About Us

Message from the founder

Hello! I am Tamara, founder of Applied Learning Academy. The academy is the realisation of my life's work, vision and mission – to make a positive difference in the world. I spent over twenty years making a living in the financial services industry, first as an actuarial administrator, then as an employee benefits consultant and financial planner. I value the experience, knowledge and skills gained but still yearned to find meaning and fulfilment in my work. When I was commissioned by a college to write financial services training material over 10 years ago, it was the door that I needed and from that day forth, my mind, heart and soul were invested in training solutions.

Within a short space of time, training support services were expanded to include facilitation, assessing and moderation services. I studied further, acquiring a number of industry qualifications to ensure that all services can be delivered at the highest professional standard to achieve the desired outcomes. It's never too late to change career, learn new things and find the right path for yourself!

Tamara Jacobsen CFP® | Director

 

About Us

Welcome to Applied Learning Academy! The academy is a dedicated platform that was borne of a vision to make a practical, positive difference to individuals and businesses. Although training related services have been offered for more than a decade through Capstone, we have expanded beyond our expectations and are proud to now take our products, progammes and services to a wider audience through the academy.

  • Applied means to put to practical use, as opposed to being theoretical, i.e. bridging the gap between theory and application.
  • Learning means the act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill.
  • Academy means an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership. The name traces back to Plato's school of Philosophy, a Sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of Wisdom and Skills.

"Knowing is not enough; We must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


We find similar ideas reflected in von Goethe's quote which we love – it emphasises the difference between knowledge and application, and transferring learning from thought and willingness into action. Yes, there are lots of training solutions and methods but they often lose sight of the end outcome – to apply learning in an effective and practical manner for betterment. Achieving an effective, practical and applicable outcome is a core value of the business which makes the world of difference when formulating and delivering any training solution.

 

Statement of purpose

To make a positive difference through effective, practical and applicable training and development solutions...in other words, to provide solutions that put learning into action with a purpose.

 

Our values

Values are a central part of a person or business. Values steer priorities, decisions and actions as well as form the basis of self measurement. The core values for Applied Learning Academy are:

 

Partners and network

The academy has partnered with some of South Africa's best training providers and experts to be able to offer solutions to our client for all their training needs. Our growing list of partners and associates are evaluated on three main criteria:

  • Expertise: do they have the required skills and knowledge?
  • Professionalism: do they deliver on commitments?
  • Values: how do they conduct their business?

Our network includes individuals who provide facilitation and other training specialist services as well as training providers such as Milpark Business School, and industry bodies such as the Financial Planning Institute.

Some of our clients:

What some of our students had to say