11. Inclusive innovation: co-creating spaces and equity with Bongani Mapumulo

The World Wasn’t Built For Everyone: A Conversation on Design

“In order to help people, we need to understand them.” In this episode of The Add IDEAS Podcast, Bandile Mndebele sits down with South African disability rights advocate Bongani Mapumulo to explore accessibility, identity, and lived experience. From navigating public spaces to conversations about masculinity, relationships, education, and innovation, this discussion brings lived experience to the forefront of how societies design systems—and who those systems include or exclude. Bongani shares both personal insights and professional work advancing assistive technology, inclusive design, and disability innovation in low- and middle-income contexts. The conversation highlights why understanding people and their lived realities is the first step toward meaningful inclusion. Whether you work in policy, education, design, technology, or simply want to better understand disability and inclusion, this episode challenges us to rethink how access, dignity, and opportunity shape everyday life. About the Guest Bongani Mapumulo is a disability rights advocate and researcher focused on inclusive innovation and assistive technology in the Global South. With academic foundations in Political Science, Sociology, and Social Anthropology from Stellenbosch University, Bongani also holds advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication. He pursued a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, where his research explores how assistive technologies and inclusive design can improve opportunities for students living with disabilities in low-income communities. Referenced Work This conversation references the book Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021). Edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, and published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Bongani’s contributions appear in: • Chapter 6 — Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion • Chapter 7 — Bongani’s Story Notable Thanks • Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation • Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship • UCT Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching — One Button Studios Connect with Bongani Mapumulo LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bongani-mapumulo-828746206/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bongani.mapumulo.1 Work with Bandile Mndebele Host Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking engagements, collaborations, workshops, interviews, and partnerships. Contact: info@bandilem.com _____________________ #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveDesign #DisabilityAwareness #AddIdeasPodcast * (00:00) - Why this conversation matters * (00:21) - Background * (01:57) - Moving the needle: Where to begin? * (02:46) - Why are some spaces more accessible than others? * (05:50) - Designing better access * (07:17) - A day in the life * (09:22) - The biggest challenges with access * (09:51) - The importance of education * (13:53) - A journey to reasonable accommodation * (16:40) - Who should be leading the education? * (20:43) - Globalising and normalising solutions * (22:19) - In order to help people, we need to understand them * (23:36) - Perspectives and lived experiences matter * (25:34) - The intersections with masculinity and sexuality * (30:14) - A dating life experience * (32:56) - Frequent questions to be mindful of * (34:42) - Being the only one * (38:28) - Personal Story * (45:33) - Broadening positive representation and normalising inclusion * (48:31) - The importance of role models and mentors * (51:24) - Most compelling message: the element of surprise * (54:18) - Closing

11. Inclusive innovation: co-creating spaces and equity with Bongani Mapumulo

"In order to help people, we need to understand them." Learn how Bongani Mapumulo is transforming accessibility and innovation for students living with disabilities in low-income communities in the Global South on this podcast conversation featuring disability rights, inclusive innovation, and assistive technology trends. 🎙️ About This Episode In this episode, we talk to Bongani Mapumulo, a leading disability rights advocate and champion of inclusive innovation in South Africa. Bongani shares a personal and professional journey shaped by systemic challenges, transformative learning, and a passion for social and redistributive justice. With a robust background in Political Science, Sociology, Social Anthropology, and advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication from Stellenbosch University, Bongani is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the UCT Graduate School of Business.  His pioneering research focuses on advancing assistive technologies and inclusive design within low- and middle-income contexts, promoting universal access as a foundation for equity and human dignity. 👉 In this episode, we cover: * (00:00) - Introduction * (00:20) - Personal Story * (01:47) - Challenges and Activism in Student Life * (05:17) - Institutional Preparedness and Accessibility * (07:06) - Assistive Technology and Support * (12:25) - Reasonable Accommodation and Equity * (22:36) - Intersectionality and Lived Experiences * (27:48) - Personal Story and Impact * (28:50) - Navigating Identity and Spaces * (30:25) - Challenges and Opportunities in Education * (38:54) - Representation and Inclusion * (41:24) - Influence of Supportive Figures * (42:33) - The Importance of Early Belief * (43:49) - Grassroots Representation * (44:00) - Unheard Voices and Broader Solutions * (45:55) - Final Thoughts ▶️ Listen Now & Subscribe Enjoyed this? Hit follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on YouTube to never miss powerful stories. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to lead your life without emotionally buffering, you’re in good company here. Referenced works This episode mentions material from Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021), edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).  Explore Bongani Mapumulo's contributions in Chapter 6 (Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion) and Chapter 7 (Bongani’s Story), whose personal experiences and insights on disability and transformation feature in this discussion. Available: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-55567-2 Notable Thanks  - Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation [https://www.fuchsfoundation.co.za/] - Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/] - UCT's Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching One Button Studios [https://cilt.uct.ac.za/support-and-services/one-button-studio-for-students]   Connect with Bongani - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bongani-mapumulo-828746206/] - Facebook [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bongani-mapumulo-828746206/] - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bongani_mapumulo/] 📧 For Speaking & Partnerships Host Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking, collaborations, features, workshops, and partnership opportunities. To connect, reach out on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bandile-mndebele/] or via info@bandilem.com. Creators & Guests * Bandile Mndebele [https://addideas.transistor.fm/people/bandile-mndebele] - Host * Bongani Mapumulo [https://addideas.transistor.fm/people/bongani-mapumulo] - Guest

