Category: Speakers Blog

In this highly practical session, Dr Emma Elkington and Dr Irene Brew-Riverson explored how entrepreneurial leadership, growth mindsets and collaborative innovation can empower women entrepreneurs.

The discussion began by highlighting the significant role women play in African entrepreneurship, noting that African nations have some of the highest rates of female business ownership globally.

“Entrepreneurial leadership is a mindset that focuses organisations on turning problems into opportunities that create economic and social value.”

A central theme was the concept of entrepreneurial leadership, explored through six leadership paradoxes identified in a PwC study.

The 6 Paradoxes of Leadership:

• Tech-savvy humanist
• Globally-minded localist
• Strategic executor
• Humble hero
• Traditioned innovator
• High-integrity politician

The key message was that leadership is not about choosing one side of a tension but learning how to balance both.

“Leadership is about holding tensions that seem contradictory; confidence and humility, tradition and innovation, global ambition and local understanding, and learning how to balance them in order to move forward.”

The importance of having a growth mindset was also discussed, highlighting some key areas:

• Recognising and acting on opportunities
• Making decisions with limited information
• Remaining adaptable and resilient

“The entrepreneurial mindset really puts us in a place where nothing is just impossible.”

The session concluded with practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasising passion, purpose, collaboration, adaptability and learning from failure. Rather than viewing setbacks as endpoints, the speakers encouraged participants to see them as opportunities to pivot, learn and continue pursuing meaningful impact.

The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).

Professor Meredith Tharapos delivered a session on the power of mentoring, as a part of the TransformHER webinar series.

She highlighted that entrepreneurs face uncertainty, risk, limited resources, loneliness, rapid decision-making, and constant change. Many businesses fail not because the idea is poor, but because founders lack guidance and support.

“Asking for guidance isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s one of the smartest investments you can make in yourself and your future business.”

Mentors provide:

• Real-world experience and insights
• Access to professional networks
• Emotional support during setbacks
• Strategic thinking guidance
• Accountability to turn ideas into action

“A good mentor isn’t trying to build dependence on them. Their goal is to help you become more capable, more confident, and more independent as an entrepreneur.”

A mentor does more than provide answers. Effective mentors guide, challenge, support and develop independent thinking. Research shows that entrepreneurs with mentors often experience higher business survival rates and growth, increased confidence, and stronger leadership skills.

“Businesses grow because people grow, and great mentors help entrepreneurs become the people capable of building lasting success.”

The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).

In a webinar delivered as part of the TransformHER series, Jasmine Foley, Owner of Empress Media Agency, explored how personal branding can help aspiring entrepreneurs create opportunities, build credibility, and gain greater independence.

Drawing on her experience as an entrepreneur, educator, and international pageant titleholder, Jasmine demonstrated that a strong personal brand is not about self-promotion.

 “Entrepreneurial independence is achieved when people trust you, remember who you are, and seek out your expertise.”

Top tips from Jasmine:

• Consumers increasingly buy from people they trust rather than simply choosing products or services. Credibility, authenticity, and visibility are essential.
• It is important to identify the experiences, challenges, and perspectives that make you unique.
• When people are clear about their values, expertise, and mission, they become more comfortable speaking about themselves and their work.

“You’re an expert in your own story. You’re an expert in your own experience.”

How to build your personal brand:

• Define your values.
• Identify your niche.
• Understand your audience.
• Develop a consistent message.
• Share your story authentically.
• Build visibility online and offline.
• Capture and showcase achievements.
• Stay consistent across platforms.

The webinar concluded with a reminder that personal branding is not about becoming someone else. It is about communicating who you already are with confidence, consistency, and purpose so that the right opportunities can find you.

The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).

Dr. Suman Lodh, Associate Professor in Finance at Kingston Business School, explored how entrepreneurs can identify opportunities, generate ideas, and solve real-world problems using the Double Diamond Thinking Model, as part of the TransformHER webinar series.

