Maneo SEEKANE (Maseru Hub) is a certified Professional Business Coach and Business Trainer.

She is a founder and director at Start Smart, a business accelerator company that specializes in Professional Business Coaching and Business Guidance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

She is also a founder and owner of Maneo Communications, a marketing company that specializes in printing and branding in Lesotho. She is currently a consultant at SMME Support Network-Lesotho, and at Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation, offering entrepreneurship and business management trainings for small businesses owners.

She is very passionate about SME development, with regard to coaching and facilitating lifelong learning of entrepreneurs and growth & sustainability of their enterprises.

She holds MBA in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from Amity University, and Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from National University of Lesotho. She is certified as a Professional Business Coach by the Gordon Institute of Business Science – University of Pretoria.

Yolan Nagoor (Durban Hub) is an influential and motivated leader.

He hosts a weekly radio show (on GNCR 93.6fm) with content designed and curated to empower people.

He currently serves as the Manager for Policy and Advocacy at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Yolan Nagoor currently holds a Bachelor of Business Science Degree in Finance from the University of KwaZulu- Natal.

He is passionate about shaping Durban’s Economic landscape. 

He currently plays an active role in Shape Durban, an initiative by EThekwini Municipality, which aims to “Shape Durban” through co-creating and co-owning Durban’s Economic Development and Job Creation Strategy (2019-2025).

Yolan believes that discovering your gifts is key to unlocking your full potential.

Tsungi MADUME, (Mbabane Hub)

Tsungi is a CFA candidate who is passionate about applying her financial knowledge to effect social change. 

To that end she is the co-founder of the Greek Start-up Farmmit which gave smaller Greek farmers a larger platform to distribute their products. 

Tsungi received College Life Leadership Award for her achievements throughout her university career. She graduated Magna cumLaude BSc Business Admin from OU(UK) and BSc Hons Finance from Deree The American College of Greece and was nominated as the student commencement speaker. 

She has since been invited to speak at other events, most notably spoke at the Greece and Cyprus Annual Investment summit.

She has also hosted several workshops and training on public speaking.

While seeking for opportunities Tsungi is an incoming Global shaper in the Mbabane hub and is currently pushing forward a mental health initiative. 

Sihlesenkosi MAJOLA (Durban Hub) Managing Director at Rhilon Media | Founder of wezart.co.za and legaldocx.co.za | Global Startup Ecosystem Ambassador | Founding member of LegalHackers Durban Chapter | LLB Law

Everything starts with a Why. And his biggest love is empowering people. Providing knowledge and opportunities to capable and talented individuals.      This is the foundation of all his activities, all his businesses, and all his goals.  

With over 3 years of experience in website development & building e-commerce start-ups, It was through trial and error that he learnt how to manage and grow a business. After finishing Law 2013, he started his first business in 2014.

In 2015 he was introduced to the IT sector and its endless possibilities. He is the co-founder of Picadoo.co.za a Natural Hair online Marketplace which launched at Demo African in 2017.

He is the Founder and Managing Director of Rhilon Media, which is a website design and marketing company focused on e-commerce, founded in 2019.  

He is also the founder of Wezart.co.za an African Art Marketplace and legaldocx.co.za a contracts and legal document template startup.

In December 2018 he became an Ambassador of the Global Startup Ecosystem where he hosts monthly online webinars on building a startup in South Africa.

In January 2019 he became the founder of Legalhackers Durban Chapter, which hosts Legal hackathons and meetups for the legal sector. 

Clement AGONI (Tamale Hub Ghana) is a social entrepreneur and medical laboratory scientist with an innate passion for youth and community development.

He graduated with a master degree, summa cum laude in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the same research field at the University of KwaZulu Natal, South  Africa.

With several research publications to his credit, Clement's research focuses on the applications of advanced computational tools in exploring and revealing molecular insights on drug-target interactions as well as the design of new therapeutic agents for diseases of global health concern such as Tuberculosis, Cancer, HIV/AIDs and Malaria.

Clement is the founder of Dream Laboratory Consult, a social enterprise dedicated to the provision of quality health care to remote communities in Ghana through the setting up of mobile clinics. 

In 2015, Dream Laboratory Consult was adjudged top finalist in a business plan challenge organized by Technoserve Ghana and the UKAID and received £1500 pounds worth of business support services. In 2017, Dream Laboratory Consult was shortlisted amongst the Ghana Start-up Club 100 and were also winners of the USD5,000 grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme.

In 2016, he was elected as the youngest executive member of the Ghana  Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist as a regional organizing secretary of the Central region of Ghana.

Clement currently serves as a Programme mentor on the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme and continuously develops himself to be an inspiration to the young people from his community. Clement Agoni is self- motivated and inspired by his personalized quote "live to leave a legacy (L3").

