Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (YIEDI), is a boutique development company focused on transforming South Africa through innovation and entrepreneurship. We are in the business of changing lives and making a positive impact on the economy. We have a blended approach to delivering our content and our high touch approach has helped us make grow our portfolio of clients and have an impact on more entrepreneurs and individuals.
YIEDI is proudly a level 1 BBBEE contributor and we have developed over 400 entrepreneurs. We have also helped organizations create and embed a culture of innovation and entrepreneurialism.
Meet the Founders
Jayshree Naidoo
Jayshree Naidoo is a thought leader on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She was recently identified as one of Fast Company SA’s most Creative People in Business for 2018 for “Putting Entrepreneurs First.”
She has developed several frameworks and models for Innovation and Incubation and has created several structured acceleration programmes for Start-ups and Growth Entrepreneurs as well as Leadership Programmes for Corporates. She has held several leadership roles in SA and abroad.
She has local and international experience in the fields of strategy, consulting, innovation, entrepreneurship and e-commerce and she has worked in the following sectors; technology, manufacturing, health insurance, finance, development finance and education. She is also a professional speaker and guest lecturer.
In 2019 she was selected as one of the winners of the Inspiring 50 initiative which recognises the top 50 Woman in STEM in South Africa in partnership with the government of the Netherlands
Jay Naidoo
Jay has over 25 years of experience most of which has been in the fields of enterprise and supplier development, innovation and incubation management, leadership and human capital development He has worked at most of the top tier financial services organisations in South Africa.
His past roles have included a focus on skills development, organizational behaviour, curriculum development, leadership development and fostering a learning and growth culture aligned to the strategic direction of organisations.
Jay has experience in the fields of leadership development, training, skills development, curriculum development, strategic planning and implementation, entrepreneurship development, change and communications, systems design and system thinking, and creating capacity within the learning and development environment. He is also a guest lecturer and is a corporate facilitator.
He is passionate about growing individuals and SMME’s as well as working closely with youth entrepreneurs.
