Leadership is not always about consensus. There are moments when tough decisions need to be made. I tell my team, on a good day, we can discuss which window to jump out of, but if the building is on fire, I will tell you exactly where to jump. Knowing when to collaborate and when to take decisive action is critical for a leader.

Lastly, I am all about solutions. Problems will always exist, but what matters is how we solve them. If someone brings me an issue, my immediate response is, "Great! What's your solution?" Because progress happens through solutions, not obstacles.

What has been the most significant milestone in your journey? What is your ‘success mantra’?

Being in business for two decades is one of my professional life’s major milestones. When you start a small business, people are skeptical. But I have not only survived but thrived. I have created meaningful, sustainable jobs over two decades.

My key to success is ‘Hire people smarter than you’. There’s no growth in surrounding yourself with mediocrity.

Finally, business is about adaptability. Structures change, sometimes you’re big, sometimes small. You can’t be afraid to evolve. Staying flexible is the key to long-term survival.

How do you foresee the global leadership coaching landscape evolving in the near future?

Coaching has evolved significantly since COVID-19, becoming global through technology. This shift has led to a steep rise in number of coaches, emphasizing the importance of finding a niche. AI and tech are also transforming the industry with virtual reality scenarios and advanced coaching tools becoming more prevalent. Micro-coaching is gaining popularity, with short, focused sessions being preferred over long programs. Cultural awareness is crucial in the global coaching landscape, as leadership and leadership styles may differ across different regions. Coaching now also needs to focus on mindset, mental health, stress management, and resilience.

Heidi Villa-Vicencio, Founder & Managing Director, Mthente Research & Consulting Services

Heidi Villa-Vicencio, Founder and Managing Director of Mthente Research and Consulting Services, has 25 years of professional experience. She holds an MBA from the University of Warwick, and an MA in History from the University of Cape Town and is currently completing her second coaching certification through the Centre of Coaching at the University of Cape Town. She is an accredited coach with the International Coaching Federation. Heidi has led numerous evaluations, including projects and board evaluations for organizations like Old Mutual, National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, Engen, Protea Hotels, United Nations and Georgetown University. Under her leadership, Mthente has become a 75 percent women-owned and 51 percent black-owned enterprise, serving clients across Africa, Europe, and the U.S.