Her journey with the BITC is both notable and significant. In early 2007, she was headhunted for the role of Corporate Communications Executive Designate at the Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), before its merger with the Botswana Export Development and Investment Agency (BEDIA) in 2012, which led to the establishment of BITC. Seventeen years later, in April 2024, Madikgetla received the Cabinet-approved Ministerial appointment as Chairperson of the BITC Board of Directors.
A versatile all-rounder
Madikgetla boasts a diverse corporate career. Her experience spans various sectors, including rough diamond production during her time at Debswana Diamond Company, cross-border trade at the IFSC, and regional integration and trade during her tenure at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. She also held positions at FNB and Rand Merchant Bank in the financial services sector.
Her non-linear academic journey further enriches her versatility. Madikgetla is an alumna of several prestigious institutions, including the AAA School of Advertising (SA), the International Advertising Association (USA), the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (SA), Stellenbosch Business School (SA), New York University of Public Health (USA), Strathmore Business School (Kenya), and THNK School of Creative Leadership (Netherlands).
Strategic direction
Madikgetla’s strategy for BITC includes implementing an enhanced project model approach, emphasising business model agility and an entrepreneurial mindset to navigate market shifts. She highlights BITC’s well-defined project-based revenue generation strategy, aimed at stimulating the economy while positioning Botswana as a top-tier global investment destination. Her strategy includes packaging feasible projects, presenting them to global investors, and facilitating expedited decision-making.
A key element of her approach is Nation Branding and Repositioning. As the custodian of Brand Botswana and the Pride Mark, BITC aims to consolidate the country’s multiple attraction points and present them comprehensively and competitively to global markets.
Madikgetla stresses the importance of focusing not only on foreign direct investment (FDI) but also on heavily leveraging the domestic market. Additionally, she highlights the need for increased strategic multilateral collaborations and partnerships, and the role of BITC’s in-house research team in driving robust and proactive data-driven decision-making.
Championing investment dynamics
As Chairperson, Madikgetla’s mandate includes providing visionary leadership, strategic oversight, and ensuring institutional accountability, transparency, and governance within BITC. Her role requires a deep understanding of global economic trends and investment dynamics, and the ability to align them with Botswana’s macro and micro-economic priorities. She emphasises the need to champion innovation, diversity, and inclusion throughout this transformation.
Previously, Madikgetla served a full tenure on the BITC Board of Directors, where she chaired both the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) and the Projects and Investment Committee (PIC), overseeing the organisation’s fiduciary responsibilities.
However, she acknowledges that the current economic landscape is vastly different from five years ago, with evolving financial challenges and the rise of a hyperconnected and eco-conscious client base. She believes BITC’s priorities must include leveraging data and innovation, driving operational efficiency, and reinventing business models.
Positioning Botswana as a leading investment destination
Madikgetla envisions BITC as an organisation capable of attracting and retaining talent while remaining lean and innovative. Her goal is to help reposition and repackage Botswana as the ultimate destination for living, working, investing, and playing, while increasing the country’s market visibility and sectoral dominance in key global markets. She emphasises the importance of BITC’s role in the country’s economic diversification and citizen empowerment efforts, in collaboration with local institutions.
Anticipating challenges
Madikgetla is realistic about the challenges ahead. She points out the current moratorium on new hires, which has resulted in an overextended talent pool, and the government’s announcement of rationalisation as a further challenge. To address this, she advocates for reskilling and upskilling existing talent where possible.
She also acknowledges Botswana’s fiscal constraints, which require institutions to be resourceful and achieve more with less. Diversification efforts, particularly in response to challenges in the diamond sector, are also a top priority. Madikgetla underscores the need for Botswana to focus on production and value chain optimisation to increase self-sufficiency and readiness to export, especially under frameworks like the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
Marketing brand Botswana
She believes in the power of collaboration and innovation to drive both local and foreign direct investment. BITC already works closely with government ministries and sister agencies, and Madikgetla is committed to increasing private sector participation, emphasising the importance of focusing on return on investment and exploring untapped markets.
Creating shared value
Madikgetla advocates for the Creating Shared Value (CSV) model, which integrates social and environmental concerns into business operations. She distinguishes CSV from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), explaining that CSV drives innovation and productivity by embedding social impact at the core of business strategies.
She highlights BITC’s significant contributions across sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, education, agribusiness, and gender and youth empowerment. Madikgetla stresses the importance of transparency and regular reporting, not only to the shareholders but to all stakeholders, with a focus on leveraging indigenous models alongside international governance standards.
Looking ahead
Madikgetla envisions BITC as a fully resourced, state-of-the-art agency, utilising exponential technologies and advanced policies to achieve excellent returns on investment and establishing itself as a benchmark for other investment promotion agencies (IPAs) globally. She also sees the youth playing a key role in transforming sectors, exporting solutions, and driving investment through the BITC of the future.
