?In celebration of Youth Month, the Young Alumni Programme (YAP) at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) is showcasing our incredible young alumni. Meet some of our remarkable Maties, all under the age of 35, who are using the knowledge and skills they gained at SU to push boundaries and make a real impact across various fields.
Meet Rochelle Hellens – the soft skills superhero who's flipping the script on business as usual, proving that empathy and connection are the true power moves.
After surviving the corporate rollercoaster and facing retrenchment, Rochelle launched Soft Serve Consulting in February 2024 – with a fresh, people-first approach. This is helping her clients focus on their ?core functions – oil, gas, offshore wind energy and sugar cane – while she tackles the creative side of things, helping them thrive. She does all this with her husband as her sounding board and brainstorming partner, she says.
Rochelle's journey began at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票, where she initially studied Sports Science before switching to a BA and graduating in 2011. Those university years laid the foundation for her love of learning and understanding people – skills she now uses every day in her business, she says.
Growing up in Pietermaritzburg, Rochelle jokes she's “from the place you stop for a Coke on your way to the beach". But that small-town vibe gave her a big heart and a deep love for community. After years away, she moved back to KwaZulu-Natal, craving the warmth and connection she grew up with. “Since moving back, my life feels like it's both settled and taking off at the same time," she says. That balance of calm and momentum is exactly how she runs her business – grounded, yet always pushing forward.
Soft Serve Consulting is more than a job for Rochelle – it's her mission. “I want people to feel heard, to take a big exhale, and know things are in good hands," she says. Her secret sauce? A background as a mental health professional and yoga therapist. This knowledge helps her read between the lines. “Thoughts create momentum and behaviour, which dictate our actions," she explains. This means she doesn't just manage resources – she connects founders and creative teams in ways that make sense and spark real results.
Rochelle's journey hasn't been smooth sailing. Fourteen years in corporate roles ended with a retrenchment during a global market crash. But instead of folding, she leaned in. “It took a lot of grit, trust, and humility to get here," she admits. That experience fuels her passion to help founders grow their business “by focusing on what they do best, while clearing the path for them". Because when teams communicate better and stress less, productivity and innovation soar, she believes. “By helping businesses manage their resources more effectively, I believe we're contributing to a healthier South African economy," Rochelle says.
She sees her generation as shaped by extremes but ready to build a future full of hope. “The future belongs to those who move forward with positivity." Her hope? To create a cycle where success breeds more success, with entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs, she says.
And for anyone thinking about starting out, Rochelle's advice is simple: “You're not on fire. Don't wait for perfect conditions. Start, evolve, ask for help, and keep your chin up."
Photographer: Tarryn Jordan/Coastal Media
