Yolanda Shields:

Founder & CEO of Yesbuilds

Yolanda Shields

About Yolanda Shields:

Dr. Yolanda Shields MBA, Ph.D., Founder, and CEO of Yesbuilds is a global business advisor/strategist and best-selling author who has over 20 years of experience as a business leader and also does international workforce development and social entrepreneurship work in the continent of Africa and other emerging countries. She is a much sought-after speaker and trainer in the area of business startups, entrepreneur ecosystems, the gig economy, workforce development, fund development, public/private partnerships, human capital management, and social entrepreneurship. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, UK, France, and Africa. She holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Human Resources Management as well as a Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership.

She was recently appointed by Commonwealth of Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin to the State Labor and Workforce Development board. Past workforce appointments by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and other Tennessee Governors where she held the position of Vice-Chair of the Oversight Committee for over 15 years. She is currently a board member of the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, GO Virginia Region 8 Council member, and Adjunct Faculty in the School of Business at Shenandoah University.

She has assisted over 20 corporations in the areas of business operations, funding, workforce pipeline strategy, talent development, human capital management, strategic planning, executive coaching/training, business operations, celebrity charity management, and public/private partnerships. She is also currently a mentor/coach at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and TheStartup.com. Yolanda is an International Member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.

She has worked with such celebrities as CeCe Winans, Darrell Green, Art Monk, Tony Boselli, and many others.

Dr. Shields has released 5 books with the first book released in September 2013.  Book number 6 was released in June of 2023, THE GIG ECONOMY. She is also a Huffington Post Contributor.

To meet with Yolanda, or any of our excellent mentors, please fill out this interest form.

Yolanda Shields Q&A:

  • I love that the Wond’ry is preparing students to look at entrepreneurship and innovation in all areas. They are able to see how innovation is about solving problems in all disciplines. They will leave with the understanding that entrepreneurship as a skill that’s needed if you start a business or work for someone.

  • Assisting students in evaluating how they can sustain their product, or service

    Critical Thinking Skills

    Solving problems ~ Cause and Effect

    How to recognize opportunities

    Over 20 years of experience as a business executive and entrepreneur

  • One of my proudest moments is seeing those I have lead and trained do more at a younger age

    than I was able to do. Training young people to start early will allow them to make a greater impact.

  • What has surprised me the most is that even when it gets hard I don’t want to quit because it is what I was born to do. I have wanted to take a break but never quit.

  • One thing I would like to do over is having more business mentors and internships while in high school and college.

  • Character

    Integrity

    Hard worker

    Servant leader

    Lifelong learner

  • My mom tells me I always talked about going to Africa to be a missionary. I always had a desire to teach or do something that allowed me to help others. So, it is no surprise that I have been teaching, training and doing humanitarian work most of my career.