Experienced General Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Skilled in Hospitality Industry, Yield Management, Leadership, MICROS, and Pre-opening. Strong operations professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused in Marketing/Marketing Management, General from University of North West, Mafikeng.
Katlego Mphahlele CA(SA) is a senior deal maker in the Tourism and Services Unit within the IDC.
Katlego has over ten years’ experience in sourcing, structuring and leading investment proposals in Tourism.
Katlego is also a director in a clean-tech innovation company as well as a member of the adjudication committees for the DTIC’s SPII and THRIP programmes.
Maribel Rodriguez joined WTTC in 2014. She has built an extensive network within the Travel and Tourism industry public and private sector, accumulating over 20 years of sales, marketing, communication and commercial experience in Europe and Latin America in the airline and hospitality industry. She was an Executive Commercial Director and Board Member for Travelodge Hotels Spain from 2008 to 2014.
Prior she spent 11 years in the aviation industry, gaining extensive experience in all aspects of commercial aviation managing among others the introduction of low-cost airline operations into the Southern European market for Virgin Express, Go-Fly, EasyJet and Ryanair. She also worked for British Airways for Spain, Portugal and France. Maribel has an Executive MBA at ICADE Business School, a Degree in Industrial Psychology from the University of Salamanca and holds a Senior Executive Program for Travel & Tourism at IESE & JSF. She speaks fluent English, Portuguese and a good level of French and Dutch.
Professional Interests: Private Equity & Venture Capital, Project Finance, Acquisition Finance, Investment Banking
Sector Exposure: Manufacturing (Chemicals, Steel, Automotive, Cement),Agriculture; Oil and Gas; Real Estate; Power; Infrastructure and Telecommunications, Consumer & Retail, Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) and Light Industrials
Experience spans across: Mid-Market Private Equity and Venture Capital, Corporate Banking, Private Debt, Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, Project Finance, Risk Modelling
Michaela is the Managing Director of Rera Partners. She is proud and honored to lead a firm of women who are exceptionally talented and who have integrity and a deep sense of social responsibility. She is passionate not only about the development of Rera Partners and the services it has to offer but about the impact the firm and its people are able to make in the lives of its clients, their businesses and the communities they operate in.
She found her passion for Corporate Finance when she moved to Botswana in 2010. Michaela is an ardent transaction advisor who specialises in Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuations, Due Diligence and Turnaround advisory services. Michaela is a locally respected transaction advisor, known by her clients to be personable, approachable, passionate and solution driven.
Michaela is a qualified Chartered Global Management Accountant with over 15 years’ industry experience. She has worked in the UK, South Africa, Botswana, China and Kenya. Having been employed in industry and practice in senior roles she has a wide range of hands-on practical experience and is able to relate to her clients in a unique manner. She has successfully managed the implementation of various projects and her local clientele has included private, listed and government entities.
Michaela has a passion for training and development. She has delivered corporate finance training for the last three years across Europe, the Middle East and Southern Africa, where she has trained over 200 finance professionals. She has also mentored and trained many young professionals locally.
Experienced Corporate Relations Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry and closing regional transactions for Southern Africa.Skilled in Banking, Sales, Capital & Treasury Management,Commercial Banking, Credit Risk, and Management. Strong Leadership,community and social services professional with a Master Of Business Administration-Chartered Banker focused in Business Administration from Bangor University.
Mr. Moleele holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management (University of Derby), Post Graduate Diploma in Law majoring in conciliation and arbitration (University of Namibia), Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (Milpark Business School), and Certificate in principles of Business & Management (Wits Business School). Mr Moleele has senior management experience and capabilities in strategic modelling, leadership, business development (including monitoring and evaluation, training and mentoring), strategy formulation, change management, Small, Medium, Macro Enterprises (SMMEs) development, customer service, stakeholder management and building strategic relationships, excellent communication, presentation and engaging capabilities and banking.
Mr Moleele has risen through the ranks with Business Botswana ( Formerly BOCCIM) working with the private sector for over 25 years as ; (a) Field Officer; (b) Regional Manager; (c) Deputy Executive Director; (d) Membership Management Director; (d) Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) Director- on secondment. In his previous roles Mr Moleele has led managed and supervised a good number of senior managers and professionals and other numerous employees.
His responsibilities at Business Botswana include amongst others; driving the overall strategy, risk and management of Business Botswana focusing on Private Sector growth and Social development, research policy and advocacy, establish international partnership, provision of membership service, business development and contribution to accelerated economic growth agenda for the private sector. Mr Moleele sits on the following boards:
He has represented Business Botswana in Regional and International assignments at; International Labour Organization (ILO), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU). Mr Moleele has worked on projects with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and participated in several high level meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences across the world.
Mr. Neo Nwako, is an ICT , Digital Specialist and Entrepreneur with numerous year of experience leading technology solutions in the space of mining, telecommunications, aviation, finance, hospitality, security and other mission critical sectors in public and private sector ecosystem.
Neo is MD of Abari Communications (Pty) Ltd (ABARICOM), a Botswana owned company, a network managed services provider and systems integrator owning a service platform to run digital connectivity solutions at the same time build private networks in the 4G/5G space to enable digitization of the economy.
Abaricom uses technology to enhance the lives of our customers, partners and communities by ensuring a positive impact through innovative solutions and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
Mokwena Morulane holds a BA Accounting (hons) degree from the University of Bedfordshire, England. He is a fellow member of ACCA, BICA and of Chartered Secretaries of Southern Africa. He also recently acquired the following certifications: Property Development & Investment with the University of Cape Town; and Oxford Executive Development Programme with the University of Oxford.
Mokwena possesses extensive Executive Level experience in the resources sector and is currently independent Non-executive Chairman of Minergy Ltd.
He is also Managing Director of Cresta Marakanelo Ltd.
Mokwena also sits as Chairman of the Masiela Trust Fund, an NGO with a focus on advocacy for children’s rights orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
Mokwena is the Managing Director of Cresta Marakanelo Limited, a leading hotel chain listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange. He started his career at Deloitte and has held leadership roles in the mining and financial services sectors. Mokwena is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and a member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries in Southern Africa. He holds a BA (Hons) in Accounting from the University of Luton, United Kingdom and he has also completed the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Executive Leadership Programme. Mr Morulane serves on the Boards of Minergy Limited, Masiela Trust Fund and Sentlhaga Pension Fund.