Global Alliance Africa ‘More than a Woman’ Showcase 2023 Finalist: Katlego Malatji
In Sandton, South Africa on 8 March 2023, Global Alliance Africa celebrated International Women’s Day and hosted the ‘More than a Woman’ Showcase with an exciting project pitch session where women innovators would share their ideas with a gathering of investors, ecosystem enablers, and support organisations from across the UK and Africa, to help them scale their solutions to the world. Katlego Malatji, Founder and CEO, ProjectOne Engineering was one of four finalists and the Africa team are delighted to present her story.
Background
Katlego is an engineer and founder of ProjectOne where they build SMART manufacturing and agro-processing solutions, to help companies save time and reduce operational costs and waste. On a mission to advance Africa’s ailing industrial sector, Katlego leads a team of engineers who are fusing together diverse technologies to design, develop and optimise break-through Internet of Things (IoT) tools for factories and foundries across the continent. Their vision is to become the leading 4IR and Industrial Engineering solutions provider in South Africa.
Problem
Whilst travelling overseas, Katlego noticed that there were smart manufacturing solutions that were not available back home and therefore had a competitive advantage in situations where there were high volumes of product manufacture.
Manufacturing is traditionally male dominated and for a long time women have been excluded so that has meant that throughout my career it’s been quite difficult to find mentors who are women and excel in engineering. What’s that done though for me is to make me realise the importance of giving back in that way. So today, I do mentor women in engineering.
Solution
As part of this incredible engineering consultancy, Katlego oversees brand identity, creating internet of things (IoT) environment, manufacturing site visits, supports with strategy, planning, continuous improvement, and smart supply chain to name but a few solutions. Katlego’s company enables her clients to compete on a global scale by giving them the same technological advances that other companies have in the international market. More than a Woman presented a large networking opportunity to ProjectOne with a over a hundred like-minded women innovators in the room who listened to her journey.
On behalf of Global Alliance Africa – We wish Katlego Malatji and her team continued success in the future.
For more information on Katlego Malatji, visit:
Related programmes
Global Alliance Africa
This Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa 6-year (2019-2025) project funded by UK International Development aims to build new and stronger UK-African partnerships to maximise the creation of inclusive market access, funding and investment opportunities through innovation knowledge transfer between the UK, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
Women in Innovation
Enabling brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world, while championing and celebrating gender diversity throughout UK innovation.