About us

Case studies

"Being entrepreneurs changed our lives fundamentally. In our self-employed career, we have developed business acumen way beyond the employed equivalent, developing an understanding of all the key components of business."

"Working together with YBI, we hope our programmes will bring guidance, hope and opportunity to these young people who can ultimately become the contributing and positive force in their society."

Read about YBI's partnership with The McCabe Foundation - Banking on the Young.

Patrons Council

Thank you to YBI’s Patrons

Youth Business International's Patrons Council is designed to recognise and thank key supporters of YBI and our global network.

Those invited to join the Patrons Council are either recent significant supporters of YBI and/or a number of members of our global network, or they represent institutions that are recent donors.

We very much look forward to working with all of these organisations and individuals over coming years to provide even more effective assistance to young entrepreneurs around the world.

Accenture: Adrian Lajtha, Chief Leadership Officer and Corporate Citizenship Chairman

Accenture has been one of YBI’s most significant supporters over the past few years and has also developed important relationships with several members of our network including The Prince’s Trust, The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT), Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) in India and Fundacion Impulsar in Argentina.

Althea Foundation: Alexsis de Raadt-St James, Chairman

The Althea Foundation has played a pivotal role in helping YBI create Youth Business America, a not-for-profit organisation registered in the US that is expected to join the YBI network soon. Through the Althea Foundation, Alexsis continues to provide extensive support to facilitate the commencement of operations in the US.

Banking on the Young: Nichola Odey, Trustee

Banking on the Young, formerly known as the McCabe Foundation, has funded initiatives in our network in Argentina, China, India, Kenya, Mexico and Sri Lanka and is now focusing its attention on working with BYST in India.

Barclays Capital: Leslie Maasdorp, Vice-Chairman Barclays Capital and ABSA Capital

For the last two years Barclays Capital’s financial support has enabled the delivery of the YBI Accreditation scheme, helping to maintain quality standards within the network.

The Centennial Fund: H.E. Mr. Amr A. Al-Dabbagh, Chairman

The Centennial Fund (TCF) of Saudi Arabia is a very strong and successful member of the YBI network that has also devoted significant resources to the development of the network internationally. Since 2007, TCF has shared its IT resources and learning with the YBI Network by supporting YBI in the development of the Operations Management System. In addition it has hosted Islamic Forums for members of the YBI Network and has also provided targeted support for the establishment of new members of the network.

Chris Rokos

Chris Rokos is a Partner with Brevan Howard Asset Management based in London.

Deloitte: John Connolly, Senior Partner and Chief Executive

Deloitte has supported a number of programmes in the YBI Network. In Mexico, Deloitte has provided JEMAC with sponsorship, mentors and training and as well as guidance on strengthening the programme’s governance structure. In Argentina, Deloitte has provided multiyear pro bono auditing to Fundación Impulsar while in Saudi Arabia, Deloitte has been a significant supporter of The Centennial Fund since its inception in 2005, through pro bono auditing, mentors and other volunteering for the programme.

Ernst & Young: Lisa Cameron, General Counsel and Managing Partner

Ernst & Young has been a valuable supporter of The Prince’s Trust for a number of years with employees playing a significant role in raising funds for the Trust. In Barbados, Ernst & Young has been involved since Barbados Youth Business Trust’s inception in 1997 with financial, in-kind and volunteering support. In Kenya and South Africa Ernst & Young has provided in-kind and pro bono support to Kenya Youth Business Trust (KYBT) and the National Youth Development Agency (formerly Umsobomvu Youth Fund)

Jane Nelson

Jane Nelson is Director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. She has provided inspiration and guidance for YBI since its inception, and was the driving force behind YBI’s successful Global Forum on Youth Entrepreneurship in 2008.

KPMG: Alistair Johnston, Global Vice Chairman, KPMG International

KPMG provided support to YBI in developing the design for the YBI Accreditation process, which upholds the standards of the YBI Network. KPMG has also provided sponsorship to the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) and has provided mentors, training and other in-kind support to Youth Business Hong Kong. In India, KPMG have supported BYST through employee engagement in a large research and policy project for the programme.

The Loomba Foundation: Raj Loomba, Chairman

The Loomba Foundation is dedicated to helping widows, their children and orphans and has funded targeted entrepreneurship initiatives with our network including B’Yeah in Bangladesh, KYBT in Kenya, Nepal Youth Business Foundation, Youth Business Sri Lanka, BIDAYA in Syria and Uganda Youth Business Trust.

Lovells: John Young, Senior Partner

Since the early days of YBI Lovells has provided pro-bono legal advice, was a key partner in the development of the Accreditation scheme as well as giving financial support for operations. In particular, Lovells guided YBI through the legal aspects of independence and is assisting YBI in the development of its governance.

Parthenon Trust: John and Geraldine Whittaker, Trustees

The Parthenon Trust has been a major supporter of YBI since its inception and continues to provide support, encouragement and advice to YBI and to individual members of the YBI Network.

PricewaterhouseCoopers: Glyn Barker, Vice-Chairman

PwC is a significant supporter of YBI and a number of members of the network. Most recently PwC has provided YBI with management and governance advisory services. In Israel and Scotland PwC provides pro bono audit support and volunteers to Keren Shemesh Foundation and PSYBT respectively. In England and Wales PwC’s support for The Prince’s Trust spans pro bono audit, volunteering and employee fundraising.

Rosemary O'Mahony

Rosemary has been a long-time supporter of YBI in both a financial and non-financial capacity. She has played an important role in the development of YBI’s IT systems and is a founding member of the IT Steering Committee. Rosemary has also made an enormous contribution to the sustainability of YBI’s accreditation process and has helped to develop YBI’s relationship with some of its now strategic partners. She has been involved in judging the 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year competition.

Scotiabank: Rob Pitfield, Group Head, International Banking, Scotiabank Canada

Scotiabank is a long-term supporter of CYBF providing funding and event sponsorship as well as mentors and loan panel volunteers. In Trinidad & Tobago Scotiabank has provided funding, pro bono and volunteering support and in Mexico it has recently joined the advisory board of JEMAC.

Shell Foundation: Chris West, Director

Shell has supported YBI and the YBI Network for many years including developing links between YBI and Shell’s Livewire programme, and currently provides support to Eletpálya Foundation in Hungary, JEMAC in Mexico, BIDAYA in Syria and the Uganda Youth Business Trust.

Smith & Williamson: Gareth Pearce, Chairman

Smith & Williamson gives pro-bono auditing services to YBI and played a key advisory role in preparing YBI for independence in 2008.

Other recent supporters of Youth Business International include:

British Asian Trust
Clydesdale Bank
Edmond J. Safra Foundation
European Union
Grassroots Business Fund
Scottish Enterprise
The Scottish Government