Introduction

The mandate of the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, South Africa, is to lead on socio-economic transformation and implementation of the empowerment and participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities through mainstreaming, advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation. The vision of the department is of a transformed, inclusive society free from all forms of discrimination and capable of self-actualisation.

Its mission is to provide strategic leadership, advocacy, and coordination to government departments and the country on mainstreaming socio-economic empowerment of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The department’s values are tolerance and respect in the workplace, professionalism, continuous learning, integrity, caring, accountability, inclusivity, and empowerment.

Email
Prince.Booi@dwypd.gov.za

Introduction

The TUT Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (TUT CED), a pivotal initiative of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), has achieved notable recognition in its 5th year of operation. In 2023, the centre was honoured with the National Presidential SMME & Cooperatives Awards for Innovative Solutions for Small Businesses.

Managed by TUT's Faculty of Management Sciences, TUT CED fosters economic participation and inclusion, particularly for grassroots women, youth, and people with disabilities. The centre’s comprehensive approach involves entrepreneurial education, business development and support services for start-ups, including training, coaching, mentoring, and access to a network of resources. TUT CED plays a crucial role in accelerating the successful development of entrepreneurial ventures by providing essential business support resources and services for early-stage entrepreneurs.

In its commitment to economic development, TUT CED focuses on programs tailored to enhance SMMEs and co-operatives in rural, township, and mining towns, aiming to integrate them fully into the mainstream economy. This strategic alignment with the economic development goals of South Africa, as outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP 2030), and regional and international socio-economic goals, such as those in the African Agenda 2063 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals showcases the centre’s dedication to broader societal advancement. Beneficiaries of TUT CED span various industries, including Agriculture & Agro-processing, Construction, Cultural & Creative Industries, Healthcare, Information Technology & Digitalisation, Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Social Services, and Tourism. The centre’s recognition through the National Presidential SMME & Cooperatives Awards further validates its contributions to innovation and sustainable solutions for small businesses.

Email
ced@tut.ac.za

Bio
Irene, Bridget N is a Senior Lecturer at the Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester. Her scholarly interests range widely, encompassing entrepreneurship and focusing on the culturally instantiated facets of the debate on gender entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial competencies, family businesses, entrepreneurship education, and the informal economy. Her PhD research contributes to the already established discourse on gendering entrepreneurship and provides explicit feminist perspectives highlighting the inadvertent reinforcement of women’s subordination to men in the context of entrepreneurial endeavours.

Email
bridget.irene@dmu.ac.uk

Bio
Dr Patrick Ebewo is a distinguished enterprise and entrepreneurship development expert who significantly impacts academia and social initiatives within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. With over a decade of experience in academia and industry, he has collaborated with private and public enterprises, playing a pivotal role in shaping entrepreneurship programs to foster positive societal change. Dr. Ebewo's educational background is robust, with a Doctoral degree in Business Administration specialising in Entrepreneurship Development. As the Head of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Dr. Ebewo brings extensive experience and expertise to shaping academic curricula and guiding aspiring entrepreneurs. His leadership extends to the TUT Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, where he spearheads initiatives to support sustainable emerging businesses. Under his direction, the Centre facilitates innovative business ideas, cultivates entrepreneurial competence, and fosters a culture of peer support and networking. His leadership at the TUT Centre for Entrepreneurship Development earned the esteemed 2023 Presidential Award for Innovative Solutions in Small Business Development, acknowledging his exceptional contributions to entrepreneurship. Dr. Ebewo is also an active contributor to academic scholarship. He is on the Editorial board of the Journal of Business Leadership and Management and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Entrepreneurial Innovations. He is a reviewer for several prestigious journals, including Cogent Business & Management, MDPI Journal: Education Sciences and Behavioral Sciences, International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, Journal of Enterprise and Development (JED), and Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research. His research portfolio includes 21 peer-reviewed journal articles, 16 conference presentations, and a published book chapter on Defining Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship from a South African perspective.

Bio
Prof Motshedisi (Tshidi) Mathibe is an award winning case writer, NRF and NIHSS grant holder, Associate Professor and Head of Business Management and Entrepreneurship at GIBS. Her research interests are in the field of social entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurship, informality, township economy, and Base of the Pyramid markets. In addition to teaching and research responsibilities, Prof Mathibe plays a vital role from ideation to development to a presentation of these young minds’ solutions to the company’s senior management. She is involved with The United Nation’s Global Impact Young Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Innovators Programme. Here, she mentors and supports a team of young innovators in their efforts to frame a challenge, applying sustainable business and innovative concepts/ideas to create tangible business solutions with real market potential. Prof Mathibe is an adhoc reviewer for NRF rating applications, an examiner for Masters and PhD thesis for universities across South Africa, a research collaborator across Africa, UK and Canada, and an adhoc reviewer for conference papers and journals. Prof Mathibe currently also supervises masters and MPhil students. In addition to her research focus, Dr Mathibe has extensive experience in curriculum design and content development.

Email
mathibet@gibs.co.za

Email
elona.ndlovu@obc.ac.uk

Email
SMbangiswano@cut.ac.za

Bio
Mpendulo Sibiya holds a master’s degree in Astronomy and is a career coach, STEM advocate, and digital media strategist dedicated to empowering South African youth through job readiness, professional branding, and industry exposure. With a strong background in content creation, social media engagement, and public speaking, Mpendulo utilises digital platforms to connect job people with opportunities and insights from industry leaders. As the founder of a resume branding and career development service, Mpendulo has successfully assisted thousands of job seekers and graduates in optimising their CVs, preparing for interviews, and navigating the job market. Her expertise encompasses content marketing, social media strategy, and event communications, particularly for high-impact conferences, symposiums, and recruitment campaigns. Mpendulo is also the host of the **Beyond the CV Podcast**, where she interviews hiring managers, recruiters, financial experts, and professionals, providing valuable career and financial literacy insights to a growing audience across YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Her influence extends to over 296K followers on TikTok and a WhatsApp network of more than 37K subscribers in her WhatsApp channel, establishing her as a trusted voice in the job market and career development space. In addition to her career coaching efforts, Mpendulo has developed event communication strategies for major organisations, including the NRF Science Matters magazine, the Merging Researchers Symposium 2024, the China-SA job Fair 2024, Working World Exhibition (WWE) 2025, and the W20 2025 launch. Her ability to blend storytelling, strategic branding, and audience engagement makes her a highly sought-after consultant for digital marketing and activation campaigns. Mpendulo is passionate about leveraging digital platforms to bridge the gap between talent and opportunities, ensuring that young professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in today’s evolving job market.

Email
mpendulosibiya2@gmail.com