Sociologist · Researcher · Strategy Consultant

ZivaiMukorombindo

Turning evidence into strategy across Southern Africa.

Over a decade of applied research spanning education, energy, financial services, infrastructure and real estate — translating data into decisions for boards, regulators and corporates.

zivaism@icloud.com LinkedIn Johannesburg, South Africa

PhD Candidate · Sociology

Profile

A sociologist and strategy consultant who triangulates qualitative and quantitative evidence to support data-driven decisions across diverse sectors and markets.

Ten-plus years of applied research experience across education, energy, financial services, infrastructure and real estate in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Specialises in impact assessment, market intelligence and stakeholder engagement. Currently completing a PhD in Sociology, and mentors postgraduate students through the research process.

Expertise

Project Management Strategic Research & Market Analysis Impact Assessment Stakeholder Engagement Financial Planning & Budgeting Procurement & Compliance

Qualitative

In-depth interviews — semi-structured & unstructured
Focus groups
Ethnographic & field research
Thematic coding & analysis

Quantitative

Survey design & administration
Statistical analysis — SPSS & Power BI
Economic & usage dataset analysis

Mixed Methods & Design

Triangulation of qualitative & quantitative data
Systematic literature & desktop review
Feasibility studies & market intelligence
Research ethics, epistemology & methodology

Tools SPSS Power BI Power Query MS Excel

Experience

Aug 2022 — Present

Independent Research Consultant

Freelance

Investigated root causes of account-access barriers for a digital product team using a triangulated approach — focus groups, in-depth interviews, surveys and usage-data analysis — to produce evidence-based recommendations.
Delivered feasibility studies and go-to-market strategy research for a property developer.
Led business-development research for a mobile virtual operator in the SA education sector.
Mentors postgraduate commerce students on research design, methodology, data collection and analysis.

Nov 2023 — Jan 2025

Associate Management Consultant

Birguid

CSI strategy (Tobacco · Zambia): designed and executed primary research; findings adopted into the client's sustainability framework.
LPG terminal strategy (Energy · SA): led primary research and economic-dataset analysis; recommendations approved by the board for strategic change and capital investment.
Financial services (SA): produced bi-monthly sector-intelligence reports for a corporate bank, informing capital allocation and risk management.
Infrastructure (Pan-African): market scan for a global traffic-management company; identified concession opportunities under strategic consideration.
Energy (Namibia): redesigned the national electricity regulator's ESI performance framework, improving oversight and compliance monitoring.

Mar 2019 — Jul 2022

Project Manager

New Leaders Foundation

Led implementation of the Dell Foundation-funded Data Driven Districts Programme across Gauteng and Mpumalanga — increasing active platform users by 25% and repeat users by 46%.
Capacitated education managers with data-driven management routines; managed SA-SAMS cloud integration (Citrix).

Mar 2015 — Feb 2019

Education Interventions Manager & Training Consultant

New Leaders Foundation

Assessed the maturity of education interventions in Limpopo and Mpumalanga; documented DDD programme use cases for government.
Investigated SA-SAMS data-submission failures in KwaZulu-Natal, achieving a 35% improvement; trained officials across five provinces on data-driven school management.

Board & Governance · Jan 2025 — Present

Independent Non-Executive Director — Luminous Consulting

Oversight on strategy, risk and financial management; advises on business development for industrial and commercial construction projects.

Education & Credentials

2026 →

PhD in Sociology

University of the Western Cape

Research focus: critical discourse analysis of whiteness in South African cricket and rugby fandom.

2023

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Henley Business School, Johannesburg

Research report: skills required for product owners in financial services — quantitative survey design & analysis.

2018

PG Diploma in Business Administration

Wits Business School

2015

MA in Sociology

University of the Witwatersrand

Dissertation: a qualitative study of survival strategies among Johannesburg retail workers amid low remuneration.

2013

BA (Honours)