Mentorship was a central component of TransformHER, designed to connect female university students with experienced women leaders to support their personal and entrepreneurial development. Delivered in collaboration with the SWEEP (Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme), the mentorship program created opportunities for students to share their realities, learn from diverse role models, build meaningful networks, and gain practical insights for navigating their entrepreneurial journeys. The program used three complementary approaches: HER Roots (Reverse Mentorship), HER Rise (Group Mentorship), and HER Thrive (Building Business Viability Mentorship). These approaches positioned students not only as recipients of knowledge and guidance but also as active contributors whose experiences and perspectives shaped the learning process. Together, these approaches aimed to strengthen students’ confidence, agency, and entrepreneurial capabilities while enabling them to envision and pursue their own futures.
HER Roots – Reverse Mentorship
HER Roots was designed to create a space where students could share their lived experiences of entrepreneurship and help mentors understand the cultural, socio-economic and institutional realities that shape the opportunities and challenges faced by young South African women. Rather than positioning mentors as experts who provide solutions, the reverse mentorship approach positioned students as knowledge holders and mentors primarily as listeners and dialogue partners.
HER Rise – Group Mentorship
HER Rise built on the insights and conversations generated through the reverse mentorship sessions by providing students with practical guidance and group coaching. Through this supportive group environment, students were empowered to learn from both experienced mentors and their peers, strengthen their networks and develop greater confidence to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations.
HER Thrive – Building Business Viability
HER Thrive extends the mentorship journey by responding directly to the needs and priorities identified by students through the earlier mentorship sessions and the Living Lab. Three mentors with complementary areas of entrepreneurial expertise will facilitate focused sessions to strengthen business viability. The sessions focus on three interconnected aspects of building a viable business: generating revenue and building a business that actually makes money; developing effective sales strategies from a practical small-business perspective; and building a sustainable business capable of creating value and remaining resilient over time. Drawing on their own experience and expertise, mentors provide practical insights, tools and strategies that students can apply to their own entrepreneurial ideas and ventures. The approach remains participatory, with students’ questions, experiences and identified needs shaping the discussions. In this way, HER Thrive moves beyond inspiration and confidence-building to equip students with the practical knowledge and capabilities needed to assess, develop, and strengthen the viability of their businesses and pursue sustainable economic opportunities.
TransformHER mentorship in their words …
Guidance
“Having the opportunity to voice exactly what I needed guidance on, rather than sitting through generic advice, meant the mentors could speak directly to the challenges I’m actually facing in my ventures.”
“This was a truly exceptional programme and I learnt a lot! It was impactful and well planned.”
Insight
Growth
“This has been a very insightful journey, and I have learned a lot about managing a business, how to deal with stigma and also solving problems.”
“I have started my business now.”
Taking the Leap
Networking
“I learnt about the significance of networking in business and how important it is to keep on expanding on my business plan each year.”
“I got to think out of the box and use others as a platform to learn.”
New Perspectives
Meet our Mentors
Our mentors are at the heart of the TransformHER programme, bringing together expertise, lived experience and a commitment to empowering the next generation of women leaders and entrepreneurs. Through HER Roots reverse mentorship and HER Rise group mentoring, they engage in meaningful conversations that encourage learning in both directions. While students gain guidance, professional insights and confidence, mentors also benefit from fresh perspectives, new ideas and a deeper understanding of the aspirations and experiences of emerging women leaders. Together, these mentoring relationships create a collaborative learning community that fosters personal growth, innovation and lasting connections across higher education, industry and society.
