Carole Wamuyu Wainaina

Ms. Carole Wamuyu Wainaina is a seasoned global business leader with more than 35 years of experience across the private sector, multilateral organizations, and development finance. She currently serves as Senior Advisor to the CEO at Africa50, the Pan-African infrastructure investment platform established by African countries and the African Development Bank. Previously, Ms. Wainaina was Chief Operating Officer at Africa50, where she helped build the institution from inception and led key functions, including Strategy, Investor Relations, Communications, Human Resources, and Environmental & Social Governance (ESG). She has also served as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources at the United Nations, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Royal Philips, and has held senior leadership roles during her 13 years at The Coca-Cola Company, including Chief of Staff to the Global Chairman and CEO and President of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.

Ms. Wainaina serves on the Boards of Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC), Helios Towers, and OFI (Olam Food Ingredients). She is a passionate advocate for Education, sustainable development, impact investing, and women’s leadership, especially in Africa. In addition to the Mastercard Foundation, she serves on the boards of The END Fund, Impact(ed) (formerly the Discovery Learning Alliance), and the Harvard Business School (HBS) Africa Research Board. She is also on the Global Leadership Council for Leapfrog Investments.

A mother to two young adults, Ms. Wainaina is also an angel investor, coach, and mentor to emerging African leaders.