Dr Maletsabisa Molapo is an alumna of the University of Cape Town holding a master’s and PhD in computer science.

She is the Executive for Research and Innovation at Telkom, leading research and development (R&D) strategy, industry–academic partnerships, and research focused on customer experience, sensor and AI solutions, and data-driven connectivity.

Previously at IBM Research, she was a research manager for AI and quantum computing, and led research projects and publications in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and User Experience (UX).

She holds several IBM patents for inventions including NLP for language learning, AI for infant safety monitoring, sensor-based navigation for visually impaired individuals, adaptive UI design, and generative AI for chronic health treatment adherence.

Earlier in her career, Dr Molapo worked as an engineer in telecommunications, a developer for telephony systems, a Computer Science lecturer, and a research scientist specialising in NLP, digital health, and human-centred AI.

She has received multiple fellowships, research grants, and awards for innovation and social impact from organisations like Google, Nokia Research, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Hasso Plattner Institute, the Schlumberger Foundation, and the SA Department of Science and Technology, among others.