# Bogolo Kenewendo

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo (born c. 1987) is a Motswana global economist and politician. She is the former Cabinet Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Botswana. Kenewendo was dropped from cabinet in March 2020. Since then, she has served as the Managing Director of Kenewendo Advisory, based in Gaborone, Botswana. She leads the Molaya Kgosi Women Leadership and Mentorship Program and is the Board Chair of the Molaya Kgosi Trust.

## Quotes

* I believe we need more women in leadership who can push for the necessary changes and men who can also be champions of equity.
** Don’t Be Comfortable in Being ‘Only Woman’ At the Table – Bogolo Kenewendo (13 August 2019)
* Never let anyone make you believe that you are not enough. You are enough. Public spaces, leadership spaces, money spaces are female spaces too! The most important thing is to ensure we are not comfortable in being the ‘only woman’ at the table. Any space can do with diversity.
** Don’t Be Comfortable in Being ‘Only Woman’ At the Table – Bogolo Kenewendo (13 August 2019)
* If there is no seat for you, bring a bench. But once you have a seat at the table, make sure that you’re not just there to check a box.
** How Botswana’s economy can recover from Covid-19 (19 February 2021)
* We all deserve equal opportunity. Opportunity creates better livelihoods and opens up a world of possibilities for all.
** I am Generation Equality: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, economist, gender and youth activist (16 April 2021)
* Everyone should be a women’s rights activist or an ally because, as cliché as it may sound, when a woman is empowered, she raises the whole society and community.
** I am Generation Equality: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, economist, gender and youth activist (16 April 2021)
* Rise. There's no better time for us to be owning our spaces, doing what we believe in, and shining.
** Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, the Youngest Minister in Botswana (3 May 2021)
* There are positions of leadership that exist that we should take them up; we shouldn't shy away from speaking our voices. We should find a way to demand justice when it's necessary. Especially when it comes to the protection of women and children's rights.
** Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, the Youngest Minister in Botswana (3 May 2021)
* We live in a women's era where we have an unprecedented number of women in leadership positions in innovation.
** Joy Kenewendo, the Youngest Minister in Botswana (3 May 2021)
* You cannot talk about poverty and not talk about empowering women.
** Bogolo Kenewendo at UNGA72 #SDGLive (21 September 2017) Retrieved 30 November 2021
* If not me then who? That is the important question we all have to ask ourselves everytime any opportunity knocks. Why is that we think maybe we are inadequate and who do we think would be in a better position to take that.
** Botswana's 31 year old minister says she has already been threatened at PAP; (26 July 2018) Retrieved 30 November 2021.
* We all deserve equal opportunity. Opportunity creates better livelihoods and opens up a world of possibilities for all. (16 April 2021) Retrieved 9 July 2022
* Building a better world is everyone’s responsibility.
* Equity does not take away from anybody.
** I am Generation Equality: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, economist, gender and youth activist, 16 April 2021, UN Women, retrieved 27 November 2022
* Fighting climate change is a global challenge that requires authentic and inclusive regional and local collaboration.
* As once the youngest Cabinet Minister in Africa and in Botswana’s history, I will also seize this opportunity to help elevate the voices of young people and women, in particular, who are key to helping accelerate our goal of halving emissions by 2030.
* So, I my advice to young people that want to be involved in politics, whether by joining government or just influencing policy, is to use their voices and use the various platforms in a very constructive manner, and constructive manner doesn’t mean you should always be in the side of government. If you’re on the side of government all the time, then you’re not really adding value.
** Bogolo Kenewendo named as Climate Champions’ Special Advisor, Africa Director, by Climate Champions, 17 June, 2022, Climate Champions, retrieved 27 November 2022
* Please be your sister’s keeper, send the ladder down, extend a hand (a helping one, even a comforting one, will be most welcome).
** Bogolo Joy Kenewendo: Dismiss This Beautiful Continent At Your Own Peril, by Unathi Sholungu, 2019, ForbsAfrica, Retrieved 27 November 2022