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Born and raised in South Africa, Natasha witnessed first-hand how important education is for nation-building and economic development.

Having received several scholarships including Africa's most prestigious scholarship, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and the Skye Scholarship, Natasha was able to read for an MSc in International Business and Emerging Markets in the Business School.

“I have two masters degrees, one from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and my MSc at UEBS, my passion and interest for African innovative entrepreneurship and education has led me to look to roles where I can explore this and shine a positive light on the social innovations being created in Africa that are leapfrogging Western technologies.”

Natasha recently moved from working on projects at a tertiary education level, to join a global NGO, Theirworld, based in London. Theirworld is campaigning and advocating for increased global spending on children's development, piloting innovative projects in refugee camps in Lebanon and Turkey and also teaching girls in several Sub-Saharan African countries how to code and developing technical skills for the future.

“We know that 90 per cent of the brain develops before a child turns five and so it is critical that we intervene and ensure all children have access to quality education.”

Natasha values hard work, professionalism and strives to give her best to everything she does. This resulted in being presented with the Academic Excellence award at graduation in November 2018 and achieving the second highest coursework average in the history of her programme.

“I loved every moment of my time at UEBS and would do it all again - challenges included! I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I had whilst studying in Edinburgh. I'm immensely grateful to UEBS for widening and deepening my world view and expanding my horizons as a global citizen.”

The next step for Natasha is diving deep into her new role at Theirworld, striving to add value to each of the projects she is involved in. In the future she hopes people spend more time sharing their stories, mentoring others, supporting others and doing things for others without expecting anything in return.

“I hope that we all learn some lessons from other cultures and countries. I hope that we all take the time to listen more, ask more questions and practise more tolerance.”

How does it feel to be selected for the Alumni 100 list?

"It feels quite surreal, especially considering the incredible calibre of my classmates and the international standing of the Business School. I am really honoured and feel very excited to join the 100 years' celebrations later in 2020."

What made you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School?

"I wanted to study at a world-renowned and respected Business School where I would be academically challenged but also where I would develop as a person. I was accepted into several top UK universities so my parents printed out the course descriptions and blocked out the name of the university and asked me to choose.

"I chose Edinburgh because it develops people into well-rounded, active citizens and emotionally intelligent students. I liked that the courses were so practical and engaging. I knew I would get fantastic opportunities and brilliant teaching too. That all being said, the lure of attending one of the top 20 universities in the world was profound. I am extremely glad I chose the University of Edinburgh Business School."

What are your memories of studying at the Business School?

"All of the amazing opportunities and events, from the Startup Festival to contributing to the blog, the Business School Instagram, and being sent home during the Beast from the East snowstorm. What really stands out was travelling with my classmates to Colombia and meeting our consulting clients and seeing parts of Medellin. It was a once in a lifetime experience and deeply enriching. It was incredible to get to know my classmates more, especially considering how they came from all over the world—from Russia to Norway to China and the US. It was an incredible and fun trip!

"The other trip that stands out is the Business School Trek to Dublin where we met so many brilliant and bright alumni and got to meet other people from other courses. It was such a good trip and we really got exposure to different industries. It was a lot of fun and lifelong bonds were formed."

What key thing that you learnt at the Business School do you still rely on today?

"How to work effectively in a diverse team. The diversity of the programme was notable—we had people from all over the world, and that enriched our learning. It was also a challenge to get used to the cultural differences, but these lessons have been invaluable in my working life, as teamwork is critical and the ability to work in diverse teams is crucial."

Proudest work-related achievement to date?

"The Heads of Mission African Summit in Edinburgh, the official opening of Adam Smith's Panmure House in Edinburgh, and attending the United Nations General Assembly in 2019."

What's the one thing you think current students need to develop or learn before entering the modern workplace?

"Learn to be a resilient and cooperative team player where you contribute to your workplace and lift up others while you grow yourself. It is important to have a 'can-do' attitude, as your attitude will determine your altitude. Technical skills are a baseline, but emotional intelligence and people skills will set you apart from everyone else. Your ability to work in a team, to be a positive force in your workplace, and your attitude will open doors for you. Learn how to control your emotions to ensure you can rise above normal workplace frustrations."