10. Why South Africa needs better growth than groove with Avelile Nontanda

My friend, what should be happening to resolve the problems South Africans face with spaza shops?  Want to find the right niche? Today, we delve deep into the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship, exploring the challenges and opportunities that shape the landscape for modern business owners and reflecting on South Africa's potentially limiting identity crisis. Join us as we sit down with Avelile Nontanda, the founder and CEO of Mayhem Digital with more than 10 years of experience helping businesses and brands live their best digital lives from Google to social media and father. Avelile gets candid about shared realities such as dealing with Black Tax, not-so-friendly spaza shops and the importance of a self-reliant economy.  We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs today, the importance of a strong brand identity, and the power of digital marketing. Resources: * Mayhem Digital [https://mayhemde.com/] * Follow Avelile Nontanda on LinkedIn [https://za.linkedin.com/in/avelile-olothando-nontanda-32bb4934] * Listen to the related episode 8 with Melilizwe Gqobo [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-startup-giants-and-community-lessons-from/id1724024148?i=1000663855340] * Google's market dominance and antitrust [https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/Google-antitrust-case-explained-Whats-next#:~:text=The%2520case%252C%2520which%2520was%2520filed,such%2520as%2520Bing%2520and%2520DuckDuckGo.] * Microsoft and ChatGPT are not what Elon Musk intended [https://fortune.com/2023/02/17/chatgpt-elon-musk-openai-microsoft-company-regulator-oversight/] * The Evolution of Spaza shops [https://brandsouthafrica.com/174238/news-facts/the-evolution-of-the-spaza-shop/#:~:text=Spaza%2520shops%2520are%2520the%2520small,were%2520restricted%2520from%2520running%2520businesses.] * Spaza shop food health inflicting children and who to blame [https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2024-11-11-blame-for-deaths-of-children-from-spaza-shop-food-lies-squarely-with-government/] Call to Action: 1. Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas. 2. You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones. 3. Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.

9. Better community: doing the best you can with the trauma you carry with Annemarie Shrouder

Annemarie Shrouder (she/her), international speaker, consultant and author of Being Brown in a Black and White World, which shares the personal and organisational costs of polarisation, joined me today to talk about the essentials for community building and what we can borrow or learn from post-COVID-19 amid waning global commitments. On today’s episode: 0:00 - Intro & welcome 0:24 - Common frustrations shared since the start 2:47 - Inclusion vs Belonging and other polarisations 4:12 - “Healing requires that we all need to do our own work” 5:52 - Learning from parenthood for the best workplace 9:42 - The impact of COVID-19 on community and balance 15:09 - The tools we can use today 17:39 - The power of intersectionality on how we show up 20:58 - Wellness and heart-based exercises as impact drivers 24:20 - “Everyone is doing the best they can with the trauma they carry” 26:15 - Looking ahead with 5% more courage 30:53 - Wrap-up RESOURCES Annemarie’s Book: https://annemarieshrouder.com/book/ (Amazon) - https://www.amazon.com/Being-Brown-Black-White-World-ebook/dp/B09224CN47 The HeartMath Institute: https://www.heartmath.org/ More About Annemarie Shrouder: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieshrouder/ Website: https://annemarieshrouder.com/ Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

8. Why we need more startup giants - not just tech: lessons from Hubspace with Melilizwe Gqobo

Today’s guest, Melilizwe Gqobo (he/him) - Founding Director of Hubspace (Khayelitsha) and Venture Scout, has successfully created space for founders and entrepreneurs to thrive by strengthening and reinforcing their capacity or ability to seek opportunities. With the hindsight of co-founding Hubspace, a pioneering startup ecosystem or incubator space to bring communal offices and resources to entrepreneurs and founders within the township economy, meaningfully contributing over 5% to South Africa’s GDP, Melilizwe shares key lessons and insights on what it takes to make a successful venture while highlighting examples from Bolt and Uber’s entry to the South African/African market. What's Covered On This Episode: 0:00 - The Entrepreneurship and Founder Ecosystems 1:23 - Founder Lessons and Challenges 4:40 - Reasons why I became an Entrepreneur 6:02 - The Opportunity Set – NGOs 8:07 - Making a successful venture 10:51 - Does First Mover Advantage Exist? 12:50 - The Role of Enterprise Development 14:51 - The Township Economy 25:39 - The Importance of Patient Capital, Support, Routine and Mindset for Preservation 32:57 - Allyship: Creating space and an intentional community 38:29 - Innovation and AI 46:17 - Wrap-up: Key Takeaways RESOURCES: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/04/04/397101933/far-from-silicon-valley-a-disruptive-startup-hub [https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/04/04/397101933/far-from-silicon-valley-a-disruptive-startup-hub] https://disruptafrica.com/2014/11/15/townships-offer-real-investment-opportunities-hubspace/ [https://disruptafrica.com/2014/11/15/townships-offer-real-investment-opportunities-hubspace/] https://www.news24.com/news24/partnercontent/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-township-economy-20230621 [https://www.news24.com/news24/partnercontent/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-township-economy-20230621] https://www.parliament.gov.za/news/multifaceted-approach-needed-deal-protection-fee-and-business-extortion-syndicates-ncop-hears [https://www.parliament.gov.za/news/multifaceted-approach-needed-deal-protection-fee-and-business-extortion-syndicates-ncop-hears] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5reve8476o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5reve8476o] Follow Melilizwe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melilizwe-gqobo-6229a729/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melilizwe-gqobo-6229a729/] Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.