How entrepreneurs can leverage innovation and digital transformation by Billy Bokako - SEDA

In today's episode Nomazibulo Tshanga has a sit down with Billy Bokako, Head of Incubation at the SEDA. Billy provides insights into enterprise development, innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation. He also takes us through his career journey and what made him remain steadfast in pursuing a career in Industrial Engineering.

Billy Bokako is currently the Head of Incubation at the Small Enterprise Development Agency where he manages support of a total of 122 incubators across the country. An alumnus of the Nelson Mandela University and the Tshwane University of Technology, he holds an MTech degree in Industrial Engineering specialising in Technology Management. He has over 19 years of industry experience gained from the power cables industry, the automotive industry, and the enterprise development sector.
Prior to joining SEDA, Billy has been with the Innovation Hub as the Head of the Climate Innovation Centre South Africa. He has also worked for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as an Enterprise Development Portfolio Manager, a role which saw him spearheading research into new enterprises and commercialising internal research projects across various fields which include but not limited to agro-processing, ICT, nano-technology, lithium batteries, green economy, industrial parks, policy and strategy formulation. In 2017 he was awarded the emerging leader award at the CSIR among other awards.
He is also the Founder and Director of House of Basil, a luxury male underwear atelier. He sits on various advisory boards and is the Chairperson of the board for Amahlathi Eco Technologies, an energy efficiency company in Dimbaza, Eastern Cape.
Billy is also the host of Big Biz with Billy Bokako, a podcast discussing all things Enterprise and Supplier Development