Zodwa Pakade

Zodwa Pakade is Chairperson of the Junior Achievement Africa Council of Board Chairs, Chairperson of Junior Achievement South Africa and the co-founder and CEO of ZPM Ventures, an investment company focused on assets along the digital value chain. She has over 19 years’ experience in Strategy, Deal Making and ICT across the African continent. Prior to this, she was Executive Director for Corporate Affairs at Pearson South Africa, the world’s largest education company.
She has held various leadership roles at organisations like Dimension data, Microsoft South Africa, and served on the boards of MTN Foundation and Pearson Institute.

A seasoned executive and social entrepreneur, she has worked with numerous international donor organisations and local development financial Institutions implementing and promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and serving on the Board of the Foundation.

The work she does impacts and changes the lives of young people on the continent. At a large scale, by empowering them with 21st century skills, employability and access through the work of Junior Achievement. In South Africa, Junior Achievement has built strategic partnerships in financial services, technology and education, and created a roadmap designed to prepare our youth for entrepreneurship and productive employment.
 
In 2025, JA South Africa will provide financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurial skills to over 100 000 youth directly.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Eswatini and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Wits Business School.

She has an 18 year old daughter, Yamani who is a published author and South Africa’s first Tech Girl.