Ellen FischatInspiring Fifty South Africa Leader

Ellen Fischat is the Co-Founder of Innocircle, a boutique, innovation consultancy. She holds an Honour’s Degree in Social Work and Community Development and a number of small business and technology certificates. She returned to South Africa, her place of birth, after a 23 year stint in Amsterdam. Upon her return to South Africa in 2006, she ran a Boy’s Home and 7 day care centres for two years in multiple townships in Port Elizabeth Ellen set up various community initiatives based on social entrepreneurship principles. Ellen expanded on her people development and strategic skills and co-founded a HR Boutique Consultancy in 2008.

Before being the first Managing Director for The Silicon Cape Initiative in 2017, Ellen was the Business Manager for Propella Business Incubator, the NMU Incubator in Nelson Mandela Bay. Prior to that, she was the Enterprise Development Manager for the SEDA NMB ICT Incubator 2011-2015, Ellen has extensive experience in small business development, with a focus on social enterprises and technology.

Ellen is involved in the mentorship of technology start-ups and volunteers in various community outreach programmes, that focus on personal development, digital literacy and increasing employability of marginalized young women through STEM initiatives.