Isaac’s story on… building a career development ecosystem for Africa

Isaac describes his journey as the shedding of various identities, each of which has shaped him into the founder and leader he is today. A journey of transformation that has empowered him to find his true passion, cultivate resilience, and make a meaningful impact on others through his mission-driven work.

“If only we believed in ourselves earlier on in the journey. I realize now that nothing else truly changed; it was simply a matter of having self-belief. Once that confidence takes root, actions follow naturally, bringing us closer to the steps that lead to success in the end.”

Isaac was a brilliant scholar with all the qualities needed to succeed in the field of engineering, but so close to the finish line, a lack of financial resources kept him from completing his final year and earning his degree. At a career crossroad, he reflected on how his vibrant, outgoing nature conflicted with the classic engineering persona he saw in his peers. Becoming an engineer was his lifelong dream, but he was met with the sense that he was destined for another path. 

How does one dismantle the identity they've dedicated years to building and defining? For Isaac, learning has always been his guiding light, so he embarked on a journey to expand his knowledge through various online certifications. Along the way, he built a strong portfolio of skills and experience, enhanced his professional profile, and actively sought new opportunities. As he advanced in his early career, he gained exposure to three key areas that would become the essential foundation for his future venture: working alongside an entrepreneur who gave him a taste for building a business; his time as an IT teacher, which unlocked his understanding of how to best engage students in learning; and later, as a talent acquisition specialist, which taught him the importance of people-career-role fit.

Throughout his years as an employee, Isaac also honed his entrepreneurial skills by innovating in the edutech space. He confronted tough lessons around pricing strategies, crafting a compelling value proposition, commercializing ideas, and truly finding product-market fit - all hard-earned experiences that would prove invaluable for his next venture. 

“As I broke a three-day fast, I asked for a sign. What followed was unexpected - I lost my job, and soon after, I lost my home. Hardship keeps you in a humble state and humility helps us find purpose in the face of loss. Amid this hardship, I was given a powerful idea: a game called CareerKit.”

Isaac turned to learning once again and consumed all he could on business to bring his CareerKit idea to life: an innovative online platform that empowers individuals in their career development journey by providing a wide range of tools, learning resources, and career guidance products. This business went on to capture widespread attention and recognition, earning numerous accolades such as the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award, the Technology Innovation Agency’s Sales Beyond SA Borders Award, and the KZN Youth Business Award for Youth in Social Entrepreneurship. It was also a finalist in the Global Innovation Challenge by JPMorgan Chase & Social Shifters, and crowned the winner of the Youth-Owned Business Award 2025 Education & Literature Brand!

“The work we do is deeply human-centered, so we are constantly impacting lives. Over time as this sunk in, I realized that we are part of a much larger mission. This business serves as a conduit for creating meaningful change. Embracing this calls for continuous learning, humility, insight, and the discipline to apply these principles in absolutely everything we do.”

The CareerKit flagship product (The RIASEC Board Game) is an interactive career discovery game based on Holland’s RIASEC theory, which categorizes people into six personality types - Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional - to help match individuals with compatible careers. Building on this, specialized spin-offs have been developed into tailored Careerkits designed for specific industries and age groups, offering personalized career exploration and guidance. The CareerKit business has become much more than a board game; it is a career guidance ecosystem for learners (beneficiaries), parents, schools, and corporations. The CareerKit board game functions as a tool to engage users in self-discovery, facilitate meaningful conversations about career choices, and provide practical insights that guide individuals toward fulfilling and suitable career paths.

Much like Isaac likens his journey to a spiritual awakening - where personal and professional growth is deeply intertwined - he also describes career guidance as a dual process of self-awareness and self-actualization. This is why he has intentionally incorporated fun, engaging, and accessible elements into the business offering. 

Compassionate, resilient, energetic, and passionate, Isaac is constantly working toward his vision of building Africa’s number one career development platform. He has more ideas in the works, including extending their repertoire to facilitate a learner’s journey from preschool to high school and beyond, a mobile learning bus that can access deep rural areas, as well as an emerging social platform that curates learning content for learners. This is the mindset of a true ecosystem builder determined to make a dent in the future of education and career development across the continent.

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