Rapelang Rabana

Trending Topics

Artificial Intelligence
Economics

SPEAKER DETAILS

Guest Speaker Rapelang Rabana is an entrepreneur, thought leader and speaker. Featured on the cover of Forbes Africa magazine before the age of 30, chosen as a Fast Company Maverick, named Entrepreneur for the World by the World Entrepreneurship Forum and selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum – Rapelang is an internationally lauded technology entrepreneur.

She is the Founder of Rekindle Learning, which enables people to adapt to the changing world of work, as well as FFWD Innovation where she helps corporates become hyper-scale startups. Having graduated with Bachelor’s in Business Science with an Honours in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town, Rapelang’s journey has been focused on the use of technology in various sectors including telecoms, education, financial services and agriculture.

Amongst other roles, Rapelang also serves on the Boards of African Leadership University, Imagine Worldwide, and the listed entity Standard Chartered Bank Botswana. Technology’s endless potential has seen Rapelang’s childhood curiosity in the workings of the world and her sheer belief in achieving better socio-economic outcomes, come full circle. As a speaker, she passionately spreads this message of improvement through innovation and her visionary insights continue to change the mind-sets of organisations for increased adaptability and productivity in today’s working world. Rapelang regularly speaks at local and international platforms and has shared a stage with the likes of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell.

Highlights

• 2019 – Invited to attend World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

• 2018 – Choiseul 100 Africa – the Economic Leaders for Tomorrow

• 2017 – Young Global Leader for the World – World Economic Forum

• 2016 – Selected as a Maverick by Fast Company SA

• 2016 – Joined Global Futures Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship – World Economic Forum

• 2015 – Women Changing the World – World Economic Forum

• 2014 – Entrepreneur for the World, World Entrepreneurship Forum

• 2013 – ForbesAfrica Cover & 20 Young Power Women In Africa – ForbesAfrica

• 2013 – Global Agenda Council for Software and Society – World Economic Forum

• 2012 – Forbes’ 30 under 30: Africa’s Best Young Entrepreneurs – Forbes Africa

• 2012 – O Power List – Oprah Magazine South Africa

• 2011 – Selected as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum

Presentations by Rapelang Rabana

Rapelang Rabana explores technology, innovation, and leadership through practical, real-world insights. Her presentations focus on equipping professionals and organisations to thrive in the digital age.

Tech Fluency: Technology for Non-Tech Professionals

See digital technology through the eyes of a practical innovator. Tech Fluency simplifies complex digital concepts, focusing on capabilities rather than jargon, to solve problems, unlock value, and drive innovation.

Understand technology as a tool to break constraints and deliver business and social solutions.
Spot technology capabilities in digital products and services.
Develop skills to apply technology strategically to drive revenue, reduce costs, and enhance experiences.
The African Promise: leveraging Africa’s fast-growing markets and unique opportunities for innovation.
Linking human ambitions—better decisions, health, infrastructure, productivity—to underlying technology capabilities.
Foster an innovator’s mindset: reflection, experimentation, uncertainty tolerance, and abundance thinking.

Becoming a Digital Master: The Art of Corporate Innovation

Transformative change requires more than understanding technology—it demands recognising assumptions and leveraging lived experience to drive innovation.

The Digital Employee Experience: Building an Adaptable, Resilient Organisation

Empowering people to thrive in a changing world of work through engagement, communication, feedback, and continuous learning, forming the foundation for reskilling, upskilling, and adaptability.

RE: Education – Developing Mindsets, Behaviours, and Skills of the Future

Shift from content-focused learning to cultivating mindsets, behaviours, and mental frameworks that enable fast, effective learning for a rapidly changing future.

Inside Innovation and Entrepreneurship: My Personal Journey

Self-awareness as a meta-skill drives creativity, innovation, risk-taking, and value creation. Rapelang shares her entrepreneurial journey and how self-awareness fuels business success.

Innovation for Inclusion: Achieving Inclusive Economic Growth

Only market-creating innovations deliver inclusive growth. Rapelang highlights how governments, corporations, and startups must collaborate to leverage innovations that uplift underserved markets.

The African Advantage: The Value of Problems

Africa’s complex challenges give entrepreneurs a unique perspective on problem-solving. Using digital and exponential technologies, they turn these inefficiencies into opportunities, exporting innovative solutions globally.

TESTIMONIALS

HAYLEY GETHING

Having dealt with Guest Speaker on a few occasions, your service is professional and outstanding. Your staff are friendly and very efficient. I would highly recommend Guest Speaker to anyone in need of this service. Regards.

Hayley Gething - Yokohama Southern Africa

LAWRENCE REITER

Guest Speaker - your service, advise, professional and friendly manner together with the exceptional presentations are superb. We will continue to always use and recommend you for speakers. Thanks so much!

Lawrence Reiter – SACRA

info@guestspeaker.co.za 067 843 2362