Today, on Equip & Elevate Podcast we got to chat with Liziwe Ntshweza-Freemantle on navigating corporate as a young black professional and tips to build your career in corporate. Liziwe is an economist with research interest in inclusive and sustainable market development with a specific focus on Financial Economics and development. 

She has several years in economic and strategy consulting across sub-Saharan Africa. Her work has focused on financial sector development and strategy development for corporate and commercial banks, other financial service providers and policy makers across Southern and West Africa. Most recently she has been working in the world of insurtech within a leading listed financial services organization.

She also has interests in Gender economics, specifically as it pertains to issues affecting African women and black women of African descent in the global diaspora.

Liziwe studied a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Economics Honours at Rhodes University and then completed an MSc in Development Economics from SOAS, University of London.

During Money Smart Week South Africa, we will be chatting to Gladness Rupare ( Investment specialist) & Nomsa Ngwenya (Client Relationship Manager) about Build your future, Be smart about Money. MSWSA is a financial literacy campaign aimed at motivating and empowering all South Africans to become more educated about their finances. 

Nomsa and Gladness will be providing tools on how you can equip yourself with financial knowledge in order to elevate your finances. They will also be discussing their personal insights, financial journeys and tips for you to build their future, be smart about money. 

Nomsa is a Client Relationship Manager at a  leading asset management firm in SA. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an Economics Honours degree, both from the University of Pretoria, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. She is passionate about financial literacy, investment education, financial markets, client servicing and relationship management.

Gladness started working in the financial services industry in 2007 and is currently an investment specialist with one of the leading asset management firms in SA. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computational and Applied Mathematics from the University of the Witwatersrand. Gladness is passionate about uplifting and inspiring youth and enjoys travelling and spending time with her family.

MSWSA is taking place between 29 August and 4 September 2022.

Today, on Equip & Elevate Podcast we got to chat with Zoe Msutwana about her upbringing, career journey and Public Relations tips for SMMEs. Zoe Msutwana is currently a Head of Strategy at a boutique PR Agency with over 10 years experience, Founding Editor of GUIDE, and Content Creator. 

Zoe started her career at At Vogue Communications, where she worked on the NBCUniversal brand, which houses TV Channels including E! Entertainment, The Style Network, Universal Channel and Studio Universal on the DStv platform.

Following this, Zoe went on to join DNA Brand Architects as a Senior Brand Architect where she oversaw PR/Reputation Management & Strategy Development. She later went on to join Africa's premier luxury brand agency, Vivid Luxury as a Senior PR Account Director.

With the Pop-Culture itch coupled with her horned PR entrepreneurial spirit, Zoe took a move that would see her cement her position as one of the most influential voices in the fashion and beauty economy in SA followed by the launch of her coveted platform, GUIDE  — South Africa’s very own Beauty & Wellness insider.

Today, on Equip & Elevate Podcast we got to chat with Hlengiwe Ntombela (better known as HLE) about her upbringing, her career journey and diversifying her career portfolio. HLE, is a gospel singer, songwriter, host of VIP Invite and owner of YKOE. 

Hle began her career as a backing vocalist for Ntokozo Mbambo, and has collaborated with Hlengiwe Mhlaba and Benjamin Dube. She is a former member of the gospel choir Joyous Celebration and has been recently signed by the intentional record label, Motown Gospel. 

She will also share some key values that have shaped her life as well as her career journey. She also shares some hurdles she experienced during her journey and how she persisted.

On the Season 2 premiere of the Equip & Elevate Podcast, I had a beautiful conversation about her upbringing, purpose and building a career with an authentic edge with Pamela Mtanga, an award-winning Multimedia Entrepreneur and Brand Influencer. 

Pamela Mtanga best known for her formidable career as an MC, voice-over artist and TV/Radio presenter. Most recently, she is a Massive Music presenter on Channel O. Pamela is a public relation graduate from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Mtanga was named top personality and influencer at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards hosted by Pat on Brands. 

