SuperLead Podcast Episode 141 with Dr Steven Zwane, Nelson Mandela Scholar, Founder of YLED, and Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science

In this inspiring episode of the SuperLead Podcast, Dr Maanda Tshifularo sits down with Dr. Steven Zwane—a purpose-driven executive, academic, and social entrepreneur whose career spans more than two decades across financial services, education, development finance, and social impact. Beyond the boardroom, Dr. Zwane is a Senior Lecturer at GIBS (University of Pretoria), where he teaches Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Operations, and Leadership. He has guided over 400 MBA students through his acclaimed Township Economy Immersion, earning multiple teaching excellence awards. As Founder of the Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development (YLED) programme, Dr. Zwane has empowered more than 25,000 Grade 11 learners with entrepreneurial and leadership mindsets since 2004. His academic achievements include a DBA and MBA from Durham University (UK) and a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Zululand—funded by NSFAS and the Nelson Mandela Scholarship. In 2025, he was honoured as Social Impact Leader of the Year by the Future Leaders Forum and completed certification at Harvard Business School’s Case Writing Workshop in Boston. He is also co-author of Rising from the Township, a work that amplifies township-based innovators. Whether in the boardroom, classroom, or township street corner, Dr. Zwane champions inclusive development, values-based leadership, and the integration of entrepreneurship education into national systems. He lives by the belief that impact scales when strategy meets purpose. Key Themes in this Episode: ✅Leadership with purpose and values ✅Scaling youth employability and entrepreneurship across Africa ✅Lessons from building YLED and empowering 25,000+ learners ✅The intersection of strategy, education, and social impact ✅Township-based innovation and inclusive development👉 Don’t miss this powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership and entrepreneurship for social impact.📌 Listen, learn, and be inspired to lead with super clarity!