Reshma Somaroo

Activist, Brainstormer, Business adviser, Business leader, Business mentor, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Idea generator, Life mentor, Philanthropist, Social entrepreneur

Reshma is an executive and leadership development coach with a special interest in Coaching, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Technology. She gains a sense of purpose and achievement from finding new and different ways to solve problems and add value by driving change, innovative thinking, and collaboration; as well as by leveraging technology and developing people. In addition to her coaching practice, she is also a coach for the Wits Business School MBA program, the Chairperson of New Life Center for Girls, a Program Manager at First National Bank, and administered the TEDx Johannesburg 100Ideas100Millenials mentorship program which provided mentorship to assist 100 young social entrepreneurs from across the African continent implement ideas that respond to humanity's most pressing challenges, as defined by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals Reshma holds a Bachelor’s in Commerce from University of Witwatersrand; a Bachelor’s of Commerce Honours in Informatics from UNISA; and a Master of Business Administration from the Wits Business School. She is also a WBS Certified Leadership Development Coach, a COMENSA member and a Project Management Institute Certified Project Management Professional.

I have two missions: - helping to grow exceptional, socially responsible future leaders; and supporting the implementation of ideas that make a measurable positive impact in their communities. I am most inspired where these converge.”

Every person deserves saving and someone to believe in them, because we were all born with unlimited potential that just needs the right conditions and support to ignite. Roosevelt and Madiba said "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have" - I believe if you help who you can, where you can, with all you are - that your impact through that network surely will make the world a better place.

Business Analysis, Change management, Coaching and Mentorship, Community building, Data Analytics, Event Management, Financial analysis, Governance, Information Governance, Information Management, Problem Solving, Process re-engineering, Programme Management, Project Management, Strategy

I came across TED talks as a young professional trying to improve my presentation and communication skills. I came across a TEDxJohannesburg event in 2012. What I saw blew my mind, expanded my horizons and changed my paradigm. Watching a TEDtalk online you select your content - attending an event you're "forced" to sit through talks not necessarily in your area of interest or expertise. I was so inspired by the event and I had an AHA moment about what made TED special for me. TED speakers walk the walk, don't just talk the talk - you don't get on the stage because you're a good speaker, you earn your right to be on that stage because of something you've done that's made a tangible impact in the world, Its not a talk, its an experience inviting you to share in something deeply personal that the speaker is so passionate about, that's so important to them that they can't bear to keep it to themselves. Most speakers are eager to network and advise and collaborate and innovate together with you at the event - and the audience are positive, motivated, inspired individuals with a passion for the world around them. I felt like they were my people. I approached the organizer and asked if I could volunteer in any way because I just needed to be a part of it and started working with the TEDxJohannesburg team, volunteering to do whatever was needed to make the magic happen. One of my most rewarding experiences was running the 100ideas100millenials mentorship programme - work like that is what I'd like my life's purpose to be.

I'm actually really creative and people are always blown away and surprised when they see some of the content I've create. Maybe in a different life...