Ntethelelo GONYA (Durban Hub) is a patriotic advocate of nation building underpinned by transformational leadership with strong ethical values and structured governance.

He is a student at the University of South Africa, where he is enrolled for a National Diploma in Law.

He further holds two national certificates in Mechanical Engineering (specialty in Fitting Trade).

He recently founded an eCommerce company, OcciousWeb, which seeks to provide online retail services.

An avid reader with an exuberant interest of learning from others through active dialogue and discussions. His personal manifesto is: Character comes before function.

Paul Mandlenkosi MAKAYA (Harare Hub / Zimbabwe) is a 26 year old young leader, An entrepreneur of note and a passionate agent for community development.

He is the founder and CEO of Bergast House, a leading business branding and digital design agency with offices in Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Bergast House helps purpose driven African businesses build more meaningful relationships with customers and helps them sell more of their products and services. The business boosts of having worked with some big brands on the continent which include Microsoft, Zuva Petroleum just to mention but a few.

He is also a co-founder of Zimbabwe’s first youth Newspaper called Hashtag, distributed throughout Zimbabwe the newspapers main aim is the development of youths through publishing quality content that drives critical dialog on issues affecting the youth.

Paul is also a co-founder of Zimbabwe’s premier lifestyle magazine called Harare Magazine, this is an upmarket publication that showcases and captures the beauty Zimbabwe’s capital city.

Beyond businesses Paul is an established fine artist having exhibited at Zimbabwe’s top galleries including the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

He also runs an annual art exhibition that recognizes Zimbabwe’s leading individuals in different spheres called ‘The Influencer's’.

In his drive to change the state of his community Paul was selected to be the Vice Curator of the World Economic Forums Globals Shapers Harare Hub. As such he helps guide the communities efforts to drive conversations on key topics, such as policy and community develop. An example being an annual Town-hall held with the President of Zimbabwe titled Road To Davos.

Paul is a holder of an Honors Bachelor of Science in Creative Arts and Design from the Chinhoyi University of Science Technology (CUT)

Mohamed BEDRI (Cape Town Hub)

Born in Sudan and raised in Sweden, Mohamed has been on a journey to put his background as an environmental engineering to use in accelerating the progress of Africa.

Mohamed studied Civil Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, followed by a Masters in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure.

Frustrated by the slowness of large development organisations, he stumbled into entrepreneurship and founded AsaDuru, a green building firm, to rethink the way we view the built environment and as a vehicle to create a socially just and ecologically restorative future.

He is also co-founder of NAIO Foundation which engages communities in an empathic and participative approach to shape their habitat, environment and their futures.

Mohamed is an altMBA alumni, WEF Global Shaper at the Cape Town hub and was last year selected as 1 of 10 European founders to present at the inaugural European Google Demo Day.

Mohamed has also received the Swedish Elite Sports Scholarship during his career as an athlete at the Swedish National Karate Team.

Mamoteya PHALA (Soweto Hub)

Mamoteya Mammoko Phala is a 27 year old female; residing in the South of Johannesburg. Born in pre-democratic South Africa; but enjoying the opportunities of post-democratic South Africa. She was born to a nurse- Magdeline Phala and an entrepreneur- Joseph Phala. She is the 2nd of 3 daughters.

When she was 17 years old, and a debutante at Mondeor High School, she realized the power of money and business management. Mamoteya has always been one to take part in a multitude of activities. Cultural activities like peer counseling and charity work, and Sports like netball and soccer are where she excelled most.

Mamoteya has ventured into Information technology, finance and entrepreneurship studies.

Mamoteya is currently putting herself through school, and expects to complete her Bcom degree in 2019. She plans to use her acquired knowledge to take her business to greater heights, and to take on a career of being a Small business developer- to help others grow and manage their businesses.

She has also taken part in entrepreneurship incubators such as Awethu Projects and the Raymond Ackerman Academy of entrepreneurship, and a youth development program facilitated  by the Gordon Institute of Business Sciences called-Spirit if the Youth.

Cakes Galore; was established by Mamoteya, in 2012, and she is still operating it. She has aspirations of developing her own commercial line of baked and baking goods. Cakes Galore is a Cake Boutique, which specializes in personalized celebration treats for patrons and corporates. Cakes Galore’s mission is: a promise to provide sweet delicacies that are of the highest standards and a great degree of creativity. She is also in the midst of starting up another business and assisting a peer in starting their own business venture.

She spends her free time by; doing some gardening, painting canvasses and even doing manicures and pedicures, she loves being able to use her hands to showcase her creativity.

Lending a hand and mentoring is something that brings joy to her. She tutors and mentors high school students from her church; passing on knowledge that she has acquired from her studies, seminars, books, her own entrepreneur journey and even her own mentors.

