The Collective X

Tackling Unemployment Together: The "Do More" Initiative We at The Collective X are proud to be a part of BUSA's "Do More" initiative, a powerful public-private partnership aimed at tackling unemployment in South Africa. Led by Business Unity SA, with The Collective X , Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator (HYEA), and Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa as implementation partners, this initiative focuses on delivering quick wins over the next three years. Recognising that our youth are disproportionately affected by unemployment, the partnership aims to scale and accelerate delivery of existing initiatives rather than developing new ones. By enhancing coordination and collaboration between business and government, we aim to make a significant impact on job creation. One key area of focus is scaling up skills that unlock jobs. The Collective X's ambition to deliver 10,000 new in-demand digital skills is a cornerstone of this partnership. Working alongside the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Communication and Digital Technology, we aim to standardise the quality of work-integrated learning for digital skills. This will help unlock the funding needed to scale work-ready digital talent and contribute to youth employment creation. Together, we can make a tangible difference in addressing South Africa’s unemployment crisis. #TheCollectiveX #BUSA #DoMoreInitiative #YouthEmployment #DigitalSkills #Partnerships #EconomicGrowth

Thank You Salesforce South Africa for Your Advocacy and Partnership We are incredibly grateful to Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Program Manager at Salesforce, for her unwavering support and advocacy in developing youth digital skills in South Africa. Ursula shared her views at the Salesforce World Tour on the importance of partnerships in addressing the digital skills gap: “The power of the partnership between Collective X and Salesforce can be formidable. It’s our privilege and we’re delighted with the partnership.” Thank you, Ursula and Salesforce, for being such a vital partner in our mission to bridge the digital skills gap. Your commitment to empowering the next generation through collaborative efforts is truly inspiring. Together, we can create a brighter future for South Africa's youth. #TheCollectiveX #Salesforce #DigitalSkills #YouthEmpowerment #Partnerships #FutureReady

Help Shape the Future of ICT Skills in South Africa Your input is invaluable! The 2024 IITPSA South African ICT Skills Survey is now live, and we need your insights to build a clearer picture of the ICT skills landscape in our country. This survey seeks input from both employers and digital skills training providers to better understand the current and future demands in ICT. Topics covered include top ICT priorities, skills requirements, programming languages in demand, skills development methods, and inclusivity in digital roles. Adriaan Schofield, the author of the research report, and Tony Parry, the CEO of IITPSA, will present the findings exclusively to The Collective X ecosystem upon the publication of this report. Your expertise can significantly shape the future of ICT skills development in South Africa. To participate, register and log in to the survey here: https://lnkd.in/dArswZFC Join us in this crucial endeavour. Your responses will remain confidential and will be used solely for this research. Together, let's shape a brighter future for ICT in South Africa! #ICTSkills #DigitalTransformation #TheCollectiveX #TechInnovation #SurveyParticipation #FutureOfWork

Honouring Mandela: Empowering Youth Through Digital Skills On Mandela Day, we honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela by committing ourselves to acts of service that uplift our communities and create lasting change. At The Collective X, we believe in the power of digital skills to transform lives and drive economic growth in South Africa. Mandela’s vision of equality, education, and opportunity inspires us every day. By providing young South Africans with the digital skills they need to thrive in the modern economy, we aim to contribute to a future where everyone has the chance to succeed, regardless of their background. Today, we celebrate the progress we’ve made in bridging the digital skills gap and empowering youth through our partnerships and initiatives. We are proud of the collective effort of our partners, who are committed to equipping the next generation with the tools they need to build a brighter future. Join us in honouring Mandela’s legacy by supporting our mission to unlock the potential of South Africa’s youth through digital education and skills development. Together, we can make a difference. #MandelaDay #TheCollectiveX #DigitalSkills #YouthEmpowerment #MandelasLegacy #EducationForAll #BrighterFuture

Team Building and Shaping the Future at The Collective X Workshop Last week, The Collective X team gathered for a two-day workshop at The Cradle Boutique Hotel, connecting face to face in one of our quarterly gatherings. These meetings are vital for strengthening team spirit and refining our internal ways of working, which are crucial for our progress. The workshop was a blend of team-building activities, including game drives, spa treatments, and a photoshoot, allowing us to bond and recharge. We split into two groups to delve deeply into our ways of working, presenting our insights and ideas to the entire team. These discussions will be integrated into our daily operations, ensuring we move forward cohesively and effectively. We also conducted an extensive workshop on our go-to-market strategy, preparing to scale and gear up for the future of The Collective X. We were honoured to have our chairman Mteto Nyati join us, sharing inspiring insights from his journey and his positive perspective on our ways of working. His presence added immense value, and his connection with the team was truly motivating. For an online organisation like The Collective X, meeting face to face makes all the difference. These forums enhance our collaboration, foster deeper connections, and drive our collective mission of addressing the digital skills gap forward. #CollectiveXChange #TeamBuilding #Innovation #FutureFocused #Collaboration #Leadership #GoToMarketStrategy #DigitalSkills

