The Association is made up of Fellows who have completed the Fellowship Programme and have entered the world of work.
The purpose of the Association is to provide support for each Fellow’s lifelong entrepreneurial journey. It does this by developing a community of supportive peers, fostering a culture of learning, creating opportunities for development and equipping Fellows to start, build and succeed in their ventures through incubator programmes, access to E2 funding opportunities and access to the greater Foundation ecosystem.
I’m most proud of being the president of the Association of Allan Gray Fellows. I think being a Fellow has opened doors in ways that no other affiliation has for me. I have a global and lateral way of approaching life, constantly thinking about transformation and opportunities to improve, develop and grow things. And it’s largely attributable to the entrepreneurial programme I underwent with the Foundation. 
The Foundation really focuses on personal development and exploring your depths. If you have a talent, being at the Foundation gives you the tools to master your talent and use it to the best of your ability. The focus on entrepreneurship is key, as South Africa needs more of this to grow the economy. Upon reading the pillars of the Foundation, I said to myself this describes me well. Applying is a decision that I have never regretted. 
The Fellowship builds character. With the Fellowship, the real rewards come down the line in the form of membership to the Association, which gives one a wide network of professionals and business people to form bonds and flesh out ideas with. It also provides a framework of support for ventures and thinking groups. It’s important to be part of a like-minded community and that’s why the Association is vital and remains sustainable. 
The experience has changed my life beyond what I initially anticipated. I would, as a result, encourage others to join the Fellowship not only for the financial benefit, but for the community of astute entrepreneurs and future change-makers that they would be part of. A wise man once said that ‘your network is your net worth’, and this opportunity certainly increases one’s ‘net worth’ substantially! 
