About Lidia

Lidia Rauch is the founder of Bloom Enterprise.  After eight years in professional politics, she decided to enter the world of social entrepreneurship.

She obtained her degree in Psychology and Political Science, as well as her postgraduate diploma in HIV/AIDS Management from the University of Stellenbosch. Lidia also holds a master’s degree in Inclusive Innovation from the University of Cape Town. The research topic of her qualitative study was ‘Building an inclusive South African society: The position of young, white Afrikaans speaking women’. She is planning on taking her research further and starting her Ph.D. next year.

Lidia is currently writing a book on her research findings. She is interested in further exploring the idea of white privilege. The question she is grappling with is: “Should white South Africans simply be aware of their privilege or is it something that can be utilised positively in society?”

She has held various leadership positions in her life, locally and globally. From serving as the Primaria of her residence at Stellenbosch University to the International Federation of Liberal Youth’s Regional Bureau member for Africa.

Lidia has extensive facilitation experience. She loves working with diverse groups, where difference is embraced, and fresh thinking is produced. Her most recent experience was serving as course director and facilitator for International Federation of Liberal Youth’s Female Leadership Development programme in Africa and the Middle East.

She is an accredited facilitator and coach of the Thinking Environment and uses the Thinking Environment methodology and principles in every aspect of her work. Lidia believes that only by creating spaces to think for ourselves, as our authentic selves, will we be able to transform the way we understand the world and our place within it.

She works with teams, groups and individuals. Lidia creates space for her clients to have the courage to ask the incisive questions we need to ask ourselves about our place in the world, to show up as our authentic selves, and to embark on a journey of real transformation.

Lidia currently lives in Johannesburg. She enjoys thinking about current affairs and its impact on the world, traveling to interesting places and spending time with loved ones.

Nolwazi Mthembu, Buzz Operations Manager

Lidia’s professionalism and beautiful spirit combined has created such a refreshing, safe space during our team sessions. She allows us to think for ourselves and totally submit ourselves to the process of building our team in order to achieve success within the business, and our lives.

Lidia creates an atmosphere that not only allows for me to naturally express my thoughts and challenges, but also find solutions in order for me to progress.
I really appreciate the sessions we have had with her. I am looking forward to the next one.

Trisha Lord, Thinking Environment Global Faculty, Facilitator & Coach

I have had the enormous pleasure of following and walking alongside Lidia’s journey from first meeting her as an aspiring young leader with political ambition, to the powerful visionary she is today.

Lidia’s dream for truth and reconciliation, particularly through the acute lens of her own personal lineage, coupled with her courageous whole-hearted belief in healing and transformation will produce an extraordinary and liberating opportunity for the people who engage in her programmes and participate on her platform.
Lidia’s passion for her project is infectious, her capacity to articulate it is captivating, her impact is inspirational, I continue to follow with bated breath…

Sven Gerst, Secretary General of International Federation of Liberal Youth

The first thing about Lidia that you will notice is her smile. It is warm, welcoming, genuine, and most of all: contagious. And that is probably also the best way to describe her work. She has a unique talent for making people feel at home—wherever they are. And she creates an atmosphere that opens up people, makes them feel comfortable to be challenged, and allows them to develop themselves and their relationships with others. This especially shines when Lidia works with young females or people from vulnerable backgrounds. Her personal touch certainly can work magic.