After 14 years of dedicated effort, Andrew Einhorn stepped away from official duties at Numeric at the end of September this year. This is a poignant time for any organisation, where the founder steps down and lets their legacy live on. A small event was held in Cape Town on Thursday, 30 October at La Cuccina, in Newlands, to add worthy gravitas to the occasion, with friends and family, funders and partners, supporters and co-builders all there to take the time to reflect on the roots that Andrew was able to establish for Numeric.

Kristen Thompson, who succeeded Andrew as CEO from 2018-2021 and was the first staff member to join Andrew, gave a speech sharing stories from the early days of Numeric finding its feet, like when Andrew asked her to come in early on her first day, only to realise that time-keeping was probably not one of Andrew’s strongest traits. She recalled watching Andrew speak passionately to 150 Grade 8 learners in her first few weeks, genuinely getting them excited about maths. “Andrew is a leader who is willing to do the work and get his hands dirty, who captivates people and makes them believe in themselves, and who deeply believes in the future of South Africa and the possibilities created by education, particularly maths education,” Kristen reflected.

She also quoted Robert Frost through Kid President: “Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the road less travelled, and it hurt man, rocks, thorns, glass.” While acknowledging the challenges faced along the way, Kristen praised Andrew’s humility and openness to feedback, noting that “Andrew always impressed me with his humility, openness to feedback, and willingness to admit when he was wrong. These qualities have made him a strong leader and helped get Numeric to where it is today.“

Sam, a board member who joined in 2012, spoke of Andrew’s unwavering determination: “His drive and vision have been fundamental to the rise (and rise) of Numeric, and its expansion from Cape Town, to Johannesburg to Durban.” Congratulating Andrew after 14 years, Sam added, “It has been a hell of a ride and I am honoured to have been allowed to ride pillion as you drove the vehicle forwards to greater and greater success!“

Tori, the current CEO, referenced the TED talk by Derek Sivers, “How to start a movement” – where the lone dancer on a hillside slowly gathers supporters and the dance becomes a movement – “Andrew was that lone person dancing on the hill. But without each of you in this room, without that crucial first follower and the hundreds who came after, Andrew would still be up there, alone.” She emphasised the remarkable impact achieved over 14 years: an organisation that has opened doors and created pathways for 23,950 children and 1,121 coaches, enabling them to access opportunities they might never have had.

Perhaps the most powerful testament came from Linda, a 25-year-old junior doctor at Groote Schuur Hospital, who joined Numeric as a 13-year-old Grade 8 student at Mfuleni High School in 2013, Numeric’s first year at the school. She shared how Numeric coaches “embodied what Yeats explained ever so beautifully when he said, ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.‘”

Linda recalled her first encounter with Andrew and how, though the details of his maths lesson about triangles were vague, what stayed with her was transformative: “In that moment, listening and engaging, a spark within me was being turned into flames. A love for learning was being nurtured, the encouragement to question, to ask, but why, how? Nothing compares to the feeling of being dazzled by brilliance.” She quoted Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.“

The skills and knowledge Linda gained through Numeric proved pivotal when she applied for a scholarship to The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. The maths topics covered in the selection tests were ones she had only been exposed to through Numeric. “Had it not been for Numeric, I would not have had a clue and would have therefore failed these tests and would not have had the opportunity to get a world-class education,” she explained. Her childhood friend, who took the same tests but wasn’t in Numeric, didn’t make it past the first stage.

Linda concluded her tribute with the Ubuntu philosophy: “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu – I am because we are.” Quoting Nelson Mandela, she reminded us: “Education is the great engine of personal development. For it is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of a farm worker can become the president of a great nation.“

In recognition of the founder, the Andrew Einhorn Learning Legacy Trophy was unveiled during the evening. A floating trophy that will be awarded to one school in each geography every year that most embodies the Numeric values and helps foster an excellent learning environment, enabling their learning community to thrive. 

It was then Andrew’s turn to share his reflections on the last fourteen years. He highlighted the near closing of Numeric only one year into the program when he had to report a near-zero improvement in learner marks to the founding funders, David and Elaine Potter, who simply asked, “What have you learned? What will you do differently next year?”. That faith in the learning was what allowed Andrew to keep learning and adapting, always guided by monitoring and evaluation processes that have guided most of Numeric’s decisions. Andrew shared his appreciation for Kristen, who, from very early on, helped develop the Numeric culture and enforced the importance of those first 100 hires of a company, who helped build the community culture that enabled the Numeric Effect to work as profoundly as it does today. Andrew thanked all his friends, family and those who have supported Numeric along the way and highlighted that he is confident leaving Numeric in the hands of Kristen, Tori and the rest of the board.  In parting, he emphasised that “This is not goodbye, but farewell – and I will never be more than a phone call away.”

Tori took the opportunity to ask for your continued support to keep this momentum going. Numeric now spans three geographies with 21 staff members and ambitious plans ahead. We want to build more excellent teachers and equip more children with what we call the Numeric Effect – that piece of magic that enables them to think bigger and achieve more than they ever imagined possible.

Kristen closed the evening by reminding everyone that “Andrew didn’t just build an organisation, he built a community that believes in possibility. He reminded us that maths isn’t just about numbers – it’s about building problem-solvers, dreamers, and citizens who believe they can shape their world.”

As Kid President asks: What will you do to make the world awesome?