1. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka obtained a bachelor's degree in social science and education from the National University of Lesotho in 1980, as well as a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Cape Town in 2003, which dealt with educational planning and policy.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2014.
From 1981 to 1983 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka taught in KwaZulu-Natal, after which she moved to Geneva to work with the World Young Women's Christian Association from 1984 to 1989, as the organisation's Youth Director, where she advocated for job creation for young people within the UN system and promoted development education in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was the first president of the Natal Organisation of Women.
From 1987 to 1989 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was director of TEAM, a developmental Non-Government Organisation in Cape Town, as well as being involved with squatter women and African independent churches to promote economic self-reliance and running skills training programmes.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka started and managed her own management consulting company, Phumelela Services, during 1993 and 1994.
In 1994 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka became a Member of Parliament, chairing the Public Service Portfolio Committee.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was deputy minister in the Department of Trade and Industry from 1996 until 1999, during which time she was a founding member of the Guguletu Community Development Corporation.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was Minister of Minerals and Energy from June 1999 to June 2005.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka served as acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology from February 2004 to April 2004.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka joined COPE in late February 2009, but shortly after rejoined the ANC.
On 10 July 2013, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was appointed as Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was sworn into Executive Director of UN Women on 19 August 2013.
In November 2017 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka welcomed the Elsie Initiative to help increase women's participation in peacekeeping operations in a joint statement with fellow UN Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was awarded Cannes LionHeart Award in 2019 for her work for UN Women and Unstereotype Alliance.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka left UN Women in August 2021 after serving two terms.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has successfully mobilized 40 billion USD in financial commitments from Member States, private sector, philanthropies and civil society as well as young people.
In late 2022, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka acted as one of the mediators for peace negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, in order to end the Tigray War.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is married to the former head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Bulelani Ngcuka.