Noor Jehan Docrat is a globally recognised leader in community-driven development, innovation and sustainable development. As CEO and Founder of Adora Earth, a pioneering African-rooted, women-led organisation, she designs and implements sustainable, inclusive programmes in partnership with women, youth, and communities across Africa. Over the past two decades, Noor Jehan has collaborated with academic institutions, governments, multilateral organisations, and local communities to strengthen leadership, build financial and gender-inclusive economies, and shape equitable systems that balance social, cultural, and environmental outcomes. Her work bridges science, culture, and systems innovation, accelerating impact at scale while redefining what sustainable development can look like in practice. In 2024, she was honoured as an Impact Pioneer by the Svenska Institute and selected by UNESCO as a Youth for Peace Leader (2025/2026) for Intercultural Dialogue and Peacebuilding in South Africa. Across all initiatives, Noor Jehan centres partnership and collective action, working alongside communities to co-create solutions that are equitable, resilient, and sustainable.

I see myself on a purposeful life path that allows collaboration, continuous learning, and meaningful growth. I have been lucky enough to hold really cool roles at big and small companies, from startups to corporates and everything in between. I am currently part of The Startup School team that is building an online school and holistic ecosystem of support for African entrepreneurs, to help drive inclusive growth on the African continent. I am adamant that inclusive education, technology, and entrepreneurship are key to addressing some of Africa's biggest challenges.

“I create spaces where curiosity and reflection unlock courage — empowering people to think deeply, learn boldly, and play big.” Celeste Stewart is the founder of Bold Curiosity, a learning consultancy she established in 2014 to design innovative, human-centred learning experiences. With over 25 years of experience across corporate and consulting environments, Celeste has worked in diverse functions including IT, Distribution, Store Operations, and Financial Services—always with a focus on learning and development. A recent UCT graduate with a Master of Philosophy (Inclusive Innovation), Celeste’s research explored the role of curiosity in the self-directed learning of graduates transitioning into the workplace. This work has deepened her expertise in building enabling environments where curiosity thrives, autonomy develops, and talent flourishes. Her insights are particularly impactful in the design of graduate programmes, where curiosity is a key lever for resilience, motivation, adaptability, and growth. As a learning strategist at heart, Celeste partners with organisations to articulate strategy, design learning frameworks, and facilitate transformative experiences. She is also a mentor, facilitator, and motivational speaker who brings energy, critical thinking, and authenticity into every space she enters. Celeste has completed the Tara Mohr Playing Big Facilitator Programme, equipping her to help individuals silence their inner critic and step into their innate power. She is also a certified HBDI practitioner and a Time to Think (Nancy Kline) facilitator. Celeste is deeply inspired by Nancy Kline’s work and believes in the power of creating a thinking environment where people can reflect on how they think as the foundation for meaningful engagement with themselves and others. Together, these frameworks enable her to empower individuals and teams to play bigger, think deeper, and connect more authentically. Celeste is passionate about putting Africa first in conversations about the future of work and talent. Her curiosity to connect, communicate, and strategise, allows her to reimagine possibilities for people development in dynamic, ever-changing environments. When she isn’t designing programmes or facilitating learning, you’ll find Celeste reading in a coffee shop, swimming and walking on the beach, painting abstract art, or building Lego creations with her two sons—who remind her daily of the power of play, imagination, and curiosity. An expressive soul and unapologetic fashionista, Celeste embraces authentic self-expression as a way of living and working fully.