Lerato Labase

I am an innovative and research-driven individual with a strong commitment to quality, seeking to apply my skills and enthusiasm for business development. I have a keen interest in the intersection between entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, and how new technologies can be leveraged to improve lives. My research study focused on the role that business incubation programmes play, in cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship in the less urban areas of South Africa.

I believe in inclusive and accessible initiatives that aim to empower communities, and am highly inspired by spaces that foster interactive engagement and learning.

Assistant Project Manager at Self-Employed / Freelance Consultant (Present)

• Assistant Project Manager: township economy project, supporting digital adoption by spaza-shops
• Previous Co-founder of The Lovehouse – a community library, coffee shop, event space, and innovation hub. Planned and coordinated community arts, music, debate, documentary screenings and learning events
• Delivered basic computer skills training and tutoring to children in my community
• Provided academic editing, proofreading, and transcription services
• Worked as a project coordinator for a project that focused on the health and well-being of miners in the SADC countries
• Volunteered for the Help2Read organization, assisting primary school children learn how to read and write in English

Exchange Program Intern at StartupLab (2023-03 – 2023-06)

• Programme Support & Analysis: Participated in brainstorming sessions for project planning, strategizing, marketing, communication and design for the climate change program
• Collaboration: Contributed towards the program structure, and tone of voice for various texts - writing, editing, and proofreading
• Stakeholder Management: Worked closely with external stakeholders to support the project, and scouting of clean-tech startups and international investors

System Support Specialist at PEC Utility Management (2021-09 – 2022-09)

• Technical Support & Troubleshooting: Provided end-user application support for business software systems, addressing issues related to functionality, bugs and user experience
• Incident & Change Management: Managed IT service tickets, adhering to SLAs, and coordinated with third-party stakeholders for escalations
• Software Testing & Documentation: Conducted software testing, including bug fixes and updates, and developed training manuals, user guides and how-to documentation
• Process Improvement: Identified recurring technical issues and implemented process improvements to minimize incidents and enhance support services

Systems Administrator at South African National Parks (SANParks) (2008-08 – 2013-03)

• Application Support & System Updates: Administered the SANParks Center Reservation System, conducted system updates, and managed application configurations
• Incident Management: Logged and resolved system queries and incidents, ensuring timely resolutions within service level expectations, providing constant feedback to end-users
• Stakeholder Coordination: Managed stakeholder relationships for system updates, ensuring compatibility and ongoing system support

Master of Science in Technology & Innovation Management – University of Pretoria

Bachelor of Science Honours in Technology Management – University of Pretoria

Entrepreneurship in Practice: Entrepreneurial Studies – Cultural Exchange Program – Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Bachelor of Technology in Information Management – Tshwane University of Technology

National Diploma in Information Technology – University of Johannesburg

Business Development Support Program (Cohort 3/2021) – WIBC Urban Agriculture Initiative (2021)

Basic Vegetable Production and Hydroponics Training – Buhle Farmers Academy