Sonja Giese’s most recent venture, in a career spanning almost 30 years, has been founding DataDrive203. Established in 2022, DataDrive2030 is a South African based social enterprise that supports the collection and use of high quality data to drive improved child outcomes in the first 6 years of life.

Prior too this, in 2014, Sonja founded Innovation Edge, an impact first investment focused on solving early childhood challenges in South Africa. She led the organisation for eight years, demonstrating the ability to take ideas from source to scale. Prior to Innovation Edge, Sonja held senior leadership positions within the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute, international NGO Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) and the ECD donor consortium, Ilifa Labantwana. Sonja has also initiated and led local community-based programmes and large-scale research initiatives, and has consulted extensively to policy makers and philanthropists. She has a degree in science from the University of Cape Town, a passion for systems change and a commitment to closing the opportunity gaps in early childhood.