On social media, she goes by the moniker, the Fab academic. And fabulous she is. She is one of the country’s foremost scholars and researchers in the field of Maths education. Her passion is around teaching and learning maths. In a stellar career, she is currently full professor and vice president of research and innovation at UNISA. She is soon to take up a new position as Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and internationalization at Africa’s best university, UCT. Nikiwe Bikitsha finds what it takes to thrive and be a leader in the competitive world of academia.