DURBAN - Kershen Pillay the CEO of Masifunde Training Centre said that the best way to impact and empower the country is through education.
Masifunde Training Centre is an accredited educational institution that offers programs to learners who wish to achieve qualifications and skills in the financial services sector.
Masifunde which means together we learn and grow is a proudly owned black enterprise that was first opened in 2005 with a staff of 4.
Within 24 months the company grew from 4 employees and 400 students to nearly 30 employees and 2000 students.
Masifunde does not take more than 2200 students in an academic year in order to keep up their quality and customer service levels.
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Pillay has had experience in the financial sector. At at the age of 23 he was heading the learning and development division of a macro-financial services organisation. Pillay said, “Although I was making steady progress in my career I had a feeling of restlessness, a feeling that more needs to be accomplished”.
According to Pillay, he is happy with the growth of Masifunde. They are currently forecasted to achieve cumulative profits of R 45 million in 5 years (prudent and R60 million and inflation based) R60 million in 5 years (based on their current growth rate).
Over the next five years, Pillay is aiming to create articulation pathways for professionals within the financial sector that is growing individuals form a matric qualification to degrees in the insurance and banking.
The young entrepreneur counts his parents, his wife, billionaire businessman Warren Buffet, Nelson and Winnie Mandela, German zookeeper Jan Zabinski and his wife Antonina and Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan as his role models.
Pillay has previously been nominated for the Top Empowered Business Leader of the Year award and the Top Entrepreneur of the Year award. He was also nominated for the National Business Awards in 2017.