Uplifting the Unseen: Mponeng Seshea’s Mission to Empower South Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs
- Great Story
- May 1
- 3 min read
In the quiet corners of townships and rural South Africa, where ambition often runs into walls of invisibility, Mponeng Seshea is rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship. Not with grand speeches or global accolades, but with deep listening, community-driven innovation, and a relentless belief in women who’ve been overlooked for too long. As the founder of iEvolution Social Venture Studio in Cape Town, Mponeng is turning potential into prosperity — one woman-led business at a time.
From Imizizi to iEvolution — A Deeper Calling
Before iEvolution came into being, Mponeng ran Imizizi, a people management advisory firm. There, she encountered a recurring injustice: countless women brimming with ideas, grit, and talent were being held back — not by lack of will, but by lack of access, mentorship, and fair opportunities.
“We saw the potholes women kept hitting — fear of the unknown, lack of access, unfair corporate dynamics,” Mponeng recalls.“And we didn’t want to patch the system. We wanted to change the rules.”
That resolve gave birth to iEvolution, a social venture studio designed to find, develop, and scale women-led businesses — especially in communities often ignored by traditional investors and accelerators.
Shifting the Cycle: A New Model for Inclusive Growth
Unlike typical incubators, iEvolution is deeply rooted in uBuntu — the Southern African philosophy of interconnectedness and mutual humanity. Here, mentorship isn’t transactional — it’s transformational.
Through programs that blend business acumen with emotional resilience, iEvolution supports women with:
Business Discovery & Assessment
Skills Training and Workshops
Creative Collaboration and Problem Solving
Investment-Readiness Preparation
But there are no cookie-cutter models here. Every engagement is a co-creation.
“We craft with them, not for them,” says Mponeng.“Because transformation isn’t transactional — it’s relational.”
This approach allows women to build businesses that are deeply personal, culturally relevant, and economically viable, all while gaining the clarity and confidence they’ve often been denied.
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges
Starting a social venture is never easy. Doing it as a woman, for women, in under-resourced communities? That’s a masterclass in resilience.
From navigating the trauma of COVID, to challenging patriarchal business structures, to learning how to say “no” with grace, Mponeng has lived every part of the journey she now helps others walk.
“Emotionally, financially, structurally — you’re being pulled in different directions,” she reflects.“But we knew that our pain had to become someone else’s shortcut. That’s why we kept going.”
For too long, the systems in South Africa have been rigged against women without wealth, networks, or urban zip codes. iEvolution exists to close that gap — to ensure that a woman with a dream in a rural village has the same right to thrive as someone in a corporate high-rise.
Evolve With Your Vision: Notes to Women Entrepreneurs at the Starting Line
Mponeng’s advice is as raw and real as the women she serves:
“It’s not just your business that grows — it’s you. And with every new season, your business will demand a new version of you.”
At iEvolution, they follow a simple but powerful mantra: ABC — Always Be Curious. Because curiosity breeds creativity, adaptability, and resilience — the three traits every founder needs most.
“Take action. Be afraid and still do it. Do it unsure. But do it — your way,” she encourages.
When You Empower a Woman, You Uplift a Community
Mponeng Seshea isn’t just building businesses — she’s nurturing belief systems. She’s helping women move from the margins of society to the center of solutions. Through iEvolution, these women are no longer waiting for permission. They’re taking the lead, building businesses with impact, and changing the narrative.
Because when you invest in a woman, you don’t just fund a venture —you fuel a village, a generation, and a future.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imizizi_evolution/
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