TSIBA Business School

Realisation of TSIBA's vision to enable significant investment in a Campus fully-owned by TSIBA remaining at TSIBA House as one part of a broader Precinct (existing as adjacent buildings under-utilised). Serving to: Elevate brand TSIBA to levels previously only dreamed of; Massively enable (or exceed) our reach/targeted beneficiary numbers, albeit through a blended approach to teaching and learning with investment in digitising our programmes; Create long-term financial stability by significantly decreasing our annual operational costs, releasing other funding into the development of TSIBA Faculty and programmes(current and new). Non-donor income generation to TSIBA is enabled with intelligent space utilisation and outsourcing. 

Set TSIBA up as a serious stakeholder in the attainment of social justice and producing ethical equipped (business) leaders.TSIBA regards the development of such leaders as critical to our contribution to how SA might move forward. TSIBA Precinct Hub releases the potential to have an impact on society which transcends earlier ambitions, realising its full potential. Including the “greening” of the precinct and a showcase site for what can be done sustainably in the middle of a busy city, integral to the learning process back into the Leadership curriculum, and TSIBA’s part in leaning into the SDG’s education objectives.

Born in Johannesburg,SA, I lived through the transition from Apartheid to a Democracy. With a Bachelor of Information Technology Degree and a Postgraduate in Enterprise Management from UCT. I was recognised as one of SA’s 100 Brightest Young Minds in 2002. Awarded Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 (Topco Media). I am married with three children.

In 2004 (20 years old), I co-founded TSIBA Education in Cape Town - a free-to-student, non-profit tertiary business education institution geared towards young people historically excluded from higher education, focused on Entrepreneurship and Leadership. TSIBA welcomed its first students in 2005. I was always passionate about finding ways to transition talented young people from unemployability into active economic citizenship and ethical purpose-driven leadership. 

Other than being closely involved in the development of the curriculum and innovation of the model, I hold the role of Sustainability and Fundraising, and remain significantly active daily and on the Board, ensuring that TSIBA is around for the long-term.

I consult to other organisations and small businesses role-modelling entrepreneurship and helping drive sustainability. I represented TSIBA on the Board of JPMorgan Chase, was on Board of LuccaLeadership SA and sit on the Board of the United Herzlia Schools.

The structural, economic and social conditions in SA have long remained a critical determinant of who has, and who does not have access to quality education as a pathway to becoming active economic citizens. Unfortunately, many structural impediments which existed prior to 1994 exist still, and many young people remain excluded from access to opportunity and the future trajectory that our young democracy in SA aspires to for all who live in it. 

Given the stark difference between a national youth unemployment rate of almost 60% and how this number shrinks to less than 7 % when armed with a tertiary degree, TSIBA has focussed on helping deserving and determined young people who are traditionally excluded, to not only gain access to quality tertiary education, fully funded, but to succeed therein. Our path to this focus has been to build a unique, relevant and sustainable not-for-profit private higher education institution, and one to which increasing numbers of students aspire to as an academic institution of choice, and increasing numbers of employers recruit talent from. This is social justice in action and the TSIBA commitment to investing in the future business leaders who will take SA forward.

TSIBA provides access to education where it is otherwise not available for academic or financial reasons. No fees payable whatsoever through full degree studies. Over 94% study on full scholarships.

Working to provide students with a rich, relevant and rewarding business education. TSIBA holds the philosophy that access to education is fundamental- but an entry point only. Inside TSIBA, our approach is to hold education as a catalyst for the best of what people can be. The core subjects which underpin excellent business education are necessary but not sufficient. TSIBA goes beyond by placing attitude, leadership and entrepreneurship as credit-bearing subjects at the heart of all our curricula. All TSIBA graduates have deeply explored the questions of what is their work, success, and how do they add value? These are questions we all must answer. The answers build each of our own unique stories and citizenship. When achieved the outcomes are profound, especially in the communities where TSIBA proudly has its roots.TSIBA provides blended-learning for online studies, and strong psychological/social support.

Almost all TSIBA graduates are in active employment, marking a profound transition from unemployment, following the implementation of the TSIBA offering as a value-returning education and skills development intervention. 

• TSIBA has awarded over 5500 full annual tuition scholarships to deserving and determined young people who would otherwise been unable to access higher education and succeed therein.

• Over 80% of TSIBA students are first-generation tertiary education entrants who aspire to transcend poverty and who have been raised in resource-constrained communities.

• TSIBA is digitising all courses and pivoted quickly to an online/blended learning pedagogy more than doubling our intake and reaching hundreds online.
  

• A unique social enterprise which shows what’s possible when business education invests in people. The TSIBA social enterprise includes a Business School, Ignition Academy and Education Trust working together to return highly sought after people and successful small business enterprises.

• 95% of TSIBA BBA degree graduates are either employed, pursuing postgraduate studies or starting businesses.

• Eight TSIBA graduates have been awarded Mandela Rhodes Scholarships, the most prestigious scholarship for postgraduate studies; three TSIBA  graduates are Kofi Annan Fellows studying towards Masters degrees internationally, and two undergraduate students have been named Alan GrayOrbis Fellows.

• Education has an incredible multiplier effect, providing returns for generations. TSIBA holds education as a catalyst to unlock the best of what people can be, and a fundamental instrument to poverty alleviation and social change.