Research
Chronicle of a serial innovator and entrepreneur
The Unisa Innovation Festival 2024 officially commenced on 25 November at the university’s Muckleneuk Campus. This event brought together thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, including students and staff, to explore groundbreaking ideas and celebrate creativity across various industries.
Keynote speaker Rapelang Rabana
At the opening of the festival, Rapelang Rabana, the CEO and founder of Rekindle Learning, delivered an inspiring keynote address. Rabana is an internationally recognised entrepreneur, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, and a trailblazer in the technology sector. Shortly after finishing university, she co-founded Yeigo, a company renowned for its pioneering work in mobile VoIP and IP communication technologies.
In her keynote, titled Lessons from the Frontline: Chronicle of a Serial Innovator/ Entrepreneur, Rabana shared invaluable insights into the role of technology in breaking constraints. She encouraged attendees to embrace risk, reminding them that “there is no path that is certain or not risky”. She also challenged innovators to question their status quo, emphasising that the true power of technology lies in its ability to remove barriers and create opportunities.
Rabana used relatable examples to show that innovation does not always have to be complicated. One of those she cited was the use of simple but effective foot pedal solutions to overcome the challenge of avoiding contact with taps during Coved-19, particularly in rural areas. She added that these innovations are very indicative of what technology can do to solve problems and free up constraints, demonstrating the essence of technology and solving problems. Referring to her entrepreneurial journey, she talked about her experiences in app development. Encouraging African youth to believe in the value of their perspectives, she said: “African child, your views are legit”. This conveyed a powerful message of self-belief and empowerment.
Attendees at the 2024 Innovation Festival discussing solutions for societal change
Rabana’s keynote address connected so well with the audience that it convinced them to change their attitude towards the process of innovating. She urged them to acknowledge their ‘escalator moments’: times when they change practices without realising that the changes they are making are not necessary or beneficial. Rabana pointed out that we all have escalator moments. These moments should be taken as opportunities to adapt and use technology as a weapon for freedom. She urged participants to embrace change and leverage technology as a tool for liberation and progress.
Against this backdrop, the Unisa Innovation Festival 2024 will undoubtedly be a special occasion and a turning point, with Rabana’s address providing a standard for what is expected in the discussions and ideas.
* By Seyabonga Thipe, Intern Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement, with input from Wordtune
* * Photography by Shooheima Champion, Multimedia Centre
Publish date: 2024-11-28 00:00:00.0
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