Pierre Dubuc (co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms) joins host Monde Nkosi to explore the role of technology and innovation in making quality education more accessible. Pierre explores OpenClassrooms’ innovative model of working hand-in-hand with employers to teach “tomorrow’s skills for tomorrow’s jobs”, helping students to get their first job, get promoted, switch careers, or get a better job. He advocates for the role of AI and online learning in making education more accessible and cost-effective, highlighting that the majority of higher education students in the US are studying online - a huge shift over the last two decades. Pierre also pays tribute to his fellow co-founder, Mathieu Nebra, who he describes as an extremely talented educator who can simultaneously teach, captivate, and inspire.
Pierre is co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms, one of the world’s leading providers of online education serving over 200,000 students from over 140 countries. Their mission is to make education accessible and their vision is to become the world’s leading apprenticeship and reskilling provider. Pierre is also a founding member of the Edtech Founders Club. He holds a Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering from the National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon (INSA Lyon). Watch on YouTube
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The Business of School Sports in Africa with Thando Bakumeni
Thando Bakumeni (Head of SuperSport Schools) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss youth sport in Africa. Thando reflects on the human side of youth sport - such as its role in communities and unearthing talent - and unpacks the commercial side of youth sport. He also shares the roots of his passion for sport and pays tribute to those who have shaped his journey.
Thando is the Head of SuperSport Schools, the leading broadcasting platform for youth sport in Africa. Founded in 2021, the SuperSport Schools App has rapidly grown to more than 1.3 million registered users. In 2024 alone, SuperSport Schools covered more than 4.5 thousand youth events in 3.5 thousand schools and clubs across more than 50 sporting codes.
Prior to SuperSport Schools, Thando was Senior Manager for Africa Sport at SuperSport covering a wide range of countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia. He started his career in sports marketing at Playmakers. Thando holds qualifications in Sports Management and Business Administration from the University of Pretoria and Wits University. Watch on YouTube
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Student Accommodation in South Africa with Amo Mocumi
Amo Mocumi (Head of Growthpoint Properties’ Student Accommodation REIT) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss purpose-built student accommodation in South Africa. Amo describes the importance of accommodation to student outcomes, explaining that it is more than just a bed - it includes a range of amenities to support student success, such as psychological assistance, academic support programs, good internet connectivity, and 24/7 safe environments. He highlights the significant and growing imbalance between fast-growing enrolments at universities and the limited number of residences to accommodate these students, advocating for private sector investors to play a role in fixing that imbalance. Amo also shares personal reflections on his journey and pays tribute to those who have shaped him.
Amo is the Head of Growthpoint Properties’ Student Accommodation REIT, which was launched in 2021 and has rapidly grown to 14 properties serving more than 10,000 students across private and public higher education institutions in South Africa, with a portfolio valued in the billions of Rands. Prior to Growthpoint, Amo was Head of Real Estate Acquisitions at the Public Investment Corporation, Africa’s largest asset manager. He started his career in construction at Triple C Management and real estate investment banking at Nedbank. Amo holds a BSc in Construction Studies and a BCom Honours in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management, both from the University of Cape Town, and an MSc in Real Estate Investment from the University of Reading. Watch on YouTube
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Ethics Education with Tom Hardin
Tom Hardin (Founder of Tipper X) joins host Monde Nkosi to explore ethics education. Tom recounts his remarkable journey from hedge fund investor to FBI informant in some of the largest financial crime cases in history. Drawing on his unique experience and over 600 ethics training sessions he has delivered in 13 countries, Tom shares powerful and universal ethical lessons - insights that individuals can apply in their own lives and that corporates can embed into their cultures. Tom also shares his perspectives on the future of ethics training, including the use of AI for experiential sessions and simulations that deepen reflection.
Tom is the founder of Tipper X Advisors LLC, one of the world’s leading firms in ethics and compliance training. He has advised many investment firms and regulators on ethics and compliance. Tom is a recognised expert and his work has been featured all over the world such as at Stanford Law School, Harvard Business School, the United States Attorney’s Office, Compliance Asia, and the Middle East and Africa Compliance Association. Tom is a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His memoir, Wired on Wall Street, is set to be released through Wiley Publishing in February 2026. Watch on YouTube
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Innovation in Higher Education with Nicolas Badré
Nicolas Badré, Founder of Copernia and former COO of Galileo Global Education, joins host Monde Nkosi to explore how education must reinvent itself in the age of AI. He highlights that the accelerating pace of change in the job market demands radical innovation and adaptability in the education system - for both learners and institutions.
Drawing on his experience leading operations at Galileo - one of the world’s largest higher education groups with over 300,000 students across 20 countries - Nicolas created Copernia, a new school dedicated to educational transformation. Born within Galileo and developed with partners including Macromedia University in Germany, emlyon Business School in France, European University Cyprus, and Noroff in Norway, Copernia’s flagship program - the Master of Innovation and Technology for Education - aims to prepare the next generation of education leaders.
Nicolas explains how Copernia and Galileo are driving a radical shift: putting students, not institutions, at the centre, and creating personalised pathways for lifelong learning. He also reflects on his own journey - from more than 25 years in industrial leadership including as CFO of Nexans, the world’s second-largest cable manufacturer, to shaping the future of education. Watch on YouTube