After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch, Madelène van Rensburg spent the next few years in the United States and the UK. She gained her first exposure to the corporate world working for Barclays Life in London.

In 2000, after returning to South Africa, she secured a position as a Consultant in a recruitment consultancy in Cape Town. Less than two years later, she and a colleague were given the opportunity of a management buy-out. Nearly 10 years later she sold her shares in the business and went on sabbatical, planning her next career venture.

Cognizance is the result of this period of reflection, coupled with extensive research. It is the product of Intellectual Property gathered from interviewing thousands of candidates and dealing with hundreds of companies, and the consequent conclusion that in today's world, businesses should seriously consider actively working harder on engaging their human capital, their suppliers, and their customer base.