Speaker

Vimbai Masiyiwa

Chief Executive Officer
Batoka Africa

Vimbai Masiyiwa, is a 28-year-old businesswoman and the Executive Director of Batoka Hospitality, a purpose-driven hospitality company and the first black female-owned Safari Lodge group in Africa. In her role as co-founder and CEO, she has led the strategic repositioning of the Batoka Hospitality Group for investments in Zimbabwe and the expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Vimbai aims at using tourism and hospitality to build sustainable livelihoods by improving the lives of the local people. She is working towards the development of the African tourism industry as a whole, changing the narrative around Africa. In addition to preserving and strengthening communities, she is also committed to preventing the extinction of wildlife and preserving their environment. Having spent most of her childhood in South Africa, Vimbai strives to empower the African dream of success through ecotourism and hospitality, particularly through the Tesse Fund. By contributing 10% of revenue from guest stays to the fund, Batoka Hospitality employees can recommend projects that benefit their local communities. Learning is at the heart of Batoka Hospitality’s ecotourism work in Zimbabwe, which includes building schools and libraries, as well as providing training and skills development to Batoka staff and the surrounding community. Vimbai is also a mental health activist. She currently serves as an advisor for several Africa based organisations that aim to destigmatize mental health amongst young people, particularly in rural areas. Vimbai graduated with a BSc in Computer Information Systems from Bryant University, and a MSc in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship sciences from University College London. She is currently based between London and Johannesburg. She is the second eldest daughter of Tsitsi Masiyiwa and Strive Masiyiwa, a philanthropist and international business leader.