Sandiso Sibisi, has been appointed as Accenture’s Open Innovation Lead for Africa, making her a unicorn in Africa’s tech landscape, as she is one of the very few (young) black females operating at a regional level.
An intrapreneur at Accenture, where she operates as entrepreneur within a corporate, she employs and promotes innovative business models to help make business and technology consulting services, accessible to clients in business and international development.
Open Innovation is about Accenture wanting to accelerate entrepreneurial growth by making it easier to connect innovative start-ups to our clients.
“Many entrepreneurs in Africa are innovation leaders, that seek to develop unique solutions, that have the power to create their own markets or disrupt existing industries. As our clients seek new sources of innovation vehicles whether it be a start-up, accelerator, an incubator, idea lab or university, to achieve their business objectives, I believe there is an opportunity for corporates to partner with the start-up community and achieve business objectives,” says Sandiso.
Prior to her new role, she specialised as a supply chain business consultant, in helping consumer goods clients with complex enterprise resource planning solutions and cost reduction projects. She is also passionate about development and founded the Born to Succeed programme that is curbing the steep youth unemployment rate in South Africa through education and mentorship.
Last November, she represented South Africa at the World Bank Youth Summit 2016, Washington DC by sharing her EdTech mobile platform called ‘Khwela’. Her experience in establishing a start-up and its challenges, makes her ideal for the new role.
Amongst other accolades she is a Mandela Washington Fellowship 2016, a Sustainable Development Goals ambassador, TYI’s Mzansi 100 Aspiring and Inspiring Leaders, a Play Your Part Ambassador with Brand South Africa and recently spoke at the United Nations, New York about educating young women.
Sibisi’s appointment, demonstrates Accenture’s commitment in attracting more women in their workforce and more females in STEM as gender equality, inclusion and diversity are essential to high performance—because diversity is not just
good for business, but it’s the right thing to do.
