Financial Inclusion and Womens' Empowerment in the Global South

Dr Patrick Ebong Ebewo is a distinguished expert in entrepreneurship and enterprise development, with extensive experience in academia and social impact across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. A Mandela Rhodes Scholar (2012) and Harambe Entrepreneur Associate (2013), he has played a pivotal role in designing and implementing sustainable entrepreneurship programmes. As Head of the Management and Entrepreneurship Department and Founding Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Dr Ebewo promotes business innovation and economic growth. His leadership was recognised with the 2023 Presidential Award for Innovative Solutions in Small Business Development. His initiatives include the Bopangpeo Business Accelerator NPC, TUT Arts Incubator, and a UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development for Southern Africa.  Dr. Bridget Irene is a distinguished academic, researcher, and advocate for women's empowerment, particularly in entrepreneurship and sustainable development. As the founder of the Women Research Network (WRN), Dr. Irene has created a dynamic platform dedicated to fostering collaboration, mentorship, and advocacy for women entrepreneurs and researchers globally. Currently serving as a Senior Lecturer in Business Management at De Montfort University, UK, Dr. Irene specializes in gendered entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation in the Global South. Her work focuses on amplifying the voices of women, addressing systemic barriers, and promoting inclusive policies that drive economic growth and social equity.   Dr. Elona N. Ndlovu is a distinguished scholar, researcher, and chartered coach with over two decades of experience in entrepreneurship, executive coaching, and business incubation. She holds a PhD in Management from Wits Business School, where her research focused on developing an entrepreneurial coaching framework for business incubators in South Africa. She has authored book chapters and presented at international conferences. She also serves as a peer reviewer for journals including Gender, Work & Organization and Journal of Contemporary Management. A leader in the coaching profession, Dr. Ndlovu was Chairperson of the Research Portfolio Committee at Coaches and Mentors of South Africa (COMENSA) from 2020 to 2022. She is a member of the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School and other professional bodies. Beyond academia, she is the founder of BizPreneur, a coaching and training practice supporting business & career growth strategies. She has collaborated with public and private enterprises to develop entrepreneurial programmes and policies. Her work continues to shape business development, research, and coaching across Africa and beyond.  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.