Getting to Know Viv
November 2011
Her 24 years of Post graduate training and professional work experiences with underprivileged communities of South Africa and Malawi as summarized below is a true reflection of her strong social entrepreneurship characteristics, resilience and cross-cultural leadership skills. Vivienne devoted her life to the socio-economic empowerment of disadvantaged people in Southern Africa with energy and dedication. She believes in the fourth economy, i.e. working in a way that is not “welfare minded” She instils working methods in organizations’ that drives sustainable development rather than hand-outs. She has always promoted value creation as a basis to wealth creation.
SUMMARY OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS & EXPERIENCES
In 1986 Vivienne completed her first degree in human science B. Arb. (Occupational Therapy) at the University of Pretoria (UP) and during this time acted as treasurer for the university student association, cheer leader for student sport and member of a student women rights association.
In 1996 she completed her Honours degree at the Medical University of Southern Africa.
The first 6 years of her professional career consisted of clinical work in the Department of Health Government: (Garankuwa Hospital & Vereniging & Sebokeng (Vaal Triangle) Hospitals working with people with disabilities in semi-urban and rural communities. As early as her third year of work, she became acting head of Department.
Thereafter she worked with a consortium of medical practitioners and established and managed an Early childhood and perceptual development centre for children.
For four years in total she lectured at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) as well as part time at the University of Pretoria (UP).
Vivienne has written many articles in the field of social development and acted as member of several Organisations and bodies over the years.
In 1993/4, Vivienne’s projects influenced policy development under the leadership of Minister Geraldine Fraser Moleketi of Dept. of Social Development in the transitional Government of National Unity.
SUMMARY OF RELEVANT COURSES IN MANAGEMENT, ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT ETC.
Vivienne has undertaken many National and International certificate courses of which the most significant ones were:
- International Labor Organization Youth courses on Improve Your Business (preparing4work.org/.../start-and-improve-your-business-siyb-internat...)
- Germany Government development: The Competency based Economies for the Formation of Entrepreneurs (CEFE)- an international best practice entrepreneurship training model (www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m/template.rc/1.11.47124/)
- Wits University-Business Management Certificate (www.wbs.ac.za/executive_courses/certificate_programmes/)
- Babson College, Boston, USA. The National Foundation for Training Entrepreneurs comprehensive teacher’s certification (NFTE). In Boston her study group won an award for the “best business plan”. (http://www.nfte.com/)
She further completed several courses in Performance Management, Financial Management, Strategic Planning, HR Management, Ergonomics and Work Study, Fundraising, Primary Health Care for Rural Southern Africa, HIV(Aids), Tourism and Hospitality, Strategic Decision Making Go Mad (London-based), Youth Entrepreneurship & Coaching, Corporate Social Investment Management, Tutoring, NQF Assessor Course, Management for Change Courses, Social Entrepreneurship and numerous IT computer courses.
OTHER INTERESTS
General Manager of Music & Video Productions: During the period 1990-1993 (while raising her baby) she imported music equipment from Germany and Singapore, promoted South African musicians, and facilitated music and video productions of South African musicians.
Fashion Design: Vivienne completed a three-year diploma in fashion design and thereafter many creative skill courses in interior, craft & recycling income generation. During 1984-1988, on Saturdays she offered training courses in dressmaking, weaving, and soft furnishings at the Medunsa campus to disadvantaged people of the Soshanguve/Mabopane townships on a part-time basis.
Project Manager of Turn-key Projects: In 2004 Vivienne was the project manager at Aluvi House, a four star Boutique guesthouse and conference centre. In 2005, Aluvi House won the rating “Highly Commended” in the Tshwane Tourism Awards. The project was such a success, that she renovated and established a second guesthouse.
Project Management: Vivienne was a Project Manager of many other infrastructural projects, e.g. the Anglo Platinum Training Center; a Community development Centre in Soshanguve; Fordsburg Head office and factories, and project managed the construction of The Olde Corner Shoppe in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga. These projects were run in her capacity as project manager for Government, University or Corporate Sectors.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, JOB CREATION & BLACK EMPOWERMENT
She is a specialist in black empowerment and Social entrepreneurship and SMME (small medium micro enterprise) creation in Southern Africa. After more than 16 years of field experience in development programmes and in collaboration with large Southern African organisations, Vivienne understands how to integrate the social, political and economic sectors to benefit previously disadvantaged individuals in South Africa. She can always see the bigger picture and understand the strategy.
She has initiated, established and managed different models of social development and job creation for child development, youth development, women and people with disabilities in South Africa; developed Training of Trainers Course materials (TOT), and trained many leaders in four provinces (Gauteng, North-West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga).
Vivienne founded the MODE Group of Companies in 1993, set up human resources systems, financial management procedures and managed a staff team of 25. During this period, hundreds of persons were trained and established their own small businesses. She facilitated the implementation of micro-lending programmes. In the process, Vivienne has received several awards from Government and the business sector for the revolutionary results of the programme. Her annual function in 1999 attracted then vice President Thabo Mbeki to deliver a key note speech.
In 2000, Vivienne grew the Addicted to Business training and development Company that offered experiential training, Practical Business Skills, product development, retailing and introductory technical skills training to unemployed youth. Her company received accreditation as training provider from the Services Seta. The A2B programme worked for the past five years in partnership with government and the private sector namely Anglo Platinum, Bakwena Corridor Concessionaire, Sanlam Investment, GTZ/CEF, ABSA Bank and FET Colleges. She participated with UCT as country expert to the Global Entrepreneur Monitor (GEM) report in 2004. (www.gsb.uct.ac.za/files/GEM2004.pdf)
Vivienne is a particularly skilled mediator with youth unions and youth activists and had much exposure in this regards. Youth love her style as she helps them turn every threat into opportunities.
In 2002-4 Vivienne worked as consultant to a Mpumalanga Local Economic Development (LED) division of government and made radical inroads in affluent markets with the establishment of several manufacturing and retailing and service business opportunities for poor people.
In 2007, Vivienne was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of a new section 21 companies with section 18 A status called E- Hubs Africa with the aim to facilitate various community entrepreneurial hub models for child development, youth, abused women and people with disabilities. The bubs enabled citizens and poor people (rich and poor) to work together in multi-sector partnerships to form win-win economic value chains. She is governed by a board consisting of legal, financial and business experts. Old Mutual Foundation came on board as a funding partner as well as partners such as Mintek, University of Pretoria, Sasol (Chemcity) and a wide NGO fraternity. She further established a social enterprise, called Amajobjob, a cooperative of women who produce a clothing brand called the African Happy Pants.
In September 2008, she was awarded an Ashoka Fellowship from Washington DC. Ashoka recognized Vivienne as a social entrepreneur for the tipping-point work in changing the lives of disadvantaged people in South Africa. The A2B transformation model that she implemented transformed 890 previously disadvantaged people from dependent consumers of hand-outs to social entrepreneurs. (http://www.ashoka.org/fellow/vivienne-schultz)
She is a dynamic multi-racial leader and has the ability to empower managers and supervisors to achieve excellent results in their planning, organizing, staffing, decision making and controls and nurtures relations with tertiary institutions and public private partnerships.
She has become a known facilitator & international speaker on social change.
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