“Risk is defined in two words. One is danger and the second one is opportunity.”

The session started with a discussion around opportunity and risk. Suman explained that uncertainty is not only a threat but also a source of opportunity. Entrepreneurs who learn to recognise opportunities within challenges are best positioned to innovate.

“Entrepreneurship should not wait for a reaction. They need to be proactive. They need to always be seeking opportunities.”

Steps in the innovation funnel:

• Ideate
• Define
• Design
• Develop
• Commercialise

“You do not need to reinvent the wheel all the time.”

Many successful businesses grow by improving existing ideas rather than creating completely new inventions. This webinar highlighted how to spot an opportunity through careful observation and identifying customer frustrations, market gaps, changing behaviours, and emerging trends.

How to use the Double Diamond model:

1. Discover – Explore and understand the problem.
2. Define – Narrow down the key challenge based on the insights from the discovery stage.
3. Develop – Explore answers to the problem through inspiration and collaboration.
4. Deliver – Testing out solutions on a small scale and improving them.

“Entrepreneurship is all about helping yourself by helping others”

The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).

Further Reading: https://review.firstround.com/how-design-thinking-transformed-airbnb-from-failing-startup-to-billion-dollar-business/

Sharing her expertise, Professor Monomita Nandy, spoke about with the students as part of the TransformHER webinar series.

The session opened with discussion around the fact that climate change is no longer a future problem. It is already affecting communities through flooding, droughts, water shortages, heatwaves, and rising living costs.

“These events are no longer rare events; they are becoming part of our lived reality.”

As a Professor in Accounting and Finance at Brunel University of London, Monomita highlighted that that these climate challenges create opportunities to apply for green funding to turn ideas into meaningful projects.

Key takeaway: Climate skills are career skills

Climate literacy has become an essential professional skill. Understanding sustainability, communicating climate issues effectively, and identifying green opportunities can strengthen job applications, business ventures, and leadership roles.

Key takeaway: People connect with stories more than statistics.

Personal experiences and local examples can make climate conversations more meaningful and motivate action.

How to develop your fundable idea into a 60-second pitch:

• Problem
• People
• Idea
• Value
• Support
• First Test
• Inclusion  

The webinar reminded participants that addressing climate change does not always require large-scale interventions. Meaningful change often starts with a simple conversation, a local solution, and a willingness to take the first step toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

“Action is hope, and there is no hope without action.”

The TransformHER webinar series is under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).

Further Reading: A Climate of Truth – Mike Berners-Lee

Sharing her journey of entrepreneurship, Cansu Akyar, Co-Founder of Digipac Consultancy, spoke with the students as part of the TransformHER webinar series.

The discussion started by focusing on the foundations of business such as values and motivations.

 “You will bring who you are, who you want to be, the things you love in life.”

Top tips from Cansu:

• Reflect on your own values and motivations
• Find internships during breaks and summers when you are studying
• Be open and try working in different types of jobs to see what you like
• Engage with business advice services and networking events

“I think networking is everything, build it before you need it because you are going to need it!”

Four factors to consider when you are building your business:

• Right timing (external) – for example, the economic situation
• Right place and conditions
• Right people – for example, business partners, mentors and your network
• Being ready to take the first step (internal) – for example courage and motivation

“What’s your power? What’s your strength? And what is the demand in the market? And if you merge these things and connect the dots, you’re going in the right direction”

Three things Cansu wishes she had known:

• Embrace the unknown and take risks
• Hard moments don’t mean you are failing, they mean you are building
• Choose people who share your values (skills can be taught, values cannot)

A major takeaway from the discussion was the importance of building a strong portfolio over time, especially for entrepreneurs or early-career professionals.

Emphasis was placed on: 

• Consistency
• Sincerity
• Integrity

The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).

Digipac Consultancy is a London-based growth consultancy for purpose-driven B2B enterprises.

Resources shared by Cansu:

Global youth opportunities with AIESEC: https://aiesec.org/