Executive Director

Yellowwoods Ventures Investment

Nicola is Executive Director at Yellowwoods, a global investment group with roots in South Africa. The group has investments in financial services, restaurants and eco-tourism businesses and has incubated a portfolio of African social enterprises focused on inclusive economy, youth employment and education. Nicola sits on the global Yellowwoods holdings board and is responsible for driving strategy for inclusive and sustainable growth and positive social value creation across the Yellowwoods businesses (e.g. Hollard Insurance, Nandos and &Beyond), investment management, and non-profit social enterprise portfolio. Nicola is a change leader and social innovator – leading multi-sector partnerships and coalitions to drive system change and inclusive economy. She is the founder and chairman of the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator for which she is a recipient of the Skoll award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2019.

Her 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 Foundations.