The Youth Employment Service (YES) proudly congratulates the CEO, Ravi Naidoo, on being named Job Creation Leader of the Year 2026 at the South African Future of Leadership Awards.
This recognition highlights not only individual leadership but also the collective impact of YES in driving youth employment and economic participation in South Africa.
In addition, Ravi Naidoo was also recognised as the Runner-Up in the 2025 Social Impact Leader of the Year Award, hosted by The Future Leader Forum. The category honours leaders who uplift communities, address inequality, and champion human dignity. The 2025 award recognised:
Winner: Dr Steven Zwane (Managing Executive: Corporate Citizenship, Absa Group)
Runner-Up: Ravi Naidoo (CEO, Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa)
This recognition reflects the growing importance of leadership that combines business influence with measurable social impact, further reinforcing Ravi Naidoo’s contribution to advancing youth employment and systemic change.
This award reflects the combined efforts of the YES ecosystem, including the Board, implementation partners, more than 2,000 corporate partners, government stakeholders, and over 200,000 young people who have participated in the YES Programme. Together, this network continues to demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing youth unemployment at scale.
The recognition affirms that when business leads with purpose, job creation can be scaled meaningfully. YES continues to show that structured partnerships between the private sector and youth development programmes can unlock real economic opportunity and long-term employability.
As YES looks ahead, the focus remains on scaling impact, expanding opportunities, strengthening employer partnerships, and enabling more young people to transition into sustainable employment and entrepreneurship.
Ravi Naidoo’s leadership continues to be anchored in innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact. Under his guidance, YES remains committed to building pathways that connect young people to the economy and strengthen South Africa’s labour market outcomes.
Join us in celebrating this achievement and recognising all nominees and leaders shaping the future of leadership and job creation in South Africa.