Our Purpose
Transforming mindsets
To inspire people to adopt new paradigms on life, business, culture, diversity, community, and the country.

At Hatch Institute, our goal is to transform mindsets in leadership roles and business cultures, not only for organisational success, but also for the betterment of South Africa as a whole. We believe in disrupting the norm, inspiring change, and rewiring the workplace culture from top to bottom.
Our journey began in 2020 with Ian Fuhr, a visionary leader with a passion for cultivating inclusive, purpose-driven environments. Drawing from his experiences founding and growing successful ventures like the renowned beauty conglomerate Sorbet group, Ian recognized the pivotal role culture plays in organizational success. For Ian, culture is the very foundation upon which thriving businesses are built, which is why he developed the powerful cultureneering™ framework.
When Ian launched Sorbet in 2004, it wasn’t just about revolutionizing the beauty industry; it was about embedding a culture of service excellence into every aspect of the business. This unwavering commitment to culture propelled Sorbet to become Africa’s largest beauty salon chain, setting it apart from competitors and cementing its legacy.
Ian understood early on that true success comes from embracing and celebrating the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and talents of every individual. Whether it was building strong relationships with employees and customers during his supermarket K-Mart days or navigating complex race relations through Labour Link, Ian saw firsthand the power of a culture-driven approach. Ian’s approach to culture is simple: put people first.
Now, with the birth of Hatch Institute, Ian’s vision extends far beyond the beauty industry. He’s on a mission to empower businesses across South Africa to become “cultureneers” – leaders who prioritize culture as the cornerstone of their organizations. Through Hatch Institute, our highly experienced coaches and facilitators work with forward-thinking leaders to grow their businesses and their people and at the same time deliver exceptional customer service that sets them apart from their competition.
Every journey starts with a single step. Are you ready?



Today, I’m even more passionate about culture than ever before, which is why I’ve launched the Hatch Institute. I truly believe that we’ve built a framework that any business, large or small, can embrace and follow. If we all become ‘cultureneers’, we can change the face of business in South Africa, apply racial healing in a meaningful and impactful way, and spread success and equality across all levels of business and society.
Ian Fuhr
Our
Values
Transformation
To change mindsets and encourage courageous conversations around racial healing, diversity, and inclusion.
To shift the paradigms on leadership, service and common purpose.
Accountability
To fully own everything in your life.
To understand that you are responsible for your attitude, actions, reactions, service, teamwork, communication, and relationships.
Equality
To ensure that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents.
To build a sense of belonging for everyone regardless of their differences.
Integrity
To be honest and live in accordance with your values.
To do the right thing, even when no-one is watching.
Hope
To desire an outcome that improves the quality of your life and overcomes fear and despair.
To inspire a vision of a better country.
Our Partners


The customer experience will never be better than the employee experience

Here is what you will gain
if you choose to partner with us
- Grow your people
- Cultivate a culture of service excellence
- Develop Culture-Driven leaders
- Transform mindsets
- Build a sense of belonging in a diverse workforce
- Create loyal customers
- Build an exceptional business