Meet the MASA Team

Currently serving as the Head of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP) at Stanbic Bank Botswana, she leads strategic interventions that stimulate local manufacturing, unlock SME capacity, drive inclusive value chains, and generate dignified employment. A frequent speaker and advocate, she has shared insights at major industry forums where she amplifies themes of citizen empowerment, financial inclusion, enterprise development, gender equity and impact investing. In recognition of her work in this field and her passion for fostering strategic partnerships, she was voted among the 2022/2023 Top 10 Strategic African Women in Leadership.

She is a certified expert in financial inclusion policy, and her professional vision is deeply Pan-African and people-first: to redefine finance not just as a tool for growth, but as an instrument of equality and legacy. This is evidenced by her purpose-driven work, where she has led one of the biggest CEEP funding programs (1 billion plus) and capacitated over 3,500 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), spearheaded the creation of Botswana's first bank account for women in business and spearheaded Botswana’s first bank-driven grant funding programs.

His career, spanning institutions in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini, is built on a profound commitment to bridging theoretical rigour with actionable, real-world impact. His expertise lies at the dynamic intersection of entrepreneurship, governance, economic policy, and institutional development, where he crafts strategic frameworks for both public and private sector advancement.

As a lifelong learner and innovative educator, Dr. M’Kali’s teaching philosophy is student-centred and future-focused. He mentors in entrepreneurship, small business management, and strategy, dedicated to inculcating entrepreneurial mindsets. He champions a pedagogical shift from passive learning to active engagement, leveraging technology-enhanced platforms like Moodle and Blackboard to create scalable, relevant education that aligns with labour market demands. His approach is collaborative, often co-authoring research with students and colleagues, thereby weaving teaching, mentorship, and scholarly inquiry into a seamless fabric.

His research is empirically grounded and driven by practical challenges. Key areas include designing cost-effective regulatory systems, analysing labour market dynamics under trade agreements like SACU/SADC, and optimising the demographic dividend through youth entrepreneurship. His doctoral research on the efficacy of government incentives for agribusiness SMMEs in Botswana exemplifies his focus on sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. Furthermore, he substantiates the critical need for integrated university ecosystems that combine educational, scientific, and entrepreneurial functions to unlock the innovative potential of student youth.

Beyond academia, Dr. M’Kali possesses extensive cross-sector experience, having held advisory roles and industry leadership positions. This enables exceptional cross-functional collaboration, facilitating multi-stakeholder policy development between government, academia, and industry. Currently a Lecturer at the University of Botswana and a Research Associate at the University of South Africa (UNISA), his career reflects a consistent legacy of award-winning leadership. Dr. M’Kali is ultimately a visionary architect of institutional and human capacity, dedicated to fostering economic development and nurturing the next generation of innovative thinkers and enterprise builders in Africa and beyond.

Gladys has guided early-stage founders in validating their business models and adopting go-to-market strategies to minimise failure risk. She has mentored youth entrepreneurs in the retail space on customer relationship marketing strategies to attain lasting brand advocacy. Gladys currently works as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business and Professional Development at BIUST, where she teaches economics, business and entrepreneurship to Science and Engineering majors. She has successfully managed to broaden her research into interdisciplinary fields to encompass renewable energy, integration of social sciences in STEM, as well as women's economic empowerment with emphasis on the interface between technology, management, and entrepreneurship.

She serves as the Managing Director of Lilylap Foods (Pty) Ltd, where she spearheads initiatives aimed at strengthening Botswana’s food systems. Her work focuses on food safety training, regulatory compliance audits, facilitation of manufacturing licences, processing of agricultural produce permits, development of process documentation, and producer compliance assessments aligned with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Food Science, Tsholofelo has cultivated a distinguished career encompassing meat processing, indigenous product development, packaging, confectionery manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and export standards. Her in-depth expertise in food regulations and her ability to navigate trade-related barriers position her as a strategic contributor to Botswana’s food security agenda and industrial competitiveness.

Her professional journey began with foundational research and development on indigenous foods in collaboration with the University of Botswana and the National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC). She subsequently advanced into food safety and quality management within the confectionery manufacturing sector. As a Technology Consultant – Food at the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), she supported SMME development and mentorship initiatives. She later strengthened food safety systems and championed new product development for the Botswana market in her role as a retail food technologist. Additionally, she played an instrumental role in establishing safety systems and enhancing value-chain efficiency during the inception phase of the Letsema Horticultural Market.