Empowering the Future: Celebrating World Youth Skills Day Today, on World Youth Skills Day, we are reminded of the critical importance of empowering young people with the skills they need for employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. As we navigate a rapidly changing world, the prosperity of our collective future hinges on equipping our youth with the necessary digital skills to thrive. At Collective X, we are committed to closing the digital skills gap and creating pathways for young South Africans to succeed in the digital economy. Through our partnerships with industry leaders, educational institutions, and government bodies, we strive to provide opportunities for youth to gain valuable skills that will unlock their potential and drive economic growth. Our recent initiatives, such as the Digital Skills Industry Fund and our inaugural conference, "Here For Us: Unlocking the Power of Digital Skills," underscore our dedication to fostering a digitally inclusive future. We believe that by investing in the digital capabilities of our youth, we are investing in the future of South Africa. Join us in celebrating the achievements of young people who have transformed their lives through digital skills training within the Collective X ecosystem. Together, let's continue to support and inspire the next generation of innovators, leaders, and changemakers. #WorldYouthSkillsDay #EmpoweringYouth #DigitalSkills #FutureOfWork #YouthEmpowerment #CollectiveX #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #SustainableDevelopment

The Collective X Supports Harambee During Google Office Visit Today, The Collective X had the privilege of supporting Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator as they hosted delegates from Google at their Johannesburg offices. Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator’s Chief Information Officer, Hanlie de Bod, shared an inspiring overview of Harambee's journey. She introduced the delegates to the SA Youth Partner Network portal for employers and sayouth.mobi for young work-seekers, highlighting how companies seeking talent can connect with their platform. Our Head of Partnerships and Strategic Client Engagements, Fran Swart, shared The Collective X's founding story and emphasised the importance of fostering a digital skills ecosystem to retain digital jobs in South Africa. Attendees also participated in call listening sessions with SA Youth support guides, gaining firsthand insights into their interactions with young people. The visit concluded with Google’s team generously donating clothes to Harambee's SmartWorks programme, which helps young job seekers who lack the necessary clothing and funds to present themselves professionally for job interviews or when starting their first jobs. #TheCollectiveX #Harambee #YouthEmployment #DigitalSkills #Google #Partnerships #SAYouth #FutureOfWork #DigitalSkills #SmartWorks Abongile Mashele, Thembi Maphosa, Mpume Ngcobo, Charity Kutloano Mohasoa, Siyavuya Madikane, Rigard Bester

The Perfect Match: Where Tech Meets Human Capital The relationship between people and technology has transformed dramatically over the past few years. No longer is tech just an enabler in business; it's becoming the heart of business itself. This was the consensus amongst CIOs on a panel discussion at the recent Collective X conference featuring Dr Denisha Jairam-Owthar, from the Council for Medical Schemes, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd's Faith Burn, AVBOB South Africa's Helen Constantinides, and Khomotso Molabe from Standard Bank Group. The panel was facilitated by Ziaad Suleman, Group Chief Commercial Officer at EOH. Constantinides highlighted the importance of retaining the human touch in a digitally-enabled world. “We need to understand the purpose, which I understand to be the people, the business and the process, and we also need to be careful not to digitise everything, because that human touch is important as well.” Molabe, meanwhile, shared insights on how the skills demand has shifted. “When you look at our graduate programmes 10 years ago, it mainly produced finance graduates and fast-forward to today, it now churns out engineers and data scientists. From a revenue perspective, we are using tech to create new revenue opportunities.” Discover more from this engaging discussion here: https://lnkd.in/dngNre8s #CollectiveXChange #DigitalTransformation #HumanTouch #TechInnovation #FutureFocused #HereForUs #FutureOfWork #DigitalSkills #CIOLeadership

Must Listen: CEO of Collective X, Evan Jones Discusses South Africa’s Digital Skills Economic Opportunity with Ray White On Wednesday evening Evan Jones joined Ray White on the popular Radio 702/Cape Talk Shapeshifters segment to discuss The Collective X’s mission and what it means for unemployed youth. Delving into the origin of Collective X and the crucial need for a body that leverages partnerships, aligns with government initiatives and continuously evaluates the digital skills gaps, Evan further unpacked the magnitude of the digital skills shortage in South Africa. With research indicating 40 000 vacancies and the economic opportunity valued at R300bn, Jones highlighted the need for an actionable plan with cooperation from all ecosystem stakeholders. Get fully caught up on the whole interview here: https://lnkd.in/egnSYQ5H #CollectiveXChange #DigitalSkills #Empowerment #Innovation #Transformation #FutureFocused #HereForUs #DigitalFuture #InTheNews

Collective X In The News: The Opportunity To Turn SA Into The Continent’s Digital Powerhouse Collective X Chairman, Mteto Nyati, recently appeared on CNBC Africa for a discussion with Zanele Morrison about the digital skills divide in South Africa. With an alarming number of unemployed youth, and graduates, the country has an untapped well of talent that can be leveraged through digital skills training to position us as a leader in the global digital economy. While fundamental long-term reforms are required to truly realise the country’s economic potential in the digital skills sector, Collective X's initial goal is to double the national throughput of in-demand digital skills over the next three years. Missed the interview live? Catch up here: https://lnkd.in/eheSJdcP #CollectiveXChange #DigitalSkills #Empowerment #Innovation #Transformation #FutureFocused #HereForUs #DigitalFuture #InTheNews