Zoe Dean-Smith

Program Manager, The Coca Cola Africa Foundation

Zoë Dean-Smith is the Managing Director of Visionary Growth & Development Consultants. She currently works as Senior Director of the Vital Voices Global Partnership’s Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Program and with TechnoServe Swaziland, helping to develop the country’s handcraft sector. Her recent activities include working with IFC in Africa and SE Asia on handcraft development; Initiating a Mentorship Program for school-leaving Young Swazi Women and she is an Africa Jury member of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards. For 8 years, Zoe held a Management position at Gone Rural, working with over 700 women artisans in Swaziland, exporting hand-crafted products worldwide. In 2007, she launched the company’s non-profit sister-organisation to facilitate social upliftment programs for the artisans. In 2005, Zoe received a Pan African Business Woman Award for Capacity Building. She has been active in public speaking both regionally and internationally, talking about the benefits and challenges of holistic business models and the importance of commitment to socially responsible business practice. Zoe is a member of the Vital Voices’ Africa Advisory Board and their Global Advisory Board of Women Leaders.