Education Investment with Monde Nkosi

We’ve come to the end of this season of the Education Investment Podcast. Our 20 episodes have given us a front row seat in classrooms from South Africa to Nigeria, France, the UAE, India, the UK, the US, Australia, Denmark and many others. It has been a privilege to shine a light on leading innovators in this sector that we love and to learn alongside you, our listeners and supporters.

Pierre Dubuc (co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms) joins host Monde Nkosi to explore the role of technology and innovation in making quality education more accessible. Pierre explores OpenClassrooms’ innovative model of working hand-in-hand with employers to teach “tomorrow’s skills for tomorrow’s jobs”, helping students to get their first job, get promoted, switch careers, or get a better job. He advocates for the role of AI and online learning in making education more accessible and cost-effective, highlighting that the majority of higher education students in the US are studying online -…

Thando Bakumeni (Head of SuperSport Schools) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss youth sport in Africa. Thando reflects on the human side of youth sport - such as its role in communities and unearthing talent - and unpacks the commercial side of youth sport. He also shares the roots of his passion for sport and pays tribute to those who have shaped his journey.

Thando is the Head of SuperSport Schools, the leading broadcasting platform for youth sport in Africa. Founded in 2021, the SuperSport Schools App has rapidly grown to more than 1.3 million registered users. In 2024 alone, SuperSport…

Amo Mocumi (Head of Growthpoint Properties’ Student Accommodation REIT) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss purpose-built student accommodation in South Africa. Amo describes the importance of accommodation to student outcomes, explaining that it is more than just a bed - it includes a range of amenities to support student success, such as psychological assistance, academic support programs, good internet connectivity, and 24/7 safe environments. He highlights the significant and growing imbalance between fast-growing enrolments at universities and the limited number of residences to…

Tom Hardin (Founder of Tipper X) joins host Monde Nkosi to explore ethics education. Tom recounts his remarkable journey from hedge fund investor to FBI informant in some of the largest financial crime cases in history. Drawing on his unique experience and over 600 ethics training sessions he has delivered in 13 countries, Tom shares powerful and universal ethical lessons - insights that individuals can apply in their own lives and that corporates can embed into their cultures. Tom also shares his perspectives on the future of ethics training, including the use of AI for experiential sessions…

Nicolas Badré, Founder of Copernia and former COO of Galileo Global Education, joins host Monde Nkosi to explore how education must reinvent itself in the age of AI. He highlights that the accelerating pace of change in the job market demands radical innovation and adaptability in the education system - for both learners and institutions.

Drawing on his experience leading operations at Galileo - one of the world’s largest higher education groups with over 300,000 students across 20 countries - Nicolas created Copernia, a new school dedicated to educational transformation. Born within…

Rosan Bosch (Founder and Creative Director of Rosan Bosch Studio) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss the design of future-proof learning spaces. She unpacks how physical space can be seen as a pedagogical tool for learning enhancement and how thoughtful design can nurture essential skills like creativity, collaboration and learner agency. Rosan explains her Built Pedagogy approach and offers personal reflections on her journey - including the origins of her passion for transforming education through design.

Rosan is a pioneer in reimagining educational spaces. She developed the Learning…

Dr. Mark Abell joins host Monde Nkosi to unpack the dynamics of international expansion in education. Mark explains why and how schools and universities venture abroad, highlighting the differences between for-profit and non-profit models and the key factors that separate successful expansions from failed ones. Mark also shares some personal reflections on his journey and pays a heartfelt tribute to teachers who have profoundly shaped his life.

Mark is a highly regarded international lawyer with over 40 years’ experience in international education. He currently acts as a consultant to a…

Matthew Butler-Adam (Regional Managing Director of Duke Corporate Education) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss corporate education and Human Capital Theory. Matthew provides an overview of the >$100 billion corporate education sector globally. He breaks down the sector into various verticals, exploring their characteristics and growth profile. Matthew also describes the academic research into the reasons behind growing educational spend at individual and country levels, with a specific focus on Human Capital Theory. Matthew shares personal reflections from his journey growing up in Durban,…

Pitso Mosimane and Moira Tlhagale (founders of Pitso Mosimane Youth Football) join host Monde Nkosi to discuss the intersection of football and education. They explore the importance of age-appropriate physical education in schools and describe how they are bringing to life their vision of developing players of the future who are well educated, socially adept, and technically equipped to compete at the highest level. They also share personal stories about their journeys and pay tribute to their teachers and mentors.

Pitso Mosimane and Moira Tlhagale are the founders of Pitso Mosimane Youth…

Doug Becker (founder of Cintana Education, Laureate Education and co-founder of Sterling Partners) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss investing and leadership in education. Doug shares personal and professional lessons from his exceptional entrepreneurial journey spanning multiple successful businesses in education and healthcare. Focusing on his work in education, from K-12 tutoring to global higher education, Doug explores the importance of partnerships, technology, and maintaining a strong sense of mission and purpose.

