Speaker profile for Edzai Conilias Zvobwo. Edzai C Zvobwo, Chief Genius of MathsGenius Consultants, is the 2014 SADC Runner-up and 2014 South African winner of the Protocol on Gender and Development award for contribution to women empowerment in education and training and is a high achieving economic development author, mathematics teacher, motivational speaker, business analyst/IT project manager, game mathematician, leadership trainer and educational strategist. Edzai is a firm believer of the theory that Africa can be liberated if her people are mathematically literate and apply the problem solving thinking methodology to find solutions to social, political and economic problems that have long hounded the “Mother-Continent”. Good problem solvers will eradicate poverty in Africa. To become a good problem solver, one needs to be mathematically trained to achieve this. He possesses a BSc Honours in Applied Mathematics, UNICEF/IOCE Certificate in Emerging Practices in Development Evaluations, UNICEF/IOCE Certificate in Gender-Responsive Monitoring and Evaluation, and Certificate in Data Analysis and Certificate in Creative Problem Solving.

1. Edzai Conilias Zvobwo
“The Maths Genius”
Summary:
- First African Keynote Speaker at the GSMA North America Summit attended by C-
Suite executives from Fortune 100 companies.
- 2014 South African and SADC winner of Women Empowerment in Education and
Training awards.
- Author of 4 books including “The Mathematical Genius in You”.
- Expertise in Mathematical Thinking, Innovation and Problem Solving.
Keynote and Motivational Presentations include:
- Empowering the Future Female Global Workforce through ICT (GSMA North
America).
- Mathematical Thinking for Innovation (Innovation Hub Pretoria).
- Mathematics as a basis for Innovation and Problem solving (2014 Acelor Mittal Rising
Stars Awards).
- How the South African maths class should be designed for Girls (Gender Links).
- Think like a Maths Genius and hack life (Sci-Bono Johannesburg).

2. Watch me live here:
- The Mathematical Genius in You – MorningLive SABC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0KQHpuMrzM
- Empowering the Future Female Global Workforce through ICT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTw7HV65Y8k
- Mathematical Evangelist preaching to South African audience - maths comes to
church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZy_LKNd5_8
- Epic Greatest truth about South African maths education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7v78czaTA
- Mathematical insights by Edzai Zvobwo - VUKA MATHS (ANN7TV)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqMFeMu3Xs8
Book Publications:
- The Mathematical Genius in You
- Spreading Mathematical Happiness
- Artisanship, the Path to Greatness.
- GirlChild Rise Up in STEM
Quotable quotes:
- Maths is to the mind what love is to the heart.
- The more I tried to run away from numbers, the more I stumbled into them.
- Mental garbage is like sand in your car engine.
Newspaper Articles:
- SME South Africa: Solving the x, Why entrepreneurs need maths
http://www.smesouthafrica.co.za/Solving-the-x-Why-entrepreneurs-need-maths/
- The New Age: You can do maths says genius
http://www.slideshare.net/edzaizvobwo/you-can-do-maths-says-mathsgenius
- SABC Education: Bring out The Mathematical Genius in You
http://www.sabceducation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1
141:bring-out-the-mathematical-genius-in-you&catid=39:media-releases&Itemid=84

3. - Server Observer: South Africa needs to step up in women empowerment in ICT
http://www.serverobserver.co.za/industry-news/south-africa-needs-to-step-up-in-
women-empowerment-in-ict/
- Bulawayo24: What #SONA2015 means for South Africa
http://www.bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-62933.html
-
Testimonials:
- “The Maths Genius guy is inspiring and has a great message for the country”
Gauteng MEC Panyaza Lesufi
- “We need more people like Edzai in the country to rescue us from the maths crisis”
Shado Twala, SAFM
- “I never knew someone could be so excited about maths, I now see maths in a
different light and wish I could go back to school. I will use Edzai’s thinking in
problem solving”
Kuli Roberts, Kaya FM
- “Edzai is doing very innovative works for girls and we are glad to partner with him for
this year’s L’Oreal For Women in Science Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa”
Leyya Nihal, Public Relations and Communications Manager
- “Edzai is doing amazing stuff for girl empowerment in South Africa”
Vice President Intel, Margaret Burgraff
- “The Maths Genius has a mission and should be fully utilised in our country”
Hilda Kekana, GDE Director Tshwane North
- “It was refreshing to work with Edzai, he has a unique ability to connect seemingly
unrelated topics for new insights”
Senisha Moonsamy, Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
- “Good morning, I was listening at Kaya FM this morning while driving to work, Will
you kindly forward the bookshop where we can buy the Mathematics books for my
two kids, it sounds very informative and will assist our kids so much, Thank you for
the nice program this morning,”
Leah Masilela, Financial Support Services, Tshwane Govt.

4. Who am I & what are my areas of expertise?
I am a vibrant and knowledgeable mathematician, author, researcher and speaker
specialising in mathematical thinking, innovation and problem solving. I bring new insights
to my audience on how to become prolific innovators and problem solvers using
mathematics as an analogy. It is my mission to always capacitate my audiences who range
from schools, corporates, foundations, parents to policy makers with appropriate insights
and tools. My talks are based on empirical evidence and proven frameworks that are easy to
understand, implement and measure in business and educational contexts.
I have worked as a high school Maths Teacher, Business Analyst/Project Manager in the
mobile payments industry, Gaming Mathematician. Today I am the leading maths
motivational author speaker in South Africa regularly contributing to the solution of the
maths challenges facing South Africa through radio, television, social media and
newspapers.
I had the privilege of being the first African to be invited as a speaker at the GSMA North
America Summit attended by C-Suite executives from Fortune 100 companies where I
shared African insights into girl child empowerment and ICT access. In 2014 I won the SADC
and South African awards for contribution to girl child empowerment in Education and
Training at the SADC Gender Protocol and Development Summit.
Why are my presentations of interest or relevance?
South Africa has been in the headlines for poor performances in maths, science and
entrepreneurship. This makes my talks relevant and of particular interest as I seek to
demystify mathematics by using it as a vehicle for innovative problem solving and
entrepreneurship. I motivate and equip my audiences with research insights and tools to be
confident and solution-oriented. As a well-travelled and knowledgeable professional I draw
my experiences to help my audience become more effective.
What makes me different from other speakers?
My presentations are original and niche as currently I am the only professional speaker
merging mathematics and different industries. My speaking engagements seek to inspire,
train and give support to the young and old to be efficient problem solvers and decision
makers. With my experience in different fields I have personally experienced varying
problem-solving situations which have sharpened my skills. The principles I speak about cut
across the spectrum of society with each speech tailor-made for the audience.

5. How would I describe my delivery style as a presenter?
I am a professional speaker who is original, charismatic and passionate. I am very good at
connecting with the audience and taking them on a journey that is highly enlightening,
informative and inspirational. I have always managed to produce thought-provoking insights
and connections of seemingly unrelated phenomena.
Why use me and when should you do so?
I am a versatile speaker who is comfortable presenting to business executives, community
groups, school learners and government policy makers. Each speaking engagement is
customised and pitched at the audience’s level. I speak at events that allow me to speak in
English only.
I am a crowd-puller as witnessed at the 2014 Gordon Institute of Business science (GIBS)
Spirit of Youth event where all the learners and teachers deserted the other three
presentations even preferring to sit on the floor to hear the Maths Genius speak.
Book Edzai Now
Blog: http://www.mathsgee.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ezvobwo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edzaizvobwo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezvobwo
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/edzaizvobwo