Wadzi Machena

Biography

Wadzi Machena Biography
Wadzi Machena is an expert in financial inclusion and technology product design for social impact. She brings extensive international experience in creating and growing programmes, products and organizations. She has worked in the private, public, and social sectors to lead design thinking and product strategy design initiatives throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Some of her areas of expertise include fintech product design, innovation management, organizational vision and strategy, and impact optimization.
Wadzi is passionate about leveraging technology, human-centred design, and innovative business models to unlock solutions to complex social problems. Through her product design work, she has partnered with social ventures and startups in Africa that deliver cutting edge business solutions to address challenges in agriculture, health, and finance.
Wadzi holds a MA in International Development from UCLA and an MBA from the University of Pretoria. Her most recent research focused on emerging digital technology adoption especially via mobile money innovation in Africa. She serves on the board of Film School Africa (FSA) College, a tertiary education institution that empowers underprivileged young Africans with job readiness skills for the film industry.