Tiekie Barnard

Tiekie Barnard is a visionary entrepreneur, business strategist, and advocate for purpose-driven capitalism. As the Founder and CEO of Shift Impact Africa and Shared Value Africa, she has dedicated her career to fostering the Shared Value Business Management across Africa, ensuring that businesses create economic value while simultaneously addressing societal and environmental challenges. Guided by a deep sense of purpose and accountability to a higher calling, she believes that true leadership is about stewardship—driving systemic change that leaves a lasting impact on people, businesses, and the continent.

Tiekie has successfully established and led several pioneering initiatives and entities that contribute to Africa’s economic and social transformation, including Shared Value Africa, a pan-African advocacy platform driving Shared Value adoption across the private sector with operational offices in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, and plans to expand into more countries across the continent.; Shift Impact Africa, a consulting firm specializing in Shared Value strategy, ESG advisory, and corporate sustainability; JamiiTrade, a peer-to-peer capacity-building and trade platform designed to support SMEs in intra-African trade; the Institute for Competitiveness Africa, a research entity focused on business competitiveness and sustainability; the Shared Value Africa Academy, a training institute offering entrepreneurship and leadership development and corporate capacity-building programs; the GBVF #ItsNotOK Movement, a high-impact awareness campaign against gender-based violence and femicide; and the Shared Value Africa Gender Equality Unit, a platform addressing gender equality and workplace harassment across industries. 

Tiekie has been instrumental in developing and executing influential platforms and forums that continue to make a tangible impact on the African continent. These include the African Entrepreneurship Forum, creating an ecosystem for young businesses to connect, learn, and scale; the African Universities Gender Equality Forum, engaging academic institutions to drive gender parity and inclusivity; the CEO Connect Forum & Shared Value Series, bringing top executives together to discuss Shared Value strategy; the Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit, a flagship gathering of thought leaders, businesses, and policymakers to drive Shared Value adoption; the Africa Shared Value & ESG Summit, advancing the integration of Shared Value principles into ESG strategies across industries; and the Shared Value Purpose Playbook Training Series, empowering businesses with actionable frameworks to implement purpose-driven strategies.

Tiekie has contributed to numerous research papers and publications, providing insights on Shared Value, ESG, and corporate sustainability. Her work has influenced industry best practices and policy discussions across Africa. She is a Gold Member of the Global Reporting Initiative, reinforcing her commitment to corporate transparency and sustainability reporting. She also serves as a member of the Vega School of Brand Leadership Advisory Committee, the Global Shared Value Steering Committee, and the Agrilux Marketing Advisory Committee, among others. Additionally, she is a board member at Creatella Impact in New York, an impact investment firm supporting high-growth ventures with social impact, and a faculty member at Strathmore Business School, where she co-created and co-lectured Africa’s first-ever Shared Value Course in 2020.

A highly sought-after speaker at global conferences, universities, and industry events, Tiekie shares her deep expertise on Shared Value Business Management and its alignment with ESG principles. Her engaging presentations and thought leadership have positioned her as a key voice in shaping corporate sustainability strategies, responsible leadership, and impact-driven business models. She has addressed audiences ranging from C-suite executives to emerging entrepreneurs, advocating for profit with purpose and the transformative power of integrating ESG and Shared Value into corporate strategies.

Recognizing that creating value for all stakeholders is the precursor to any ESG framework, Tiekie continues to advocate for the recognition that Shared Value and ESG go hand in hand. She believes that businesses can not only report on ESG metrics but but need to actively create economic, environmental, and social value to ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of their operations.

Her work has been recognized with several prestigious awards. In 2017, she was nominated for the South Africa Businesswomen’s Association Regional Business Achievers Award in the Social Entrepreneurship category. In 2019, she completed Harvard Business School’s Creating Shared Value: Competitive Advantage Through Social Impact course, taught by Michael Porter and Mark Kramer. In 2020, she was named one of Africa’s Women Leaders by the World Women Leadership Congress and Awards. In 2021, she was recognized for Conscious Visionary Leadership by the Conscious Companies Awards, with SVA ranked among South Africa’s Top 10 Conscious Companies. In 2023, she was a finalist for CEO of The Year at the Woman of Stature Awards South Africa.

Tiekie envisions a future where every company and entrepreneur on the continent practices Shared Value, driving profit with purpose and creating prosperity for all. She continues to influence business strategy, public policy, and entrepreneurial ecosystems to foster sustainable economic growth that benefits all stakeholders.

Websites & Social Media:

• Shared Value Africa: www.SVAI.africa

• Shift Impact Africa: www.shiftimpact.africa

• #ItsNotOK Campaign: www.itsnotok.africa

• JamiiTrade: www.jamiitrade.africa

• YouTube: SVAI YouTube Channel