Thembiso Magajana - How To Scale Impact | Mashstartup Podcast

Of course. Here is a detailed summary of the podcast episode.

Episode Overview

• The episode features an interview with Thembiso Magajana, co-founder of the non-profit organization Social Coding SA.
• Thembiso shares her personal journey, transitioning from a successful career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs to founding a social enterprise.
• She discusses the inspiration behind Social Coding SA, which aims to improve students' math and science scores through computer programming.
• The conversation highlights the initial challenges of the organization, the importance of understanding community needs, and the pivot to a sustainable, service-generating business model.

Key Concepts

• Career Pivot for Purpose: Thembiso left her lucrative job in investment banking because she felt it lacked purpose and didn't align with her personal drive to make a tangible difference.
• Inspiration from the Next Generation: The idea for her non-profit was sparked by a conversation with her 6-year-old niece, who aspired to be Steve Jobs, revealing a gap in relatable, diverse role models in the tech industry.
• Social Coding SA's Mission: The organization uses gamification, AI, and blockchain to teach computer programming as a tool to help underperforming students achieve higher scores in math and science.
• The Importance of Measurable Impact: Thembiso emphasizes the need to move beyond vanity metrics (like workshop attendance) and focus on tangible, audited impact, such as improved academic performance, to prove an organization's value.
• Sustainable Non-Profit Model: Social Coding SA shifted from a donor-driven model to a self-sustaining Non-Profit Company (NPC) by offering consultation, feasibility studies, and impact reporting as services to corporate clients with CSI budgets.

Quotes

• At 01:29 - "No, I want to be Steve Jobs." - Thembiso quoting her 6-year-old niece, the moment that inspired her to address the lack of black female role models in technology.
• At 02:08 - "Six-year-olds of today want to create." - Contrasting her own childhood desire to simply play with the creative and ambitious aspirations of the current generation.
• At 03:38 - "It's not enough to be passionate about something... You'd be teaching them at a disadvantage if you don't know your subject well." - Highlighting the critical need for expertise and deep knowledge when trying to create a meaningful impact, beyond just having passion.
• At 05:01 - "It's all about priorities... People don't care about coding, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, if they can't even switch a computer on." - Quoting a school principal who explained why a coding workshop failed, teaching her a crucial lesson about addressing a community's immediate needs before introducing advanced concepts.
• At 06:19 - "We sell measurable impact as an organization; we don't sell coding." - Explaining her organization's core value proposition, which focuses on the tangible, data-backed outcomes of their programs rather than just the activity itself.

Takeaways

• Address the Foundational Need First. Before introducing complex solutions like coding, ensure the target community has the basic prerequisites, such as computer literacy. Your solution must solve their immediate problem, not just your perceived one.
• Build a Sustainable Impact Model. Relying solely on donations is risky. Develop a service or product that can generate revenue to fund your non-profit activities, ensuring long-term viability and independence.
• Focus on Measurable, Audited Impact. To prove your value and attract sustainable partnerships, move beyond tracking activities (e.g., workshops held) and focus on collecting and reporting data on tangible outcomes (e.g., improved grades, job placements).