A young entrepreneur from Vryheid is helping individuals turn ideas into income while gaining national recognition for her work in business education.

Jade Eybers, founder of Biz Ed with Jade, recently represented local talent on a bigger platform when she spoke at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during the Women in Tech Summit. As one of the youth in business speakers, she addressed topics including artificial intelligence (AI), automation and divergent thinking.

Roots in Vryheid shape her journey

Eybers said her journey was shaped by growing up in Vryheid after moving from Durban as a teenager.

“Vryheid built my values, perspective and connection to people. It’s home and it’s where my heart is.”

Her interest in business began at an early age.

“At eight years old, I was already reading about young entrepreneurs. That curiosity grew into studying how businesses work and the psychology behind commerce.”

From teaching to entrepreneurship

Eybers began her career as an online teacher but soon realised she wanted to make a broader impact. Personal circumstances played a role in her decision to pursue entrepreneurship.

“As a mom, I needed flexibility. When my child was seriously ill, I had to choose between being present at home and maintaining stability at work. That’s when I knew I needed a different path.”

Leaving behind a stable income was a significant risk, and she admits self-doubt was a challenge.

Building businesses with practical systems

Her platform now focuses on helping people build, structure and scale businesses using practical systems. Her work has produced measurable results, including assisting a corporate client to achieve more than R10 million in annual revenue growth.

She also supports individuals transitioning into online and hybrid business models.

Taking the stage at a national summit

Speaking about her recent appearance, Eybers said her goal is to help others think differently about opportunities.

“I want to help people see opportunities differently and use the tools available to them in a smarter way.”

Overcoming fear and embracing growth

She believes one of the biggest barriers facing young people is the fear of failure, saying that failure is not the end but rather feedback.

Eybers emphasised the importance of clear thinking and communication, particularly when using AI tools.

“If you want better results, you need to be specific.”