Amy KleinhansCurd

I’m running my wonderful Dial-A-Teacher project, a homework helpline for children that serves about 350000 families – we market the service to large corporate databases who offer it to their clients as a value-add. We’re looking at ways for teaching to migrate to remote platforms so my teachers don’t have to come to the call centre any longer. Then they would be able to operate from wherever they’re based, which would reduce transport costs and give them more flexibility.

We moved from Johannesburg to the Franschhoek valley in 2012. I’m on the board for Bridge House School, my children’s school in Franschhoek, and I’m a director on the Franschhoek Wine Tourism board. I’m finding the exposure to corporate South Africa and education fascinating.

In addition to being a senior director of business consultancy Private Label Promotions, I head the company’s small- to mediumsized enterprise division – it’s exceptionally exciting and inspiring to be involved with young entrepreneurs who are trying to get their businesses off the ground. I really believe the South African economy will flourish if we encourage one another to be more entrepreneurial.

I’m also a 50% partner in the Jan Harmsgat Country House, a five-star guest house, and wine and fruit farm.

On the home front, my daughter is in her first year at university; my son is 17 and in Grade 11; and my little one is in Grade 5. My foster daughter is having her first baby soon, and I’m really looking forward to that.

My wish for the future is to see leaders we can be proud of running the country – like we were of Nelson Mandela. I hope we can become a force to be reckoned with, and a thriving nation, true to our purpose.