With a strong commitment to regulatory compliance, mentorship, and capacity building, Tsholofelo Moatshe continues to champion food system transformation. Her work bridges primary production and processing, elevates supply chain performance, and promotes the industry-wide adoption of global food safety standards.

As the founder and managing director of Ina Lebe (Pty) Ltd, she has built a business around bespoke engraving and personalised gifting, creating products that combine craftsmanship, originality, and a deep appreciation for identity, heritage, and thoughtful design. Her work reflects a rare ability to turn creativity into a sustainable enterprise while delivering products that resonate with both individual and corporate clients.

Beyond business, Tumelo is also recognised for her commitment to leadership, empowerment, and social impact. Her profile reflects a professional journey shaped by entrepreneurship, advocacy, and a drive to create value in ways that extend beyond profit alone. She brings together business acumen, innovation, and purpose, making her a compelling example of a modern African entrepreneur whose work is rooted in excellence, cultural pride, and community influence.

As Managing Director of Digital Learning Academy (BQA-accredited, HRDC-approved), she leads blended TVET training focused on employability, entrepreneurship, and community development.

Eunice holds an MSc in Management with Enterprise and Business Growth (2016), from Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow, UK, where she received the World Changing Alumni Award (2019) for clean energy access and community empowerment. She was also a Study UK Alumni Awards (2024) finalist in Business and Innovation.

For over three years, she has volunteered in STEM outreach across Botswana through FemEng, an Engineering Society at the University of Glasgow, coordinating hands-on workshops that reached 5,000+ learners in primary and secondary schools. Her work emphasizes practical learning, mentorship, and challenging gender stereotypes.

Eunice is also active in renewable energy space, bridging education, entrepreneurship, and sustainability in line with Botswana’s Vision 2036 and the SDGs. Through leadership and voluntary service, she drives youth empowerment, gender equity in STEM, and skills development at local and international levels.

Eng. Walter Motswedi Kgabung is a Professional Engineer registered with the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) of Botswana and a professional member of the Project Management Institute (PMI, USA). He holds a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Technology and Innovation Management.

He began his career at the Botswana Power Corporation in 1981, spending 15 years in coal power generation at Gaborone Power Station and Morupule A. He went on to serve for over a decade as Technical Director for Renewable Energy Research and Development and as Director of Business Development at the Rural Industries Promotions Company, based at its Rural Industries Innovation Centre in Kanye. He later served as Director of Technology and Innovation at the Local Enterprise Authority, and as the first General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of BPC Lesedi from 2009 to 2013.

Today he is a Director at Raven Brook Resources (Pty) Ltd, an engineering and project management company, and Chairman of Kganyo Solar Farm, where he focuses on utility-scale solar PV project development and financing. Alongside this work, he mentors emerging entrepreneurs on the MIT/MASA programme in partnership with the University of Botswana and BIUST.

Molibi Maphanyane is a Botswana-based entrepreneur, product leader, and community builder with a track record of building ventures across technology, wellness, agriculture, hospitality, and sport. He is the founder of GR8R Than Fitness, a wellness marketplace connecting certified fitness and wellness professionals with clients across Africa through a trusted, commission-only platform. GR8R is backed by the African Impact Health Challenge and the University of Toronto, Health Innovation Hub. Launched in March 2026, the platform is advancing a pan-African vision of accessible, inclusive, and profitable fitness.

Before GR8R, Molibi served as Managing Director of FranklinCovey Botswana, leading leadership development, organisational effectiveness, and consulting engagements across Southern Africa. He also co-founded EasyScout, a pioneering sports recruitment platform that enabled athletes to share game footage with coaches before online video sharing became mainstream, positioning him as an early innovator in sports technology.

A former Botswana rugby international in both 15s and 7s, and past club captain of the Gaborone Hogs, Molibi draws on high-performance sport to shape his approach to team building, leadership, and resilience. He is a Product Leadership Fellow, Class of 2026, with expertise in product strategy, assumption testing, user research, and building investible products in emerging markets.

