Between Meetings

Aphiwe Khambule

Between Meetings is a thought leadership podcast from 21st Century Funeral Services, hosted by Aphiwe Khambule. It captures the real conversations that happen between boardrooms, strategy sessions, and everyday leadership moments. Each episode offers practical, relatable insights on leadership and decision-making, women in business, corporate mental health, personal growth, and financial literacy, grounded in lived African corporate experience across the funeral, insurance, and wider financial services world. If you are a young professional, manager, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, expect warm, honest conversations with clear takeaways you can use straight away. New episodes are released monthly, moving to weekly as the show grows.

Episodes

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Lessons from a 2nd Generation Business Leader

    Welcome to Episode 02 of the Between Meetings Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation with your host Aphiwe Khambule and her guest, Miss Rea Lebenya, a dynamic black female entrepreneur and leader of her family’s private security company, Aesthetic Security. Together, they explore Rea’s journey of stepping into leadership after her father, navigating the challenges of being a young black woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and the pivotal role of integrity, mentorship, and mental health.  Miss Rea delves into breaking industry stereotypes, empowering others, and finding balance between personal growth and professional demands. She shares her experiences expanding the company, supporting her team, and fostering a culture of collaboration over competition.   This episode offers candid insights and inspiration for women aspiring to lead and thrive in challenging spaces.    ⏱ Timestamped Overview  00:44 – Introduction and welcoming Miss Rea Lebenya.  02:12 – Taking Over the Family Business.  03:31 – Transition to Leadership.  04:41 – Vision and Business Expansion.  05:43 – Further Education and Cybersecurity.  07:11 – Navigating Male-Dominated Industries.  10:15 – Appearance and Professional Perception.  12:23 – Advice for Young Black Girls.  14:03 – First Generation Founder’s Story.  16:28 – Stepping Up During Crisis.  18:32 – Academic Background and Business Application.   21:19 – Leadership Style and Employee Relations.  24:41 – Difficult Decisions and Employee Layoffs.  26:54 – Sisterhood and Breaking Stereotypes.  29:45 – Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms.  34:02 – Delegation and Trust in Leadership.   38:31 – Working with Family and Setting Boundaries.  44:03 – Maintaining and Growing the Legacy.  46:35 – Advice for Next-Gen and Women Leaders.  48:57 – Pride and Personal Growth.    💬 Quote of the Episode    “You don’t have to change in order to be perceived a certain way; do what feels right for you and for reasons that make sense to you.” – Miss Rea Lebenya    🌐 Connect with 21st Century Funeral Services  🔗 Website: https://21stcfs.co.za/   📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official21stcenturyfunerals/   📸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@21stcentury_funerals   📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/21stCenturyFuneralServices   📘LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/21st-century-funerals/   📘 X: https://x.com/21stCentury_KZN

    52 min

  2. 16 JAN

    Navigating the Future of a Legacy Business

    Welcome to Episode 01 of the Between Meetings Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation with your host Aphiwe Khambule and her guest, Mr Khambule (also her dad), sit down to discuss the business’s origins, early challenges, and growth, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation highlights the importance of client-centred values, adapting to technological change, and balancing family with business.   Mr Khambule shares insights on leadership transition and his hopes for the company’s legacy under the next generation. The episode offers a candid look at sustaining a family business and the lessons learned across decades of service.   ⏱ Timestamped Overview  01:18 – Introduction and welcoming Mr Khambule.  02:19 – The Origins of 21st Century Funeral Services.  04:24 – Early Business Struggles and Breakthroughs  06:36 – First Milestones and Corporate Partnerships  10:16 – Branch Expansion and Industry Influence   13:21 – Sustaining the Business Through Challenges  15:23 – Client-Centred Values and Business Philosophy  19:23 – Transition to the Next Generation 19:54 – Family Involvement and Legacy Building    23:17 – Navigating Family and Business Boundaries   23:38 – Adapting to New Technologies and Generational Change    27:10 – The Evolving Funeral Industry  29:02 – Leadership Expectations and Future Vision  33:01 – Reflections on Second-Generation Pressure  36:06 – Lessons Learned and the Importance of Planning  38:01 – Continuous Learning and Embracing Change    40:11 – Learning from Each Other and Team Input    41:30 – Fatherly Advice for Next-Generation Leaders  💬 Quote of the Episode  “'When I get a client saying to me, “Thank you very much,” that makes me so happy.” – Mr Khambule    🌐 Connect with 21st Century Funeral Services  🔗 Website: https://21stcfs.co.za/   📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official21stcenturyfunerals/   📸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@21stcentury_funerals   📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/21stCenturyFuneralServices   📘LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/21st-century-funerals/   📘 X: https://x.com/21stCentury_KZN

    44 min
  • 2 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Between Meetings is a thought leadership podcast from 21st Century Funeral Services, hosted by Aphiwe Khambule. It captures the real conversations that happen between boardrooms, strategy sessions, and everyday leadership moments. Each episode offers practical, relatable insights on leadership and decision-making, women in business, corporate mental health, personal growth, and financial literacy, grounded in lived African corporate experience across the funeral, insurance, and wider financial services world. If you are a young professional, manager, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, expect warm, honest conversations with clear takeaways you can use straight away. New episodes are released monthly, moving to weekly as the show grows.

Information

  • Creator
    Aphiwe Khambule
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Between Meetings