Kgothatso Baloyi is a passionate advocate for digital transformation, and emphasises that it is about more than just technology.
“It’s about people, skills and inclusion,” says Baloyi, special advisor to the co-chairs of B20 South Africa’s Digital Transformation Task Force, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa and Bassim Haidar.
Baloyi, a champion for digital skilling, believes digital literacy and advanced skills are critical for inclusive growth, echoing the B20 South Africa’s call for universal connectivity and workforce reskilling.
“Automation and AI are transforming industries at an unprecedented pace. To ensure no one is left behind, we must invest in education and create pathways for people to thrive in digital economies. It is important that we prepare the next generation for the world of work that we are creating,” says Baloyi.
B20 Digital Transformation Task Force
The B20 Digital Transformation Task Force is contributing to policy recommendations for the G20 under South Africa’s presidency. The task force focuses on shaping recommendations to:
- Expand inclusive digital infrastructure and connectivity in underserved regions.
- Strengthen digital literacy systems to equip the workforce for AI-driven economies.
- Advance ethical AI governance to ensure trust and transparency.
- Promote secure and inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to stimulate innovation and economic participation.
These recommendations aim to bridge the digital divide, empower MSMEs, and ensure that technological progress benefits all communities.
Perspectives on Digital Transformation
Baloyi believes Africa has a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional development stages through digital innovation.
“Digital infrastructure and skills can unlock economic growth, empower entrepreneurs, and connect communities to global markets. But this requires collaboration – between governments, businesses, and civil society. It requires infrastructure investments in underserved communities so they too can participate in the digital economy,” says Baloyi.
Her vision for a digitally inclusive future aligns with the broader goals of the G20 and reflects a commitment to ensuring that innovation drives opportunity for all.
About Kgothatso Baloyi
When not lending her talents to the Digital Transformation Task Force, Kgothatso Baloyi is a global financial markets professional with extensive experience in electronic foreign exchange (FX) trading and liquidity management.
Her career began at ABSA, where she joined during the Barclays separation and played a pivotal role in building out the bank’s electronic FX trading capabilities. Her responsibilities included actively trading FX and managing the bank’s LP relationships with global counterparties.
After establishing herself as ABSA’s electronic FX trader, Baloyi was recruited by RMB to lead its electronic liquidity management business, helping build out and oversee the bank’s automated pricing, algorithmic risk management and strategic engagement with global liquidity providers.
Her work ensured that RMB remained competitive in an increasingly digital global marketplace, where speed, precision, and data-driven decision-making define success.
This experience gave her a front-row seat to the evolution of trading, from traditional voice-based transactions to fully automated platforms powered by algorithms and data analytics.
Her academic background includes a BSc in Computational and Applied Mathematics, and an Honours in Economic Sciences, both from Wits University. She is currently pursuing an MBA at GIBS.
