Nicola is a change leader and social innovator – leading multi-sector partnerships and coalitions, and incubating social enterprises and programmes to drive system change and inclusive economy. Nicola is the Founder of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in South Africa and is currently its Executive Chairman. She is also Executive Director at Yellowwoods, a global investment group with roots in South Africa. Nicola sits on the global Yellowwoods Holdings board and is responsible for driving strategy for inclusive and sustainable growth and system level social impact across the Yellowwoods businesses, donor and investment activities and its and non-profit social enterprise portfolio. The group has investments in financial services, restaurants and eco-tourism businesses and under Nicola’s leadership, has incubated a portfolio of African social enterprises focused on inclusive economy, youth employment, education and ECD as well as shared value initiatives spanning inclusive supply chains in agriculture, conservation and financial inclusion and resilience. Nicola’s diverse career prior to Yellowwoods spans management consulting, senior executive positions in television broadcasting, policy and regulation and in education, being a business entrepreneur, and a documentary filmmaker and an anti-apartheid activist. Nicola was a full-bright scholar and holds an MA from New York University. She is a fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, a board member of the African Leadership Network and of several private sector businesses and non-profit Trusts.
Early Childhood to Primary Education • Economic Opportunity • Education • Environmental Sustainability • Financial Services • Livelihoods • Ocean Ecosystems • Post-Secondary Education • Responsible Supply Chains • Secondary Education • Smallholder Productivity • Sustainable Markets • Youth Job Skills
Europe, Eastern and Southern Africa