Pamela also shared insight on how you could tap into your influence and build a career in the digital space. 

On the season one finale of the Equip and Elevate Podcast, I had a beautiful conversation about Purpose, Identity and Redefining success with Rorisang Thandekiso. Rorisang is a Radio and TV Presenter, musician and overall powerhouse within the entertainment industry.

On today’s episode, she will also be taking us through her upbringing and some key values that have shaped her life as well as her career journey. She also shares some hurdles she experienced during her journey and how she persisted and found purpose during those hurdles.

Lindelwa Skenjana Marketer, Author, Mother and Master of Social Sciences. On today, Lindelwa and I unpack the themes of her newly published book The Black Girl's Guide to Corporate South Africa.

The Black Girl's Guide to Corporate South Africa focuses on Black women at various stages of their careers as they navigate the pitfalls of the corporate world. The guide helps black women learn what wishes she knew before going into the corporate environment.

She is passionate about marketing, digital technology, women empowerment and the development of the African continent. Lindelwa is an award winning professional and holds a number of qualifications from different institutions. She considers herself an Afro-optimist and believes with the right leadership, with considered effort towards holistic wellbeing (mind, body, soul), Africa can achieve great things. 

Today we will be talking to Boipelo Mabe who is a multimedia personality, a digital communications and marketing professional and speaker. She was crowned Miss South Africa first princess in 2017 and is currently a Digital Communications Manager at one of South Africa’s top Techcos.

Boipelo will be taking us through her upbringing and sharing some key values and lessons that have shaped her life. She will also be taking us on her journey on finding purpose and owning her journey. Lastly, Boipelo will share insight on how she mastered balancing multiple passions and how you can merge your skills and passions into one personal brand. 

Boipelo is extremely passionate about community development, women empowerment and education. Her mission is to contribute towards the greater development of the African continent and it's youth through mentorship, entrepreneurship and information sharing through digital means. She works with civil and faith based organisations to reach and impact young people especially girl children.

Today we will be talking to Keitumetse Lekaba, the Managing Director and Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) at I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR about funding your business. 

Keitumetse will be discussing the different types of funding available to entrepreneurs and how you can position your idea or business to unlock some funding. She will also discuss on why entrepreneurs do not get funding for their businesses.  In addition, Keitumetse will she insight on the essential qualities investors look for in their founders/ entrepreneurs as well as what you should consider before they accept funding from an investor.

Keitumetse has over 15 years of experience, she has led the implementation of ESD Programmes for companies such as Coca Cola Beverages South Africa, Exxaro Mine, Sasol, Barloworld, SA Tourism and many more. Keitumetse is a co-founder of Mediwell Medical Centre in Johannesburg, as well as the founder of Karabo Business Solutions. 

Outside of finance and SMME development, she is the founder and chairperson of Goddess Girls, an NGO facilitating girl child mentorship in Soweto.

Keitumetse has a passion for human and business development, business coaching and sustainability of SMMEs. She is an exceptional leader, with charisma and extensive knowledge in her field.

Today we will be talking to Luyanda Duma about creating and cultivating your dream career. She will be sharing some insight and tips on how to create and cultivate your dream careers. We will be discussing how to define, refine and build your dream career. Luyanda will also be taking us through her journey in her career and sharing some key values that have shaped her life.

Luyanda is a speaker, corporate queen, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Luyanda is making her mark by inspiring the youth daily through personal mastery, education and talent development. She is the founder of Stripped by Luyanda, which is a platform that seeks to empower young women and is also a budding philanthropist running 'The Malusi Duma Foundation' - an organisation that changes people's lives one project at a time. In 2020, Luyanda launched her own brand of personal organisation stationary named 'She Who
Dreams. 

Her footprint on social media has been defined as a young woman who's ready to change the world and her growth as a speaker has placed her up on diverse and
impactful stages.