Since its inception in 2004, the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) has grown from a vision to a vibrant professional association representing more than 300 individuals across over 160 organisations. After investing 21 years in cultivating our community of talent management professionals, our Founder and Executive Director, Cathy Sims, is retiring.
Cathy’s leadership has been integral to SAGEA’s evolution and enduring relevance. She has championed our mission, ensuring that SAGEA has become the hub of graduate employment in South Africa – where both newcomers to the industry and seasoned talent management specialists can connect, learn, and grow together. Through Cathy’s vision, commitment and guidance SAGEA has grown into a true community, fostering collaboration, encouraging the sharing of ideas, and supporting members as they face challenges and seize opportunities in the changing world of work.
As Cathy moves on to her “next” – which we’re told will include as much tourist travel as possible, rather than work-related travel – it remains for us to ensure that the foundations of what SAGEA is, remains unchanged. Cathy has understood from the beginning that the essence of graduate recruitment would always be rooted in relationships and a sense of shared purpose. This is what makes our community special, and an essence we aim to preserve. Her unwavering authenticity and ability to form real human connections remain at the centre of everything we do, from our support for employers and talent managers, to our collaboration with universities and solution providers, to our direct engagement with students.
Under Cathy’s stewardship, SAGEA’s Insights initiatives have become essential resources for our members. Our Employer Benchmarking and Candidate Insights surveys set the bar for understanding the graduate employment market in South Africa, while our Graduate Development and Retention Study is shaping best practice for nurturing early talent beyond recruitment. The SAGEA Employer Awards, another of Cathy’s proud legacies, has come to symbolise excellence in graduate employment: a celebration of organisations that go above and beyond for the next generation – from the cusp of GenX becoming Millennials, to Gen Z and soon, Gen Alpha and further on.
What we have accomplished together is, above all, the work of passionate individuals united by a commitment to shaping futures and building stronger societies – one graduate at a time. Cathy’s vision, wisdom, and tireless dedication have inspired us to keep learning and striving for better, both for ourselves and for the graduates whose careers we help to launch.
To Cathy Sims, we owe a debt of gratitude. She has not only created this organisation, but has led SAGEA to become a community that is capable of profound impact – on our individual members and their organisations’ talent development efforts, and on South African society as new graduates gain access to inclusive opportunities and meaningful work through our collective efforts.
As we look to the future, we carry forward what Cathy has taught us: that relationships matter, that talent-building is a collective journey, and that SAGEA’s true power lies in our ability to connect, inspire, and transform lives. As we look ahead, we remain committed to our clear purpose: empowering employers to build the workforce of the future. Thank you, Cathy, for everything you have given to this community. We are honoured and privileged to have walked this road with you.