Recently, Tiekie Barnard, a successful and beautiful businesswoman, was interviewed by Africa Talks Business. This resilient, and strong-willed founder who is the backbone of Shift Impact Africa Group is focused on : in her own words, trying to “shift private sector mindsets to help them understand the important role they play in creating a more inclusive society.”
The path to success for Tiekie is about unity. "It is about us as Africans, coming together in the spirit of Ubuntu and working
together as a collective and addressing our African challenges as a collective and create economic
value and value for all." She says. Get to know more about Tiekie, and the impact she is making:

Tell us about your journey and how you started?
"I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father, my brother my 2 sisters. My entrepreneurship
journey started after I left the Advertising Industry as I always felt that I needed to do something
more than just work. I wanted to do something meaningful that could help others even if it was just
one small thing that can help change and make the life of another easier or more hopeful. I am so
grateful as God guided me to start the Shift Impact Africa Group to try and shift private sector
mindsets to help them understand the important role they play in creating a more inclusive society."


What inspired you to get involved in Shared Value?
"The Business Management concept of Shared Value is Africa’s Ubuntu with a business angle. The
definition says it all “ Policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while
simultaneously advancing the economic and social conditions within the communities in which it
operates.” Sitting in New York in 2016 at the global Shared Value Initiative summit and listening to
foreigners speak about my beautiful continent Africa, made me realise that we need to create our
own narrative. It is about us as Africans, coming together in the spirit of Ubuntu and working
together as a collective and addressing our African challenges as a collective and create economic
value and value for all."


What has been one of the greatest challenges you've faced in your career thus far?
"In 2017 we hosted the first ever Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit in Johannesburg South
Africa. At the time we did not have enough sponsorship money to deliver the summit and I had to
make a decision. Could not get any funding after asking around and then decided to take out a
second bond on my house to deliver the summit, as I believed it was the right thing to do. Again I
was guided by a higher power, and looking back 6 years later today, it was certainly worth every
penny and the right thing to do."


What does success mean to you?
"Success to me means being able to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and challenge
myself every day to use my knowledge and wisdom gained during my career and to help others.
Especially our young entrepreneurs on the continent, to help guide them through our work toward
building more sustainable businesses. I believe in Africa’s youth dividend as I also believe that Africa
is where we are building the global future."


What advice would you provide to a young entrepreneur?
"The entrepreneurship journey is not easy and at times can be lonely and more than often we want
to give up. I want to remind us all , of the words of the great Nelson Mandela : “It always seems
impossible until it is done.” Let us never forget that our faith can help us to achieve that which we
think is impossible."

Shift Impact Africa - https://www.shiftimpact.africa/

Shared Value Africa Initiative - https://svai.africa/