Smangaliso Areal Mbili

Activist, Change Agent, Entrepreneur, Global soul, Life mentor, Performer, Potential employer, Public servant, Scientist, Student

A Bezos Scholar and a graduate of the African Leadership University where he was a Mandela Centennial Scholar and graduated with a first class honours in BA (Hons) Global Challenges. He is the Founder and Director of the Areal Mbili Foundation. He currently holds a position as a Centre Administrator and Marketing Coordinator at the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music, prior to this current role, he was a Research Assistant at Vatel Rwanda - International Hospitality School where he led research department and an international case study development partnership on Rwanda and Nigeria’s Hospitality and Tourism Industries. Smangaliso is a skilled community and youth development activist, entrepreneur, researcher, curriculum development and special education facilitator. His focus areas are entrepreneurial, leadership and business development, marketing, process optimization, and project management. He is a 2020 Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa Alumni for the Business & Entrepreneurship track.

Well, I am currently passionate about education. This passion has been ignited by the poor learning conditions of some public schools in South Africa, which later affect the students who graduated from such schools. This was after switching schools from a public school in Soweto to an international private school in honeydew, where I arrived as the top student from my school only to have great challenges in class and a few times have been last. I would say that my current passion is born out of the activism that I pursue and work by all means to apply it where injustice lies. While at my last year at the African Leadership Academy I realised my motivation and passion for activism in areas of minority groups, youth empowerment and development and women empowerment. Growing up in a society where racism has almost been normalised, I believe has created in me, an individual who is ready to resist, stand our and affirm my validity and be proud of who I am as a black young human.

Business Development, Consulting, Dance, Entreprenuership, Leadership, Marketing, Motivational Speaker, Problem Solver, Public Speaking, Teaching