Noku Katom

What does your company do?

Inspiring People Network (IPN) is a social enterprise committed to addressing youth unemployment by bridging the gap between Basic Education and Higher Education in South Africa. One of our core initiatives, Think Ahead Transformation Academy, empowers learners with intentional career guidance and entrepreneurship education. We’ve developed a practical tool called the My High School Vision Planner, which is available for sale and used during our workshops with both parents and learners. These workshops promote a holistic approach by helping families make informed decisions around subject choices, talents, and future career paths. At the heart of our model is a strong mentor-mentee pipeline: university students mentor high school learners, who then mentor primary school learners. We also partner with tertiary institutions and industry experts to expose learners to real opportunities. We believe that combining education and entrepreneurship is essential to building sustainable futures and alleviating unemployment in South Africa.

What is your biggest success?

My greatest achievement has been founding Inspiring People Network (IPN) and launching the Think Ahead Transformation Academy, which has empowered hundreds of learners to make informed subject and career choices. We developed and sell the My High School Vision Planner, a practical tool used in workshops with learners and parents to support holistic career guidance. We’ve built a multi-level mentorship model where university students mentor high school learners, who in turn mentor primary school learners. Our work is strengthened through strategic partnerships with institutions such as Stellenbosch University, Elsenburg Agricultural College, the Cape Winelands District Municipality, and Bertha Retreat. These collaborations have allowed us to expose learners to real opportunities and career paths while building bridges between education and industry. Watching young people gain clarity and purpose through this ecosystem has been a deeply fulfilling and transformative journey.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

My biggest hurdle has been securing sustainable funding and resources to scale our impact. As a grassroots social enterprise serving underserved communities, we often face limitations in accessing consistent financial support, technological tools, and staffing. Despite having a proven model and growing demand, it's challenging to deliver quality mentorship, workshops, and distribute our My High School Vision Planner at the scale needed—especially when working in rural areas where parents and schools have limited resources. However, this challenge has pushed us to be innovative and resourceful. We've built strategic partnerships, leveraged volunteer mentors, and developed a sellable tool to support our work. While funding remains an ongoing hurdle, it has strengthened our resilience, sharpened our focus, and deepened our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind because of where they come from.