Grace Matlhape is the Chief executive Officer of SmartStart, an Early Learning Social Franchise established in 2015 as a delivery platform that enables rapid expansion of access to early learning for children aged 3 and 4 years old. The SmartStart social innovation involves recruitment, training, set up and incubation of Early learning microentrepreneurs who are coached and supported to deliver high quality early stimulation and are connected with each other through a club system for mutual support and ongoing development.
Grace is a trained social worker with many years of experience in mental health and social development. She is also a social justice professional with experience in designing, developing, implementing and managing large scale social impact innovations. Previously she held the position of Chief Executive Officer for loveLife, a national HIV prevention and social and behavior change organsisation in South Africa. She completed a Certificate in Management Advancement Programme from the University of Witwatersrand and a Master’s degree in Business Management, from the University of Johannesburg.