Yolanda Zoleka Cuba CA(SA), is a transformational and accomplished business leader, who is widely regarded across the African continent. Her career extends over several reputable industries including General Industrials and Resources, Telecommunications, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Corporate Finance. Yolanda joined Vodafone Ghana as Chief Executive Officer in June 2016 from Vodacom Group in South Africa, where she was the Director of Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions covering five markets – South Africa, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Lesotho. She previously served as Executive Director of Strategy and Business Support at the South
African Breweries Limited (SAB), a subsidiary of SABMiller. Prior to that, she was CEO of Mvelaphanda Group, where she was one of the youngest Chief Executive Officers of a JSE-listed company at the age of 29.
She has held various positions as non-executive director of JSE-listed companies including Life Healthcare, Avusa Media and Steinhoff International amongst others. She is also a member of the Nelson Mandela Investment and Endowment Committee. She is the longest serving board member on the Barclays Africa where she has been a board member since 2006. In 2008, Yolanda was selected as one of the Young Global Leaders in an initiative by the World Economic Forum and named as one of the “20 Youngest Powerful Women in Africa” by Forbes Magazine in 2011.
She is South African and has degrees in Statistics and Accounting from the Universities of Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal. She is also an alumnus of the INSEAD International Executive Programme and holds a Masters of Commerce (Finance Management) degree from the University of Pretoria.
She is passionate about education for all youth, and women in particular. In this regard, she founded a foundation that provides educational University bursaries for deserving under-privileged youth in South Africa wanting to further their studies in Maths, Science and Commerce. She has also been an eager mentor to young professionals in different industries.
Yolanda has won several awards in the past year including;
Telecom CEO of the Year – 8th Ghana Entrepreneur and Corporate Executive Awards
Industry Personality of the Year – Ghana Information Technology and Telecoms Award
Most Outstanding Telecommunications Executive Award – Feminine Achievement Awards
Top 50 Corporate Women Leaders in Ghana – WomanRising Magazine
CEO of the Year, Ghana Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards, 2018.
