Dimpho Lekgeu is a South African speaker, coach, and creative strategist whose work centers on human potential, personal transformation, and narrative leadership. As a “social alchemist,” she crafts experiences and storytelling frameworks that support people in navigating change, stepping into their purpose, and bridging identity with impact.
Dimpho speaks frequently on topics such as resilience, identity transitions, creative leadership, and living a life aligned with values. Her approach blends introspection, narrative techniques, and strategic mindset work to engage audiences in deeper reflection and action.
Dimpho Lekgeu is a passionate communicator and changemaker committed to social justice and driving positive impact through powerful storytelling. She uses her platforms to spark conversations that inspire action, bridge diverse perspectives, and address some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today.
Dimpho’s career began in community radio, where she discovered the transformative potential of storytelling as a tool for social change. She has since led thought-provoking conversations on both national and international platforms, including hosting two podcasts one of which is Limitless Africa, an international production by TRUE Africa spanning five countries and tackling critical issues shaping the continent’s future.
As Communications Manager at the African Climate Reality Project, Dimpho leads strategic content and advocacy efforts focused on climate action across Africa. She excels in crafting inclusive communications strategies that bring the right people into the conversation and drive real-world impact.
Dimpho Lekgeu work is rooted in a commitment to creating spaces where all people, especially women are empowered to speak up, lead, and shape a more just and sustainable future.
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Hosted by program director Dimpho Lekgeu, the University of Pretoria launches the Vice Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge to catalyze high-value, technology-driven startups across Africa. After safety notes and a social media call-to-action, Taxnovation Center Manager Pindile Chabangu welcomes partners and outlines the incubator’s mission: build ventures that build the economy, with focus areas spanning AI, big data, IoT, fintech, healthtech, agritech, and rapid prototyping support. He emphasizes funding linkages, mentorship, and a shift from pitch-to-pitch cycles toward multi-year venture building.
Acting Deputy Principal Prof Sunil Maharaj frames Taxnovation as UP’s vehicle to retain and commercialize home-grown IP, sharing past examples of valuable research that exited the country due to weak commercialization pathways. Vice Chancellor Prof Tawana Kupe delivers the keynote, positioning UP as an entrepreneurial university that intentionally converts research into socio-economic impact. He announces the annual challenge, a future early-stage venture fund backed by UP with seed partners SEDA and TIA, and a continental scope with category prizes including special awards for social innovation and women-led ventures. The awards are planned to align with Africa Day.
Messages of support follow. From the City of Tshwane, Isaiah Engelbrecht commits access to real-world municipal platforms for pilots and stresses ecosystem collaboration. From the Technology Innovation Agency, Acting CEO Patrick Krapi highlights national commercialization gaps for publicly funded IP and endorses UP’s incubator-to-venture model, including co-funded seed instruments and a push to crowd in private capital.
In a panel moderated by Chabangu, Prof Kupe calls for an “innovative square mile” in Tshwane and stronger university-industry-government compacts. Gauteng’s Office of the Premier outlines the province’s growth sectors and the need to embed entrepreneurship from early education through higher ed. TIA details instrument redesign, coordination across funders, and policy barriers such as procurement rules that limit local tech adoption. The session closes with the challenge mechanics, timelines, and an invitation to partners to co-invest, pilot, and mentor. Dimpho wraps by directing attendees to network and share the opportunity across the continent.
00:00 – Opening and housekeeping; Dimpho welcomes VC, partners, media, and online audience
03:10 – Taxnovation overview; venture-building thesis, labs, mentors, seed funding, partner thanks
12:30 – Prof Maharaj: why UP built Taxnovation to retain and commercialize IP
18:40 – Keynote Prof Kupe: UP’s entrepreneurial vision, venture fund intent, continental scope, Africa Day alignment
34:10 – Partner remarks: City of Tshwane on piloting and access to urban platforms
41:30 – Partner remarks: TIA on commercialization gaps, seed co-funding, private capital, policy frictions
50:05 – Panel begins: entrepreneurial universities, innovation capital, funding instruments, policy and procurement barriers
1:11:40 – Challenge mechanics revealed: categories, regions, application window, awards timing
1:15:10 – Closing and networking; Dimpho invites partners to engage and amplify the call
Dimpho opens a World Bank Africa × Youth Transforming Africa event on “Break the Bias,” sets participation rules, and frames aims: shift narratives, surface solutions, and involve men as allies. World Bank youth lead Ruti Ajangu underscores COVID-exacerbated gaps and the Bank’s focus on health, education, social protection, and WASH.
Panelists share practical levers: legal reform plus grassroots pressure (O’Neal Masamba); media visibility and women “owning the mic” (Sangté Bacham); sisterhood, education access, and funding realities in fashion entrepreneurship (Kadija “Kadita” Diop); government’s role to integrate women into the digital economy and STEM (Rosine Gatoni); evidence-based interventions for girls’ education and engaging men/boys (Estelle Koussoubé). Audience Q&A probes tokenism vs. representation, career barriers, and how panelists actively mentor. Dimpho closes with a call to action and World Bank remarks reaffirming continued collaboration beyond Women’s Month.
00:00 – Dimpho welcome, event housekeeping, engagement ask (#BreakTheBias, chat).
02:00 – World Bank (Ruti Ajangu): why gender equality is core; pandemic setbacks; program pillars.
05:10 – Panel intros: law, media/PR, fashion entrepreneurship, ICT policy, gender economics.
06:00 – O’Neal Masamba: pair legal reform with youth mobilization; local financing schemes; Malawi example.
08:00 – Sangté Bacham: media shapes norms—amplify women’s wins; move from gossip to impact stories; women should “own the mic.”
10:00 – Kadita Diop: family support, education, and persistence; Paris Fashion Week experience; mentoring girls in Mauritania.
12:00 – Rosine Gatoni: women must be producers & consumers of tech; governments to open STEM pathways and create enabling environments.
14:00 – Estelle Koussoubé: constraints (norms, info, poverty); what works—life skills, returns-to-schooling info, community/men engagement.
17:00 – Lightning round: role of men—allyship, transparency on pay, household labor sharing, patient dialogue over cancel culture.
19:30 – Audience Q&A: overcoming bias in STEM/law; tokenism vs. representation; concrete mentoring and safe spaces for girls.
22:30 – Closing: Dimpho’s call to “stand out of your own way”; World Bank thanks and pledge to continue the work.
Re-entry & energy check: Dimpho welcomes everyone back from the comfort break, prompts crowd feedback, jokes about a “flash mob,” and drives live engagement (selfie contest + hashtags).
Expo roadmap (4 buckets):
Access to funding — e.g., Nedbank, National Skills Fund, The People’s Fund
Access to markets
Access to technology — e.g., FOS for trade tech
Access to tools — latest tools and innovations for trades
Encourages attendees to visit stands and submit selfie entries: #MakerToMaker #MakerSA #TradesForTheFuture (+ #MakersFest for Eastern Cape).
00:00 — Walk-on music; energized welcome back, engagement check.
00:45 — Selfie competition push; left/right-side banter.
01:20 — Expo explainer: funding, markets, technology, tools (with examples).
03:10 — Hashtags & online participation reminder.
03:40 — Q&A pivot; green building cost & funding question to Dr. Anthony.
04:30 — Closing thanks; Kofi Annan quote paraphrase and call to action.
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