Lesley Donna Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Tshimologong Precinct
Lesley believes that living your full potential is a basic human right and designs this opportunity through all her work.
She is CEO of Wits University’s Tshimologong Precinct, a digital innovation and skills precinct that aims to realize African digital innovation for global markets. “Tshimologong” works in collaboration with Gauteng provincial government, corporates, entrepreneurs and international development agencies. Lesley is also owner of Lesley Donna Williams Consulting (Pty) Ltd where she offers services as a Master of Ceremonies as well as dialogue and process facilitation. In April 2019 she had the privilege of moderating a dialogue on Nelson Mandela’s legacy and the Future of Africa between President Barack Obama and Graca Machel in Washington DC.
With a focus on developing social entrepreneurs, she founded Impact Hub Johannesburg in 2010 – the first in Africa and now one of over 100 Impact Hubs in major cities around the world. She has further served on the global Association Board, supporting several teams in their development process.
Lesley is recognized as an international speaker with regular media features and has 20 years of experience working in innovation and impact internationally. She is currently participating in the inaugural class of the Obama Foundation Leaders Progam: Africa as part of 200 emerging leaders from across the continent to explore new ways to take on the biggest challenges in their communities. Lesley is a recipient of the 2018 InspiringFifty award, an initiative by the Kingdom of the Netherlands to recognize the 50 most inspiring women in South Africa’s science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) industries. She became a recipient of a 2015 Unashamedly Ethical Award in the Business Category and in 2011 was selected onto the list of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans. In 2009 she was selected as one of 60 young global leaders on a BP Antarctica Expedition focusing on Climate Change.
