| Let integrity lead.
| Let integrity lead.
Dr Steven Zwane is a senior lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Operations Management at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria; the CEO of PAPO Communications; and the founder of the Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development (YLED) programme. A Nelson Mandela Scholar and former CEO of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), he has spent more than two decades advancing youth development, entrepreneurship and leadership across South Africa.
His career spans corporate leadership, academia and the social impact sector. Until 2025, he served as Managing Executive: Corporate Citizenship at Absa Group, leading a pan‑African shared value strategy that shifted corporate social investment toward entrepreneurship, enterprise development and financial inclusion. Steven was named Social Impact Leader of the Year for 2025.
As a scholar‑practitioner, he completed a Doctor of Business Administration on entrepreneurship education and youth agency in South Africa and has produced thought leadership, academic work and teaching cases on township enterprise, informal economies and scaling African ventures. He is co‑author of Rising from the Township – Inspiring Stories of South African Entrepreneurs.
Through YLED, founded in 2004, Steven has empowered more than 25,000 high‑school learners with leadership, financial literacy and entrepreneurial capability. He sees his purpose as moving young people and leaders “from dependency to dignity” by building agency, opportunity and ethical, community‑rooted leadership.
Thanks to our valued partners and to all the Fellows who continue to contribute in many ways.
