Zinhle Novazi

Zinhle is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, a Tax and Fiduciary Specialist at Investec, a Director of the Heavy Chef Foundation NPC and a Chevening Alumni. She is also an aspiring entrepreneurial thought leader, a public speaker and identifies as a Multipotentialite/ Expert Generalist.

Zinhle Novazi has interests in entrepreneurship, technology, and tax, she holds a Master’s of Laws degree specialising in Technology, Media and Telecommunications from Queen Mary University of London. She is due to complete her Master’s in Taxation law with the University of Witwatersrand in December 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences majoring in Politics and Law as well as a postgraduate LLB from the University of Cape Town.

Zinhle is a remarkable candidate for the Forty Under 40 nominee due to her unique blend of expertise, passion, and impact. As a Director of the Heavy Chef Foundation, she is dedicated to bridging the gap in entrepreneurship education, particularly for disconnected entrepreneurs in South Africa. Her commitment to making entrepreneurship accessible and equitable sets her apart as an advocate for social change. Zinhle’s role at Heavy Chef  involves curating shared learning experiences for a vibrant community of over 40,000 entrepreneurs. Through daily educational bites, she empowers individuals to start businesses and equips them with the knowledge to succeed. Her ability to connect entrepreneurs and provide a platform for knowledge sharing highlights her talent for fostering collaborative environments.

As director of the Heavy Chef Foundation, Zinhle had the opportunity to see how important education is in empowering entrepreneurs in South Africa, especially those in disempowered communities. She joined Heavy Chef because she strongly shares its vision of creating learning experiences for entrepreneurs in Africa, by creating a network of entrepreneurs and sharing knowledge. She is now able to assist Heavy Chef NPO from a strategy aspect to realize all its key objectives. The Heavy Chef Foundation also collects data on the state of entrepreneurship education in South Africa, the latest report looks at how technology in Web 3 (cloud computing, AI and data analytics) will affect the future entrepreneurs in South Africa. Initially she started as an Anchor in 2019 on the Heavy Chef Show, she had the opportunity to build a well cultivated and diverse network and build long lasting relationships in Heavy Chef’s community of 43 000 entrepreneurs. Towards the end of 2019, she become a Consultant for Heavy Chef assisting with quality control of the content uploaded on the platform. In 2022, she was appointed as a Director for the NPC wing of Heavy Chef to assist with driving the growth of the foundation and providing support to its partners, trustees and members.

As a Master of Ceremony for Heavy Chef’s monthly master classes, Zinhle has the privilege of engaging with disrupters, visionaries, and innovators. Through her interviews, she skillfully uncovers their secret recipes and special ingredients, providing valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. Her ability to captivate audiences with humour, charisma, and thought-provoking content distinguishes her as a captivating speaker.

As a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship, Zinhle was one of the 1600 scholars chosen from 64 000 applicants to pursue a Masters in London in 2021.Zinhle has been interviewed by the Financial Times, BBC news. Particularly in 2022, Zinhle used her social media influence to raise awareness about Rynair’s discriminatory practice that required South Africans to fill in an Afrikaans quiz to verify their nationality.

Zinhle has also worked as Teaching Assistant at Queen Mary University of London for the Cloud Legal project from November 2021 to September 2022.The Cloud Legal Project, which has been led by Professor Christopher Millard has enabled Zinhle to be part of a team that researches the legal and regulatory implications of the use of cloud computing services. Zinhle had the opportunity to work closely with Vasiliki Koukoulioti on creating content on corporate income tax implications of the digitalized economy in relation to cloud computing services.

In the community, Zinhle is involved in numerous philanthropic pursuits. Her role as a facilitator between organizations with similar objectives and philanthropic pursuits showcases her ability to connect and bring together like-minded individuals. By bridging the gap and fostering collaboration, she amplifies the impact of these organizations, allowing them to work more effectively towards their shared goals. Whether through volunteering, organizing events, or providing support, Zinhle’s contributions would enhance the positive impact of these institutions on the lives of their members and the community at large.Her dedication to making a difference in society demonstrates her exceptional leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others.

Zinhle also enjoys using her social media platforms to inspire the youth.Zinhle is an aspiring entrepreneurial thought leader who has an innate curiosity and passion to use uncommon, innovative ideas to solve socio-economic problems in South Africa. Zinhle has been involved in multiple start-ups. In 2015, the Cool shacks project aimed to find affordable ways of improving living conditions in shacks by reducing temperatures inside shacks and establishing interim solutions for fire retardation, drainage, passive lighting and waterproofing.

Zinhle is immersed in South Africa, she was raised by a single mother. She had the opportunity to live in 7 different cities across 5 different provinces during her childhood. She believes that this played a fundamental role in enabling her to genuinely connect with different people from all walks of life.

In summary, Zinhle’s expertise as a multipotentialite and expert generalist, combined with her passion for entrepreneurship education and philanthropy, sets her apart as an exceptional Forty under 40 nominee. Her ability to connect with diverse audiences, inspire change, and foster collaboration make her an influential force in the entrepreneurial landscape of South Africa and beyond.