Mamoteya lives by what she preaches: “You are the solution; you are the Pot ‘O Gold at the end of the rainbow.” She has an intense passion for Business development, personal development, youth development and entrepreneurship. She believes that these topics are essential to eradicating poverty, unemployment and hopelessness amongst the youth and the people of any nation.

Mamoteya Phala, has great aspirations and plans to take in more business ventures and help many by passing on her acquired knowledge; so that others may realize their own potential and use their talents to better their lives and of their communities at large.

Tapiwa Anna-Marie PRESTON (Gaborone Hub)

Tapiwa Preston is a 26 year old ex beauty Queen pursing her Masters degree in Social Policy and Administration. 

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology, from the University of Botswana. Recently appointed Deputy Secretary of the Global Shapers Community-Gaborone Hub, she has been involved in a project where individuals living in rural areas without electricity, benefited from solar power lamps. 

Additionally, she volunteers at “Now for Them” an NGO that has the mandate of promoting social inclusion, by moderating talks centered around family planning, sexual behaviour and empowering the girl child in rural Botswana.

Previously an intern at the United Nations population Fund, Tapiwa empowered young people through registration on a mobile platform called TuneMe; to make informed decisions, by providing them with sexual reproductive health information; educating them on their body, their rights, sexually transmitted infections, HIV & AIDS, and contraceptives.

Other sexual reproductive health advocacy work that this young lady has been involved in, is through volunteering at Botswana Family Welfare Association, which promotes gender equality, safe motherhood, and women’s health through HIV/AIDS counselling of patients who are initiated into the ART therapy and counselling key populations.

Tsholofelo MOKGOABONE (Gaborone Hub) 

Tsholofelo is a champion of financial inclusion and economic empowerment and is founder of Finance First Botswana, an organisation that exists to promote financial literacy in Botswana.

Through Finance First Botswana, Tsholofelo wishes to use her financial and economic expertise to empower Batswana with money management tools as well as break down the financial jargon to make sure that everyone is able to make well informed decisions with their financial resources. 

Her passion is in FinTech and she was selected by the World Economic Forum on Africa in Rwanda 2016 to sit on a Panel that looked at how Technology can be used to promote financial inclusion.

She looked at the investment clubs in Botswana and how technology can help them. 

She holds a Bachelors degree in Finance and Economics from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.  

Mncedisi MTSHALI (Durban Hub) 

Mncedisi completed his Bachelor of Technology Degree in Civil Engineering in November 2013.

He is employed as a Candidate Civil Engineering Technologist in the Infrastructure Design Department.

He is responsible for producing designs for the bulk sewers, sewer reticulation systems, water reticulation, stormwater design, earthworks and interlocking concrete block retaining walls, roads and platforms for various projects.

Selected project experience :

Heineken Brewery Plant, Maputo, Mozambique

Al-Wakrah Stadium Precinct (World Cup 2022), Qatar, Qatar Ministry of Sports

Stormwater Asset Management, KZN, SA

Upgrade of Ekwadeni Road, KwaZulu-Natal

Extension of Water Treatment Works, Richards Bay Minerals, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Multi-purpose Terminal Expansion, Transnet Port Terminals, Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

Tema Port, Ghana Port Authority

Spring Light Compressed Natural Gas Facility, KZN, SA

Inyoni Housing Development – Phase 3, Mandeni District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Jan. 2014 to current)

Provision of Water and Sanitation Services in eThekwini, eThekwini Municipality (eThekwini Water Services), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Jan. 2014 to current)

King Shaka International Airport, [Client], La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Dhiren Govender (Johannesburg Hub) 

Dhiren Govender is a hands-on Millennial with over 6 years of experience in non-profit and public benefit management, both locally in his native South Africa as well as internationally, having worked on projects across Southern Africa, Asia and Europe. During his career, he as led and grown various teams and organizations, prioritizing impact and development throughout.

Dhiren’s passion lies in the area where entrepreneurship, business and sustainability all meet. He also has a penchant for youth leadership development, as he is a strong believer in mentoring and reverse-mentoring as a means to bridge multi-generational communication gaps.

Dhiren’s personal ambitions are closely connected with social development and upliftment, as he aims to impact the narrative of the developing world by playing an active role in growing and harnessing the talent and skills needed for the world of tomorrow; in himself and in others. Dhiren is a firm believer in leveraging technological, digital and social solutions to drive impact.

As the CEO of Brightest Young Minds (BYM), Dhiren has the honor of being the face of the organization and stands as a testament to how individuals are moulded through BYM – having been a delegate himself in 2013. Dhiren also has the privilege of waking up each day to work towards enhancing the impact of his fellow BYM’s through the organization.

Beyond his professional goals, Dhiren believes in life-long learning and is an aspiring polymath and polyglot