Vuyolwethu “Vuyo” Dubese is a South African innovation and impact strategist, global moderator, corporate MC, entrepreneur and investor who operates at the intersection of innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, ESG, impact investing and inclusive economic development.
Currently working between South Africa and Kenya, Vuyolwethu has built a career around helping organisations understand, design and measure impact while facilitating high-level conversations about the future of business and innovation in Africa.
She is the Founder of InnovTel, an impact design and advisory business specialising in impact design, strategy, measurement and reporting. Through InnovTel and her broader consulting career, she has worked with organisations including the Mastercard Foundation, World Bank Group, UNDP Africa, Accenture, Thomson Reuters, UCT Graduate School of Business and ShEquity.
Prior to founding InnovTel, Vuyolwethu served as Startup Partnerships Lead for Africa at Thomson Reuters Labs, where she worked within the African startup and technology ecosystem, connecting entrepreneurs with data, platforms and innovation opportunities. She has also worked in impact acceleration with Impact Amplifier, giving her valuable experience across entrepreneurship, investment and scalable African innovation.
MC & MODERATOR
Vuyolwethu is an accomplished corporate MC, programme director and panel moderator, recognised for combining an energetic stage presence with genuine subject-matter knowledge.
She has moderated and facilitated conversations for organisations and platforms including Facebook (now Meta) Africa, USAID, Standard Bank, United Nations, the Presidency of South Africa, Africa Energy Indaba, Lufthansa Impact Week, Red Bull, Network International and the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Her experience includes facilitating discussions between C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders, innovators and policymakers, allowing her to engage meaningfully with complex content rather than simply managing the programme.
Her areas of moderation expertise include:
Technology & Innovation | AI & Digital Ecosystems | Startups & Entrepreneurship | ESG & Sustainability | Impact Investing | SMME Development | Gender Empowerment | African Innovation | Trade & Investment
Vuyolwethu also brings professional broadcasting experience to the stage, having previously worked as an SABC television and radio presenter. This background contributes to her polished delivery, interviewing skills, timing and ability to respond confidently in live environments.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Vuyolwethu is the host of the ESG for SMEs Podcast, where she explores how sustainability, responsible business and ESG principles can be made relevant and practical for entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
In 2020, she delivered an inaugural lecture on impact innovation at UNISA, further reinforcing her positioning as a thought leader within Africa’s innovation and impact ecosystem.
She has also worked with and partnered on initiatives involving major brands including Sage, Samsung, Standard Bank, Momentum and Absa.
WHY VUYOLWETHU?
What differentiates Vuyolwethu as an MC and moderator is her ability to combine broadcasting polish with substantive business and technology knowledge.
She is particularly effective for conferences where the MC needs to understand the content, interrogate ideas, facilitate senior-level conversations and connect the different themes of a programme.
For events centred around AI, Meta and digital platforms, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, ESG, investment or Africa’s economic transformation, Vuyolwethu brings both the credibility and stage presence required to lead the conversation.
