Cynthia Schweer Rayner is a researcher and case writer at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Town. Cynthia’s current research focuses on systems change, profiling social entrepreneurs who are expanding on their direct service delivery models to transform social systems overall.

A former management consultant, Cynthia worked in the corporate sector for many years before shifting to the social sector after completing her MBA. In her corporate career, Cynthia provided strategy, supply chain and cost reduction advisory services to clients in the telecommunications, private equity, hospitality and manufacturing industries. Cynthia has operational experience in social enterprises, including co-founding an NGO providing care for orphaned and vulnerable children; a fellowship with LGT Venture Philanthropy developing a franchise scaling model for mothers2mothers; and serving as program director for Generation Ubuntu, a Khayelitsha-based NGO providing support and education to children living with HIV.

Cynthia has an M.B.A. from INSEAD and a B.A. in English from Georgetown University.