Serty Leburu Takes the Helm: A Historic New Era for DTC Botswana
In a landmark development for the global diamond industry, the Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTC Botswana) has officially appointed Serty Leburu as its new Managing Director, effective February 2. This strategic move marks a pivotal moment in the history of the world’s leading diamond sorting and valuing company, as Leburu becomes the first woman to ascend to the top leadership position since the company’s inception.
The announcement heralds a new chapter for the 50/50 joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and global diamond giant De Beers. Leburu, a distinguished executive with a formidable track record in both the public and private sectors, steps into the role at a time when the diamond industry is navigating a complex landscape of evolving market demands and technological advancements. Her appointment is not merely a change of guard; it is being hailed as a “homecoming” for a leader whose roots in the diamond sector run deep, promising a fusion of seasoned financial acumen and transformative strategic vision.
A Historic Appointment: Shattering the Glass Ceiling
Serty Leburu’s ascension to the role of Managing Director is a significant milestone in the narrative of gender parity within Botswana’s mining and minerals sector. For decades, the upper echelons of the diamond industry—traditionally a male-dominated sphere—have seen few women at the very helm of major operational powerhouses. By taking the reins of DTC Botswana, Leburu is shattering a significant glass ceiling, setting a powerful precedent for the next generation of female leaders in Africa.
Her appointment aligns seamlessly with Botswana’s broader national vision of empowering women in executive roles, particularly within the industries that drive the country’s economy. As the first woman to lead the company, Leburu carries the torch for inclusivity, bringing a fresh perspective to a boardroom that steers the destiny of millions of carats of rough diamonds annually.
A Homecoming for Serty Leburu
While her recent high-profile roles have been in academia and banking, Serty Leburu is no stranger to the glitter and grit of the diamond trade. In many ways, this appointment represents a full-circle moment in her career. Her résumé boasts a robust history with the diamond pipeline, having previously served 17 years in the sector before diversifying her portfolio.
From the Mines to the Boardroom
Leburu’s journey in the diamond industry is foundational to her leadership identity. She previously held the position of Finance Manager at Debswana, the mining joint venture that feeds DTC Botswana. Specifically, she worked at the Jwaneng mine—often cited as the world’s richest diamond mine by value. Her tenure there was historic in its own right, as she served as the first female finance manager for the operation.
Furthermore, her experience extends to the very origins of DTC Botswana. She served as Finance Manager for the Botswana Diamond Valuing Company (BDVC), the entity that was the precursor to the modern DTC Botswana. This specific historical context means Leburu possesses an intimate, ground-level understanding of the sorting and valuing processes that are the heartbeat of the company she now leads. She is not learning the business; she is returning to master it.
A Legacy of Strategic Leadership
Leburu joins DTC Botswana following a highly successful decade-long tenure as the Executive Director of the Botswana Accountancy College (BAC). During her time at BAC, she was credited with steering the institution through a period of significant growth, enhancing its reputation as a premier business school in the region. Her leadership style is described by peers as “transformational,” characterized by a focus on governance, operational excellence, and human capital development.
Diverse Executive Experience
Her executive pedigree extends well beyond the diamond and education sectors. Leburu’s leadership toolkit is bolstered by her time as Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) and as Deputy CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Botswana. This exposure to high-level banking and national infrastructure projects has equipped her with a panoramic view of Botswana’s economic ecosystem.
Academically, Leburu is a heavyweight. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Botswana and is a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) accredited in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, she has honed her strategic capabilities through the prestigious “Leading Across Boundaries” Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. This blend of local expertise and global best practices positions her uniquely to navigate the international complexities of the diamond trade.
The Mandate: Leading the World’s Largest Sorting Operation
Serty Leburu takes charge of an organization that is arguably the central nervous system of Botswana’s economy. DTC Botswana is the largest and most sophisticated rough diamond sorting and valuing operation in the world. The facility, an architectural and technological marvel in Gaborone, has the capacity to sort and value up to 45 million carats of rough diamonds annually.
Unlocking Value for the Nation
The company’s mandate is critical: it receives the run-of-mine production from Debswana, cleans, sorts, and values the stones, and then sells them to two primary clients. The Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), which is fully government-owned, receives a significant portion of the yield to sell independently, while the majority is sold to De Beers for aggregation and sale to their global network of Sightholders.
Leburu’s role will involve overseeing this high-stakes supply chain, ensuring that every carat produced is accurately valued to maximize revenue for the nation. In a country where diamond revenues account for a substantial portion of the GDP and government funding, the efficiency and integrity of DTC Botswana are paramount. Her background in finance will be instrumental in optimizing these processes, ensuring that the “sparkle” of the diamonds translates into tangible economic development for Batswana.
A Seamless Transition
Leburu takes the baton from Sedireng Serumola, a respected figure in the industry who served as Managing Director for six years. Serumola’s tenure was marked by stability and the navigation of the industry through the turbulent times of the global pandemic. He departed the company in December to pursue a new challenge as the CEO of Stone Temple Holdings, a business advisory firm.
The transition from Serumola to Leburu is expected to be smooth, given Leburu’s familiarity with the stakeholders involved. The Board of DTC Botswana has expressed immense confidence in her ability to build upon the foundation laid by her predecessor while injecting new energy into the organization’s strategic goals.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
As Leburu settles into the corner office, she faces an industry at a crossroads. The global diamond market is currently grappling with the rise of lab-grown diamonds, shifting consumer preferences in key markets like the United States and China, and the need for rigorous provenance tracking to ensure ethical sourcing.
However, opportunities abound. DTC Botswana is in the midst of a strategic push to enhance its technological capabilities, utilizing automated sorting machines and AI-driven valuing systems. Leburu’s mandate will likely include driving these technological innovations to maintain the company’s competitive edge. Furthermore, there is a growing emphasis on “beneficiation”—ensuring that more value is added to diamonds within Botswana (through cutting and polishing) before they leave the country. Leburu’s cross-sector experience makes her the ideal candidate to foster the partnerships required to expand this downstream industry.
A New Chapter Begins
The appointment of Serty Leburu is more than just a corporate announcement; it is a statement of intent. It signals a commitment to meritocracy, gender equity, and strategic evolution. As she steps into the role, the eyes of the diamond world will be on Gaborone. With her unique blend of financial discipline, strategic foresight, and deep industry roots, Serty Leburu is poised to lead DTC Botswana into a sparkling future, ensuring that the country’s most precious resource continues to drive prosperity for generations to come.
