Sinothando Manala

I am a researcher, entrepreneur and an academic at heart. I have a proficient breadth and depth of quantitative and qualitative research skills. I define myself as a ‘pracademic’, with vast interest and passion in using theory and research to solve practical business and socio-economic problems. Outside academia and developing my career, I have a registered non-profit organisation, Helping1Another (H1A), that seeks to improve high school learners' online career development experience. One of my achievements is my five-year social entrepreneurial journey; as a founder, my inspiration comes from the desire to contribute towards developing a new paradigm of computer-assisted career guidance systems. I am  currently working on completing the first mock-up for the H1A web app concept to be launched in 2025.

Dynamic professional with three years of experience in project management in the field of digital career development and five years of experience performing functions relating to research studies/reporting, data collection, and data and policy analysis in the private and public sectors. 

I have recently completed my Masters in Management in the field of public development sector, majoring in Monitoring and Evaluation at the University of Witwatersrand. 

Thesis title: Stakeholder experiences of the effectiveness of the National Career Advice Portal (NCAP) in Public Schools in Gauteng. The NCAP is a component of the Career Development Services Policy gazetted in 2017 in South Africa.