Yvonne V. Roberts

National President

Angel Investment Council

India

Yvonne Roberts is a purpose-driven leader whose career spans over 25 years in global leadership roles with IBM, O&M, and Euromonitor, yet her true calling has always been rooted in responsibility, dignity, and heart. Her journey took a transformative turn in 2008 when she discovered her purpose—to mentor underserved kids. A pivotal moment came in 2010 at a drop-in center in South Africa, where she witnessed how the right set of eyes on a problem could spark immediate change. This realization led to the founding of NRECT in 2011, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring underserved youth through initiatives like WeKIT, which combined mentoring sessions, career seminars, sustainability projects, and even flash mob dances to inspire and empower.

In 2024, WeKIT evolved into its own entity, becoming a purpose-driven, AI-powered mentoring movement designed to prepare youth for the future of work. Its offerings include psychometric and skill assessments to unlock purpose, personalized career roadmaps, smart mentor-matching rooted in values, soft skills and character-building programs, microlearning modules, and partnerships with schools, NGOs, corporates, and governments. With the workforce undergoing massive disruption—where 44% of skills will be reimagined in five years and millions of students will enter jobs that don’t yet exist—WeKIT positions itself as the bridge between potential and opportunity, ensuring that no young person has to navigate this transformation alone.

The impact of WeKIT is already visible: dropout rates decline in schools where mentorship is embedded, students transition to work with clarity and confidence, and mentees achieve remarkable milestones—like a dyslexic student who went on to author a book and lead an F&B chain. Yvonne’s credibility stems from her ability to lead billion-dollar programs in boardrooms while also rebuilding broken pipelines in grassroots communities. Her vision is clear: to grow oak trees—long-lasting, legacy-driven leaders rooted in purpose. She invites educators, policymakers, investors, and mentors-at-heart to walk alongside WeKIT in shaping a future of equity, confidence, and impact.