Steven Levy, International Program Director

Steven, an energetic, slightly over-caffeinated American who moved to Cape Town with his South African wife and Russian cat, launched Connect-123 in South Africa after ten years of starting and running various businesses in Moscow, London, and San Francisco. While working in finance and venture capital in Cape Town, Steven realized that thousands of local organizations could use the help of skilled, international students and that thousands of international students and professionals could benefit from an emerging market work experience. He created Connect-123’s experiential learning programs to help students build their international work experience while simultaneously earning university credit. Steven holds a BA in Political Science from Cornell University and an MBA from London Business School.

Lea Levy, Argentina Program Director

Lea, who studied Fine Arts at the University of Stellenbosch, started her career as a game lodge manager in the Sabi Sands. After being offered an internship in Moscow with a top PR and communications consulting firm, she packed her winter coat and ended up working in Russia for three years with top international FMCG brands. During this time of newfound capitalism and opportunity, she also discovered her skills as a networker! However, her love for South Africa led her home, where she worked in marketing, advertising, and trend forecasting. A founding partner of Connect-123, Lea has a natural ability to understand and match businesses needs with applicants’ skills. Lea ensures that each program participant has a meaningful experience, connecting with local culture, making new friends, and having the time of their lives!

Eimear Costigan, South Africa Program Director

Understanding why people seek new and meaningful experiences overseas is easy for Eimear. While completing her languages degree at university in Dublin, she spent summers working in France, Spain and the UK, and studied at the University of Bordeaux for a year. Her previous role as an international Marketing Manager for a US multi-national took her to North America and all over Europe, while her itchy feet took her to Central America and Japan in her spare time. Eimear gets a real kick out of matching the right person to the right opportunity – and loves seeing interns fall under Cape Town’s spell, just as she has done.

Melanie Martin, Account Manager

Melanie, who left the grey of England to study in the even greyer and wetter Ireland, moved to Cape Town to find the sunshine and try her hand at marketing, having dabbled in magazine production and advertising. She worked in conjunction with a design agency, promoting and marketing a brand management system, and used her powers of persuasion to secure a buyout of the company. Melanie has traveled widely and spent time volunteering in Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Guatemala. She has now, like so many, fallen in love with Cape Town. Being a tourist herself she enjoys the simple pleasures of discovering new hidden gems, be it a delicious eatery, funky bar, or breathtaking view, and Cape Town continues to blow her away. Her love of people and the City make her ‘match-making’ job at Connect-123 ideal.

Gabby Kelly, Account Manager

Gabby studied a BCom in Politics, Philosophy and Economics before doing a post-graduate in Marketing Management, both at the University of Cape Town. Originally from the Eastern Cape, she has adopted Cape Town as her home because it’s the home of great wine, fantastic people and a mindblowingly beautiful mountain. Gabby started her career at a glossy magazine, but her work at a local prison tutoring inmates changed her perspective and she is happy now facilitating similarly eye-opening experiences for other people.