After spending over three decades in the corporate world of banking and finance, Nancy Aspeling established Naspeling in South Africa in 2013 to address youth unemployment and promote entrepreneurship through economic education. Over the years, Naspeling has grown its impact beyond South Africa, establishing a strong presence in the United Arab Emirates by 2023 and securing intellectual property rights across 33 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and India.
Nancy’s journey as a bootstrapped entrepreneur was challenging at best, yet her perseverance paid off as she consistently adapted to evolving technologies and market trends. In early 2024, Naspeling’s courses were formally accredited by the prestigious UK-based CPD Standards Office in partnership with the globally recognised CPD Institute. Two distinguished MEA Markets Business Awards soon followed: Leading Pioneers in Economic Literacy Advancement 2024 and the Excellence Award in Online Financial Markets 2024.
Nancy was further honoured and recognised as one of the Top 10 Business Titans of the Year 2024 by The Gulf Entrepreneur, based on visionary leadership and innovation. These accolades highlighted Naspeling’s pioneering contributions to advancing global economic and financial literacy levels, showcasing its global ed-tech impact and driving business empowerment across B2C and B2B sectors.
How did it start?
Nancy witnessed firsthand the devastating ripple effects of economic downturns and business failures, particularly their impact on small business owners and entrepreneurs. These visionary individuals—driving change with lion-like courage, tenacity, and creativity—often bear the most significant burden of shifting economic landscapes.
Her observations revealed a clear pattern pointing to a critical, persistent gap. Many entrepreneurs fell victim to external economic factors because their knowledge and expertise were primarily confined to their immediate industries and business operations. Without a foundational yet broad understanding of the interconnected economic landscape, they often found themselves unprepared to successfully align and navigate their business according to their suppliers’ or customers’ evolving business environments.
This realisation became the driving force and powerful motivator behind Nancy’s decision to establish Naspeling—a formal platform dedicated to delivering fundamental economic understanding quickly, efficiently, and logically. Through this initiative, she aimed to make economic knowledge accessible to a broader audience, empowering practical application in everyday life.
Could you elaborate on the nature of your business, highlighting its purpose and the ways it benefits people?
Through its first-of-a-kind, visual online courses in Economic Insight and Financial Markets, Naspeling introduces a groundbreaking approach to economic insight and a better understanding and grasp of the financial and business worlds around us. Nancy firmly believes economic knowledge should be a fundamental right, empowering more individuals to control their financial futures and make informed decisions with knowledge and confidence.
While invaluable for specialised fields, traditional academic teachings are often highly theoretical and overwhelming and rarely leave students with the knowledge they can recall or practically apply in everyday life. Naspeling bridges this gap by offering transformative, visual courses designed to create a lasting, memorable, and practical learning experience in the most effective time frame.
With a deeper understanding of basic economics, individuals gain confidence, credibility, and trust in business relationships. This better equips and prepares people to negotiate more effectively, foster growth, and identify untapped opportunities.
What inspired you to start your journey as a coach and entrepreneur? Were there any specific events, challenges, or people that motivated you to take this path?
With each passing year in the corporate world, reflecting on my journey in economic studies, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there just had to be a better way to elevate the low levels of economic awareness and financial literacy. Witnessing countless financial hardships caused by a lack of knowledge and the inability to make informed financial decisions, it became clear that a more efficient and empowering approach was urgently needed—one that delivers essential economic understanding to everyday people in the shortest possible time. This vision soon evolved into a pressing dream I could no longer ignore, and I knew it had to start with me.
Looking back at the beginning of your career, what were the major challenges you faced when establishing yourself as a leader/coach? How did you overcome those obstacles?
Leaving the financial security of the corporate world after so many years for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship was, without a doubt, the most daunting yet rewarding decision I’ve ever made. As a bootstrapped entrepreneur, I have gained immense respect for those brave individuals who choose to navigate the lonely path of being the ultimate decision-maker and risk-taker, often walking the self-doubt tightrope.
In hindsight, the most challenging part initially was articulating my vision. In the corporate world, it often felt like others didn’t share my concern about the apparent lack of a general economic literacy level among ordinary people. The only way forward was to put my money where my mouth was and to bring that vision to life.
That said, at the time, I was blissfully unaware of how much additional funding, learning, time, and effort it would eventually take to make it happen. The journey eventually spanned many years, yet I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s been a period of exponential personal growth, pushing me into fields I never imagined exploring—and for that, I’m profoundly grateful.
Would you like to share any remarkable achievements?
Women are a growing force in workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
Women leaders redefine the workplace by fostering inclusivity, driving innovation, and leveraging traits like empathy, collaboration, and adaptability. While challenges like gender bias persist, traditional norms are constantly being reshaped. True progress, however, lies in achieving a healthy balance—recognising professional capabilities and ensuring respect and opportunities are earned and given equally, without favouring one gender over another.
What message/advice would you have for future women leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs?
No matter how meticulously we plan and prepare, unexpected challenges often disrupt our best intentions. By embracing these moments as opportunities for growth, they can frequently transform into unforeseen blessings.
Regardless of industry, a strong foundation in economic knowledge empowers entrepreneurs to mitigate risks, make informed decisions, and think strategically when faced with challenges.
As part of Naspeling’s ongoing commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, we’re excited to offer an exclusive 90% discount on our CPD-accredited courses in Economic Insight and Financial Markets through Humans of Fuzia. To claim this offer, valid until 30 April 2025, visit www.naspeling.com, go to the Course page, and use the Coupon Code EMPOWER90 at checkout. Let’s work together to unlock the huge potential for successful and sustainable entrepreneurship!
