Whether in his studies, his career or life itself, Nyasha “Nash” Jokomo has never been one to follow the conventional path. Instead, it is through unexpected turns and unfamiliar roads that the 29-year-old Stellenbosch University (SU) alumnus has found his direction.

Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Nash moved to Stellenbosch in 2016 to begin his studies. Looking back, he admits his academic path was anything but straightforward.

“When I applied to Stellenbosch, I cast my net quite wide,” he says. “I applied for BAcc (Chartered Accountant), BCom Financial Management and Entrepreneurship, and even BSc Geology because Geography was one of my favourite subjects at school.”

He quickly realised, however, that neither chartered accountancy nor geology was where his future lay. Instead, he chose the BCom route which gave him exactly what he needed: room to explore.

“It exposed me to so many different disciplines early on, from Economics and Statistics to Marketing, Accounting and Corporate Social Responsibility. It gave me space to figure out what genuinely interested me.”

Nash completed his BCom in Financial Management and Entrepreneurship in 2018, followed by a BCom Honours in Business Management (Strategy and Innovation) in 2019 – a programme he still describes as one of the highlights of his academic journey.

“The programme felt incredibly practical and engaging. The smaller classes meant you could genuinely interact with lecturers and classmates instead of just sitting anonymously in a lecture hall. A lot of the case studies and assignments we worked on are still relevant in my career today.”

More than anything, he says, SU encouraged curiosity and adaptability – qualities that continue to shape the way he approaches work and life.

After graduating, Nash began his career at a boutique consulting firm specialising in behavioural economics, where he worked with banks and healthcare organisations to better understand customer behaviour and decision-making.

“It gave me an appreciation for how psychology and business intersect in ways people often underestimate,” he says.

He later moved into strategy and investment advisory, gaining exposure to industries ranging from mining and private equity to financial services and fintech across South Africa, other African markets and Europe.

Today, Nash works at the Standard Bank Group as Lead Strategy Analyst: Partnerships and Strategic Investments & Alliances within the bank’s Moonshots team.

“My role revolves around identifying and shaping strategic partnerships and investment opportunities that can create long-term value for the bank and its clients,” he explains. “A big part of what we do is asking what businesses genuinely need beyond traditional banking in order to grow and succeed.”

The role suits his curiosity-driven mindset perfectly.

“What I enjoy most is that no two days are ever the same. One day you might be evaluating a fintech partnership, and the next you’re helping shape a strategic growth initiative for a completely different part of the business. It’s a space where innovation and practicality need to coexist, and that’s what makes it exciting.”

Outside the office, Nash has continued to embrace and experiences. A passionate football fan, he has set himself the goal of attending some of the world’s biggest tournaments, having already been to the 2024 UEFA European Championship in Germany and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The FIFA World Cup is next on his list. At just 24, he also purchased his first property and is currently preparing to run his first marathon in Cape Town.

His advice to students and recent graduates is simple: do not become too fixated on a single plan.

“Careers are rarely linear anymore,” he says. “Often the opportunities that shape you most are the ones you never planned for. Cast your net wide, stay curious and expose yourself to different experiences. That adaptability becomes one of your biggest strengths.”