Colleen’s expertise areas are social entrepreneurship and out-of-classroom learning methods, focusing on dialogue and experiential learning.

Colleen is a Partner of Reos Social Innovation, based in Johannesburg.

She is also a faculty member at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and previously managed the Policy, Leadership and Gender Studies Unit (PL&G) at GIBS. PL&G builds broader awareness and involvement in socio-economic issues, including, halving unemployment and building an inclusive, sustainable democracy.

She has supervised a number of teaching cases on social entrepreneurship, and edited the book: “Dust to Diamonds: Stories of South African Social Entrepreneurs.”

Previous to GIBS, Colleen co-founded an international learning network of social change agents called Pioneers of Change (www.pioneersofchange.net). Pioneers of Change now involve people from over 70 countries in its programmes and activities.

Colleen has also worked with businesses and NGOs as a facilitator in developing leadership and strategy. Her consultation work includes working with World Vision, SOS Children’s Villages, Save the Children, The Nelson Mandela Foundation/GTZ, Business Women’s Association, WITS School of Humanities, City of Johannesburg, Quality Life, and a range of consulting groups in South Africa.

Colleen graduated from the University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with a dual degree in Law and Economics, and has a Masters degree in Organisational Change and Knowledge Management from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal. She has also attended the following executive programmes: “Making Markets Work” and “Teaching the Practice of Management”, both offered by Harvard Business School.