Entrepreneurial Mind, Design Thinking
Expert and Impact Investor

My name is Mareike aka Simthandile and I have a passion for people, storytelling, and multicultural exchange. Known for my enthusiasm to empower others to reach their full professional and personal potential with confidence and dignity, I enjoy utilising digital tools, creating learning journeys, and developing start-up ecosystems.

One of my career highlights is when I worked for the Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO in Maseru alongside the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). During this time, I held several pitching workshops and organised an Entrepreneurship Summer School called InterACTION with five universities in four countries that created mentorship and networking opportunities for more than 500 young entrepreneurs.

My academic background in International Management, Social Science, and Economic Education has given me the confidence to speak in front of large audiences, share insightful knowledge, and conduct qualitative and quantitative research studies. Thanks to my positive philanthropic nature, drive, and commitment; my clients and co-workers receive high-quality services from my extensive experience in the areas of business development, financial empowerment, and digital education.

My specialisation in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management and having worked in this field for more than five years intrigued me to start my own business Kamvalethu Consulting in 2017 so as to share my entrepreneurial energy with others.

Marketing & Business Development

Expert, Mentor & Tour Guide

My name is Xolisa. I am a changemaker and graduate in Marketing with a passion for music, technology and studying about consumer behaviour plus the global market at large. In addition, I have a strong interest in innovation hence I find myself connecting more with entrepreneurial minds.

End of 2018, I joined the Department of Mercantile Research Office at the Nelson Mandela University’s Faculty of Law as an Administrative Assistant and get to assist students, organise events and make sure that the postgraduate programmes run smoothly on a daily basis. Between 2016 and 2018 I was the Marketing Officer at the Department of Computing Sciences at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth. During these years, I helped organising the National Science Week and Career fair for the Department. Furthermore, I was in charge of creating content for the social media accounts of the Young African Women in Computing (YAWiC) initiative and a DAAD-funded student exchange programme called Hub for Education on ICT and Sustainability. The topic of the 2017 Summer School was Innovative Internet of Things for Sustainable Cities that I joined as a participant.

As I strongly believe in the impact that technology can have on the South African youth, I raised about R60 000 in a crowdfunding campaign to support the Sikhanyise Computer Center in Walmer Township with equipment and human resources in 2016. The year before, I volunteered at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Maseru, Lesotho as a Marketing Intern. My main responsibilities were research, photography, writing articles and running social media activities for a project called “Lesotho Youth Connect”. While the 7th International Conference on Information Technologies in Environmental Engineering (ITEE) took place in Port Elizabeth in 2015, I assisted the organising committee in their marketing activities and also performed the song “Qongqothwane” by Miriam Makeba at the conference gala dinner. In 2013, I joined the United Nations Student Association (UN-SA) and took over the role as their Administration Officer which I kept until finished my Marketing diploma at Nelson Mandela University three years later.

In the past years, I have shared my expertise in marketing and creativity in developing innovative business ideas with my mentees and want to continue doing so as part of Kamvalethu Consulting. Moreover, I offer learning journeys through locally guided tours in South Africa.