Molibi brings to mentorship a rare blend of institutional experience, entrepreneurial grit, and deep rootedness in the Botswana ecosystem. He understands what it takes to build meaningful products with limited resources in markets where founders must create infrastructure as they innovate, and he is committed to helping the next generation of African entrepreneurs navigate that journey with less friction.

Meet the multiple-faceted Lindy Omphemetse Ramontshonyana who professionally identifies as a Well-Rounded Marketer, Prudent Business Administrator, meticulous Digital Product & Platform Management Manager & a curious Thought-leader in Corporate-Startup Venture Management notably in ICT innovations (concept-to-commercialisation).

Outside work, Lindy is driven by a deep sense of purpose & service, and dedicates her philanthropic efforts to nurturing children, mentoring the youth & empowering emerging leaders.

Marwan has over 28+ years of experience in all aspects of the semiconductor industry and has been involved in building and managing innovative Integrated Circuits products that include communications and processor and co-processor design large complex integrated System-on-Chip (SoCs) with high-speed analog, digital, memory and RF circuits. This includes academia, startups, acquisitions, large semiconductor companies, expert witness, intellectual property evaluation, IP strategy and innovation.

Driven by a passion for working with startups and early-stage companies, and for empowering the next generation of young innovators to make a real difference in their communities, Irene brings to this work a career built on senior international leadership in financial services. She has held roles as Managing Director and Executive Director and Board Member at UniCredit Group's subsidiary, Bank Pekao Group in Warsaw, and served as CEO of the Group’s leasing companies. While at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as Country Director, she managed an over €1.0 billion portfolio of corporate debt and equity investments and served as a Non-Executive Director for several major Polish companies.

Throughout her career, Irene has served on the boards of various publicly listed and private companies in Poland, on the board of UniCredit Group's bank in Latvia, and as a Non-Executive Board Member of ExcellGene SA, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining MIT, she served as a Director and Client Delivery Portfolio Manager at Fidelity Investments. Irene holds an MBA from George Washington University, an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and pursued advanced studies at Harvard Business School in Infrastructure Finance and at EHESP through the Comparative Public Health Master’s Program, reflecting her enduring interest in healthcare innovation.

He received his BA from West Virginia University and a MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge. Dillon is a former Gates Cambridge Scholar and Fulbright Scholar in Timor-Leste.

Dr. Michael Sierra is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with more than 30 years of experience spanning drug discovery, translational medicine, external innovation, portfolio strategy, and R&D leadership. His career reaches across global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology ventures, and advisory environments.

Throughout his career, he has built and led high-performing scientific organisations, advanced multiple assets into clinical development, and helped shape innovation strategies that bridge cutting-edge science with meaningful patient impact. As Chief Scientific Officer of MultiOmic Health, he brings this depth of translational and commercial insight to the founders he mentors.

Marilyn Davidson is a certified mediator skilled in addressing the internal, interpersonal challenges that teams encounter as they build their entrepreneurial ventures. Based in France, she has spent more than 20 years as a management consultant leading workplace mediation for executive teams and entrepreneurs.

She brings extensive experience working with international teams and the specific dynamics they face. Marilyn currently supports international teams at the Tufts Fletcher School and the Hult Prize, helping founders turn conflict into constructive collaboration.

As Director of Operations and Strategy at MIT Sandbox and CEO of inTouch Technology, he works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, systems design, and organisational development. His professional profile reflects someone who is especially skilled at building the processes, structures, and support systems that allow innovative ideas and ambitious teams to thrive.

What stands out most about Ira is his ability to pair big-picture thinking with practical execution. His work centres on translating vision into effective systems, strengthening collaboration, and creating the conditions for long-term growth. With experience spanning leadership, advising, and venture support, he comes across as a thoughtful and highly capable professional who helps mission-driven programmes and businesses operate more effectively while staying focused on innovation and impact.

International business professional whose early career focused on export-import logistics, international operations, and establishing overseas facilities for U.S. corporations. Later pivoted to developing export markets for U.S. manufactured goods and services, connecting American companies with clients around the world.

Proven track record of using a team-oriented approach to build relationships, traveling to and understanding cultures in over 100 countries and delivering solutions that has built profitable revenues of over $250M.