Dr Joe Molete
Dr Joe Molete (PhD, MBA) – popularly known as Dr Joe – is the Executive Director of the VUT Science Park in South Africa. He joined VUT in January 2015. He has over twenty years of experience assisting technology entrepreneurs in the research and commercialisation of inventions. He has supported scientists and technology entrepreneurs in more than eight companies such as Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Biotechnology Partnerships and Development (BioPAD) and Cape Biotech.
Five years of Dr Joe time was spent at both BioPAD and Cape Biotech, initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) established to strengthen the biotechnology industry in South Africa. He also spent 11 years studying and working in the USA. In the USA he worked for companies such as the American Red Cross, the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and for Baxter Healthcare Corporation.
Dr Joe contributes most competently, and presents a substantial portfolio of key achievements which testify to the dedicated application to mandated tasks. Notable amongst his successes is a capacity for raising funds for various projects; for facilitating enterprise development; for brokering strategic partnerships; and for managing organisational restructuring to achieve optimal efficiencies.
Furthermore, Dr Joe is a sought-after motivational speaker, Life Coach and workshop facilitator, and to consolidate and share his skills, he founded the Dr Joe High Performance Academy, which mentors leaders and entrepreneurs. As a passionate, persuasive and dynamic speaker, with more than fifteen years speaking experience, Dr Joe plays a key role in coaching leaders, and believes that an authentic leader is central to successful enterprise. His flagship programs include “Finding Your Sweet Spot” and “The High Impact Leader in the 4th Industrial Revolution”. Dr Joe is also an accredited facilitator, assessor and moderator; and has authored 2 books.
Dr Joe’s qualifications include: Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School; Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Cape Town; Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Penn State University; M.S. in Biology from Howard University; and B.Sc. (Honours) in Biochemistry from University of the Witwatersrand.