About Yin Connect
Through globalization, vast opportunities lie for leaders in and beyond our own borders and we are here to bridge that connection.
Vision
Yin Connect enables purpose-driven collaborations, bridging connections between South African organisations and the world through global opportunities.
Mission
To lead and connect South African businesses to international platforms, positively enhancing economic, cultural, and political integration worldwide.
Our Values
We believe in flexibility, hard work, and honesty, empowering women and youth through education in business and trade. Guided by passion and compassion, we uphold integrity and professionalism.
Our Unique Impact
We combine policy insight with hands-on delivery. Over two decades, Yvonne Iyer has built trade bridges from South Africa to Germany and across Africa. Through Yin Connect, more than 200 South African SMEs have gained international expertise, with partnerships like the 2024 SEDFA MoU driving greater impact. We champion AfCFTA initiatives, empowering women, SMEs, and entrepreneurs to trade confidently across borders.
Yvonne Iyer has a strong track record in trade and investment facilitation. She began at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry before joining the German Chamber of Commerce as KwaZulu Natal Branch Representative, where she established the office blueprint, spearheaded business seminars, and led trade missions and B2B events. Notable achievements include the first Smart Port delegation to Hamburg, positioning Durban Port as a lead partner in Hamburg Port’s 2018 Birthday celebrations.
We connect South African suppliers and buyers into African markets through trusted private sector networks. We support clients from their first business meetings to their first invoice in new markets.
Yvonne Iyer: Empowering Women and Youth Through Strategic Consultancy
Yvonne Iyer is an independent consultant, and the founder of Yin Connect (Pty) Ltd, a company dedicated to advancing South African SMEs with a strategic focus on empowering women and youth. With extensive experience in skills development, corporate governance, and program implementation, Yvonne has positioned herself as a dynamic leader committed to fostering sustainable growth and driving meaningful change in marginalized communities.
Professional Experience
Senior Expert Services (SES) German Industry for International Cooperation
For the past nine years, Yvonne has served as a professional skills catalyst for the Foundation of German Industry for International Cooperation through the Senior Expert Services (SES) program. Under this German-funded initiative, she has successfully facilitated and implemented the skills and knowledge-transfer program that have positively impacted over 120 SMME projects across all nine provinces of South Africa.
Her work involves fostering partnerships, delivering strategic interventions, and equipping small businesses with the competencies needed to thrive in competitive markets.
Southern African German Chamber of Commerce (SAGCC)
As the KwaZulu-Natal Manager for the Southern African German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAGCC), for over 6 years, Yvonne Iyer played a pivotal role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between South Africa and Germany. She led strategic initiatives to foster strategic business partnerships,
support local enterprises in accessing international markets, and facilitate networking, and member events between Germany and Southern African industries.
Yvonne’s responsibilities included stakeholder engagement, event coordination, and providing advisory services to businesses seeking to expand their footprint within the Southern African and European markets. Her leadership was instrumental in driving economic collaboration, ensuring alignment with industry trends, and promoting sustainable business development across the region.
Corporate Governance Expertise
Iyer is a competent corporate governance professional with a proven track record of serving on the Board of Directors of an agricultural company. Her role involves ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, strategic decision-making, and guiding the organization towards ethical and sustainable business practices. She possesses a keen understanding of governance principles and the ability to align corporate strategies with stakeholder expectations, ensuring transparency and accountability at every level.
Why Choose Yin Connect?
As a women-owned consultancy, we bring integrity, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose to every project. We are driven by our values of empowerment, transparency, and professionalism. Through our work, we aim to create global synergies that uplift women, youth, and small businesses while strengthening Africa’s place in the global economy.