Who We Are

About Curiou Consulting

Curiou Consulting is a specialist firm in Employee Relations, HR, and Leadership Advisory, providing services across Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond. We partner with organizations to build resilient workplaces, navigate complex regulatory environments, and foster inclusive, high-performance cultures.
At Curiou Consulting, we help clients navigate complexity, mitigate risk, and build resilient workplace cultures that drive sustainable growth. Our strength lies in combining executive-level ER expertise, global best practices, and cross-cultural fluency with a network of strategic partnerships that ensures unparalleled depth and reach.
Our approach is built on a foundation of deep, practical experience and strategic insight. We understand that today’s challenges require more than just textbook answers; they require nuanced, pragmatic solutions that are both globally informed and locally relevant.

Our Strategic Advantage: Proven Experience, Expanded Reach

Our foundational expertise is drawn from the accomplished career of our Founder and Principal Consultant, Dr. Akona Makoboka, DBA, SPHRI, FCIPD, MHRP , an award-winning Employee Relations strategist, certified mediator, and lecturer. A recognized visionary in global HR and ER, Akona brings a proven track record of designing ER/HR frameworks, resolving complex disputes, and advising C-suite leaders across industries and geographies.
My purpose is simple: to deeply impact the global tapestry of organizational culture, compliance, and human potential, by turning complexity into clarity, conflict into trust, and people risk into a strategic asset.

Dr. Akona Makoboka

Many of the methodologies and solutions that we provide have been battle-tested in various management and leadership roles over an almost two decade career spanning multinational, regional and high growth organizations across industries such as Financial, Professional Services, FMCG and Retail Sectors, including:

Leadership Credentials & Certifications

Our firm draws on globally recognized standards and certifications that reinforce the credibility of our advisory:
  • Master HR Professional (MHRP) – South African Board for People Practices (SABPP)
  • Senior Professional in Human Resources International (SPHRi) - HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
  • Chartered Fellow (FCIPD) – The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
  • Certified Risk and Compliance Management Professional (CRCMP) - International Association of Risk and Compliance Professionals (IARCP)
  • Internationally Acccredited Civil/commercial Mediator - ADR ODR International
These credentials signal rigor, global alignment, and compliance excellence, and ensure that our work meets the highest standards.

Publications

March 2025 – The Role of Leadership in Shaping Resilient Cultures, HR Today
April 2024 – South Africa’s Visionary Women HR Leaders Creating Global Impact, CIO Business Worldc
November 2021 – KR: The New Agenda (Contributing Author), Knowledge Resources

Speaking Engagements

AI and HR, and New HR Paradigms, World HRD Congress
Annual Shop Steward Africa Summit, Robert Edwin Conferences
Future Tech HR, and L&D Conference, Knowledge Integration Web
The Future of HR & Employee Relations Conference, Knowledge Resources
Industrial & Employee Relations Summit, The Conference Hub

Our Network Advantage

Curiou Consulting collaborates with strategic partners, universities, and top-tier experts to expand capability and ensure regional alignment. This partnership model allows us to deliver unparalleled depth, agility, and innovation. Our clients can access , integrated world-class expertise tailored to their context.