About
ABOUT
The Team
Bahari Insights was founded in 2019 by Lesley Donna Williams and Taryn Lock.
Lesley Donna Williams
Founding PartnerLesley aims to advance African leadership for inclusive and sustainable change. She is an international process facilitator specialising in dialogue moderation, developing innovation and leadership capacity, design and facilitation of large group processes, participatory policy development as well as science and cultural diplomacy.
Lesley has worked on solving complex problems for over two decades by orchestrating multi-stakeholder dialogues and networks, launching innovation hubs and designing experiential learning experiences. She founded the first Impact Hub in Africa to promote social innovation on the continent and was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, aiming to create world-leading African digital entrepreneurs.
She is a TEDx speaker and her work has been recognised through multi-awards including Chevalier de l’Ordre national du mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the President of the French Republic and as a member of the inaugural class of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program: Africa she moderated a seminal dialogue on Nelson Mandela’s legacy and the Future of Africa between President Barack Obama and Graça Machel.
Lesley has worked on solving complex problems for over two decades by orchestrating multi-stakeholder dialogues and networks, launching innovation hubs and designing experiential learning experiences. She founded the first Impact Hub in Africa to promote social innovation on the continent and was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, aiming to create world-leading African digital entrepreneurs.
She is a TEDx speaker and her work has been recognised through multi-awards including Chevalier de l’Ordre national du mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the President of the French Republic and as a member of the inaugural class of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program: Africa she moderated a seminal dialogue on Nelson Mandela’s legacy and the Future of Africa between President Barack Obama and Graça Machel.
Taryn Lock
Founding PartnerTaryn has 11 years of experience in the NGO sector. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of literacy non-profit organisation READ to RISE which promotes youth literacy in under-resourced and challenged communities in South Africa.
Taryn has previously worked in business as a strategy consultant at a business consulting firm and financial services company in Johannesburg. After a sabbatical in 2013, Taryn left corporate to focus on her passion for literacy and helping others.
Taryn also runs a publishing company Theart Press, is the Founder of Proudly Chinese South Africa and is a children’s book illustrator. She is passionate about creating positive social change through literacy, social development and art. Taryn is a big believer in the power of networks and hopes to help create impact through these networks.
Taryn has previously worked in business as a strategy consultant at a business consulting firm and financial services company in Johannesburg. After a sabbatical in 2013, Taryn left corporate to focus on her passion for literacy and helping others.
Taryn also runs a publishing company Theart Press, is the Founder of Proudly Chinese South Africa and is a children’s book illustrator. She is passionate about creating positive social change through literacy, social development and art. Taryn is a big believer in the power of networks and hopes to help create impact through these networks.
Taryn was named one of Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2014, she is a member of the inaugural 2018 Obama Foundation African Leaders Program and she was ranked 49th on the Top Most Influential Young South Africans in 2018.