Corporate and civil-society leaders stressed that Botswana’s workforce is constrained not by educational attainment but by limited access to guided professional development. Whilst tertiary enrolment exceeds 60%, youth unemployment remains high at 25.7%, reflecting a disconnect between academic qualifications and market readiness. Participants argued that mentorship, if institutionalised, could address this gap by providing clarity, skill reinforcement, and confidence-building amongst emerging professionals and entrepreneurs. Mascom’s Corporate Communications Manager Anno Tshipa framed the discussion around accountability, stating: “We have a pivotal role to play in scaling mentorship beyond mere sponsorship.” Her remarks highlighted the need for mentorship programs to be structured, measured, and linked to outcomes rather than being informal or episodic. Boipelo Matenge, Public Affairs Executive at Mascom, noted: “As Batswana, do we truly support each other or quietly pull each other down?” This perspective emphasised the cultural shift required to normalise professional guidance and mutual support across sectors. Panels featuring Moitshepi Matsheng, Sandy O’Reilly, and Sokuhle Mafika explored operational challenges, including the lack of standardised frameworks for mentorship. Mafika argued: “Mentorship is more than advice. It’s accountability. It’s a structure of measurement and feedback.”
