Coaching for Change: Acquisition Marks Strategic Investment in South Africa’s Sustainable Future
Johannesburg, July 2025 — The recent acquisition of Johannesburg-based School of Life business in a box, a globally accredited coaching academy, signals a bold strategic shift aligned with South Africa’s pressing need to develop skills, tackle youth unemployment, and champion sustainability‑oriented leadership in line with the 2030 Agenda.
A Vision Beyond Certification
Founded in Jeffreys Bay, School of Life offers ICR‑accredited programs—ranging from neuro‑life coaching and trauma coaching to executive and wellness coaching—alongside an innovative “Coachify Business In a Box” entrepreneurship framework designed to equip graduates not only with therapeutic and leadership skills but also with the practical tools to launch profitable enterprises
Tackling South Africa’s Youth Unemployment
South Africa continues to face a youth unemployment crisis, with rates persistently hovering above 40%. The acquisition provides scalable skills development aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure). By training aspiring coaches in marketable service‑oriented professions, it offers a hopeful pathway toward self‑employment and community empowerment.
Sustainable Development as Core Strategy
The acquisition aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan’s commitment to job creation, poverty alleviation, and inclusive economic growth—all themes highlighted in the country’s voluntary 2030 review. School of Life’s focus on “cultivating conscious leaders” embeds sustainability education—a key element of SDG 4.7—into its curriculum, preparing graduates to drive change not only in personal development but also in social and environmental spheres.
Responding to Local Needs with Global Standards
The institution’s international accreditation and use of master coaches—together with its robust certification programs—provides South Africans with world‑class credentials they can leverage locally and beyond. By localizing global best practices, School of Life stands to bridge gaps in formal education systems, particularly for learners from disadvantaged communities where conventional schooling models struggle to foster entrepreneurial and coaching competencies.
The Road Ahead: Impact, Scale, and Inclusivity
With the acquisition comes responsibility. Stakeholders—including the government and private sector—will look to School of Life’s new owners to scale programs into underserved regions, ensure affordable access for marginalized learners, and embed metrics-driven impact evaluation to measure outcomes such as job creation, business launches, and community transformation.
The academy’s success could respond meaningfully to UNISA-sponsored research revealing the critical role that educational institutions can play in driving SDG implementation, particularly through teaching and community outreach.