Doug is an exceptional entrepreneur and investor. He is the Founder and…

Melvyn Lubega (Partner at Breega and founding executive of Go1) talks to host Monde Nkosi about EdTech and corporate learning. Melvyn explores the $300 billion professional and corporate learning market globally. He explains the growth of the market, digitisation and the evolution from compliance training to ongoing professional development and lifelong learning. Melvyn discusses venture capital with a focus on the EdTech sector, including sharing lessons from some of the common pitfalls he has observed. Melvyn also shares some personal stories on his journey, the roots of his passion for…

Robert Paddock (co-founder of GetSmarter, Hubble Studios, and Valenture Institute) talks to host Monde Nkosi about EdTech and leadership. Robert discusses EdTech in K-12, higher education, and lifelong learning. He explores the potential of technology to transform education, and explains the limitations of technology and the important role of humans in the learning process. Robert also discusses personal lessons from his entrepreneurial journey founding three successful EdTech companies. These lessons include deeply challenging topics such as burnout and personal fulfilment.

Robert is an…

Sudeep Laad, Partner in L.E.K. Consulting’s Global Education Practice, talks to host Monde Nkosi about investing in education. Sudeep shares an overview of the $25 billion annual investments that go into independent education groups around the world, and explains the various verticals that these investments go into. He highlights emerging themes in the education sector that he is excited about, including premium schools expanding to emerging markets, mid-fee schools in countries with growing middle classes (such as Vietnam), and higher education in regions with rising enrolment rates (such as…

Geoff Whyte, Group CEO of ADvTECH Limited (JSE:ADH), talks to host Monde Nkosi about leading a combined schools and higher education group serving more than 100,000 students across multiple countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Ethiopia. Geoff presents his investment and social impact case for ADvTECH and independent education. Geoff also shares some personal stories about his journey from growing up in Scotland to living, and working, in multiple countries including England, Russia, and the Netherlands; and moving to South Africa in the late 1990s.

ADvTECH is an education…

Jasmeet Singh Chhabra (co-founder of JV Ventures, Cappella, and Crimson Schools) talks to host Monde Nkosi about education infrastructure in India with a focus on primary and secondary schools (K-12). Jasmeet describes the phenomenal scale and fundamentals of India’s K-12 education system. He presents his investment case for school properties in India and explains his approach to building long-term win/win partnerships with education groups. Jasmeet also discusses the social impact of the sector and shares some personal stories about his journey, including the source of his enduring love for…

Stacey Brewer (co-founder and Chair of SPARK Schools) talks to host Monde Nkosi about her experience building a network of affordable independent schools in South Africa. Stacey explains how SPARK deliver high quality education at an affordable fee level, correcting a common misconception that independent schools only serve the wealthy. She discusses SPARK’s use of technology, as well as their innovative approach to scheduling, real estate, and teacher professional development. Stacey also shares some personal stories about how SPARK evolved from her MBA thesis and pays tribute to some of the…

Victor Hu (co-founder and Managing Partner of Lumos Capital Group) talks to host Monde Nkosi about growth-stage investing in human capital and education technology globally. Victor explores the investment case for the large and growing industry of software and service providers in the education and workforce development sectors. He discusses segments of the industry using various companies as examples including Instructure, PowerSchool, Duolingo, BookNook, Core Education, and Transfr. Victor also shares some personal stories about his journey and the role education has played in his family.…

Rob de Vos, CEO of Arena REIT (ASX:ARF), talks to host Monde Nkosi about the education infrastructure sector in Australia with a focus on the early learning (preschools/pre-K) segment. Rob gives an overview of the $60 billion property market for early learning centres in Australia and presents his investment case for the sector. He explains how long-term win/win partnerships work between property owners and education groups, including his approach to setting affordable and sustainable rents. He also discusses the social impact of the sector, and shares some personal stories about his journey…

Chinezi Chijioke (co-founder and CEO of Nova Pioneer) talks to host Monde Nkosi about his experience building a network of independent schools in South Africa and Kenya. Chinezi describes the diversity of the independent school sector, correcting a common misconception that independent schools only serve the very wealthy. He lays out the investment case for affordable independent schools across Africa, one of the few regions globally with a growing young population. Chinezi also discusses the social impact of the sector and shares some personal stories about his journey from Nigeria to two of…

Ed Senior delivers a masterclass on schools as an investment sector. We explore the independent school sector from the perspective of an investor, discussing some of the large groups, the profile of investors in the sector, and various business models such as asset heavy vs. asset light. We also explore the social impact of the sector and Ed shares some personal stories about how education and teachers have shaped his journey and his children’s journey.

Ed is very well positioned to deliver insights on investing in schools. He is a seasoned executive with significant experience in investment…

In a world where investors are looking for stable and growing long-term returns with social impact, the education sector is becoming increasingly attractive.

We speak to leading educators, operators, and investors in the education sector around the world to explore this growing investment theme alongside our listeners. From preschools to K-12 schools to higher education and vocational education, from ed tech to education infrastructure, from VC investors to private equity and family offices, we explore it all.

I'm your host, Monde Nkosi. Education has always been a big part of my life…