Learnpluza

Meet the People Behind Your Financial Success

Real educators, genuine expertise, and a shared commitment to transforming how South Africans approach personal finance

Sarah Mitchell

Lead Financial Educator

With over eight years in financial planning across Cape Town and Johannesburg, Sarah brings real-world budgeting experience to every lesson. She's helped more than 1,200 South African families create sustainable spending plans.

Budget Planning Debt Management Emergency Funds Family Finance

Sarah started her career at Standard Bank before moving into independent financial consulting. What sets her apart is her ability to translate complex financial concepts into practical, actionable steps. She developed our signature "Rand by Rand" budgeting method after working with families struggling to make ends meet during the 2020 economic challenges. Sarah holds a BCom in Financial Planning from Stellenbosch University and continues to mentor young professionals in the Western Cape.

Marcus van der Merwe

Savings Strategy Expert

From township economics to corporate finance, Marcus understands money challenges at every level. His background includes five years at Old Mutual and extensive work with small business owners across KwaZulu-Natal.

Savings Goals Investment Basics Business Finance Risk Planning

Marcus grew up in Durban and witnessed firsthand how financial literacy can transform communities. After completing his honors in Economics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he spent years working with informal traders and small business owners. His approach combines traditional savings wisdom with modern financial tools. Marcus created our "Stokvel to Stocks" program, which has helped over 800 participants transition from traditional savings groups to formal investment opportunities.

Thandiwe Mthembu

Young Professional Specialist

Thandiwe specializes in helping young South Africans navigate their first jobs, student loans, and early career financial decisions. Her practical approach resonates with millennials and Gen Z learners across the country.

Student Finance First Salaries Digital Banking Career Planning

At 29, Thandiwe brings fresh perspective to financial education. She graduated from Wits University in 2018 and immediately faced the challenge of student loan repayments while building her career. This experience shaped her understanding of young professional financial pressures. Thandiwe holds certifications in financial planning and has worked with over 500 young professionals through workshops at universities in Gauteng and the Western Cape. She's passionate about making financial planning accessible and relevant to digital-native generations.

What Drives Us Every Day

We're not just another financial education company. We're South Africans who understand the unique money challenges our country faces – from economic uncertainty to complex family financial responsibilities.

Real-World Focus

Every lesson connects to actual South African financial realities – from taxi fare budgets to bond payments

Community First

We believe financial success happens when communities support each other through shared knowledge and experiences

Progress Over Perfection

Small consistent steps matter more than dramatic changes – we celebrate every rand saved and every debt payment made

Our Mission Goes Beyond Education

"To create a South Africa where every person has the knowledge and confidence to make smart financial decisions, regardless of their starting point."

Since starting in 2020, we've worked with over 3,000 South Africans from all walks of life. From recent graduates in Cape Town to small business owners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, our approach remains the same: practical education that fits real life. We don't just teach budgeting theory – we show you how to make it work with your actual income, your actual expenses, and your actual goals.

What makes us different? We're not trying to sell you investment products or complicated financial services. We're here to teach you skills that last a lifetime. Skills that help you sleep better at night because you know exactly where your money is going and why.

Start Your Financial Journey