Ms Cheryl Jacobs

Ms Cheryl Jacobs

Development Practitioner, Fund Manager, Strategy and Social Innovation Specialist

Cheryl Jacob is a recognised leader in the fields of social impact investing, international development, and entrepreneurial ecosystem building, with over two decades of experience across Africa and Southeast Asia. Her work sits at the intersection of capital, innovation, and social change.

As the former Head of Social Entrepreneurship at E Squared Investments, Cheryl pioneered a multimillion rand social impact portfolio, driving Program Related Investments and Venture Philanthropy strategies. Her award-winning models have enabled inclusive micro-entrepreneurship, expanded access to finance, and built lasting pathways to economic agency - especially for women and youth.

Currently, Cheryl is the Founder and Chief of Growth & Impact at REASONATE & Co Studio, a dynamic consultancy collective supporting development organisations, funders, and social enterprises across the continent.

Her strategic advisory work spans impact fund design, investment readiness, leadership coaching, and systems innovation. She has partnered with a wide range of global and local actors—including the United Nations Development Programme, the Obama Foundation, the Global Fund for Health, Oxfam, and the South African Department of Social Development - bringing both rigour and imagination to complex social challenges. An ICF-accredited leadership coach, Cheryl also holds certifications in Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Business from Harvard Business School. She is a three-time author, a mentor to emerging change-makers, and an influential voice in shaping Africa’s impact economy.

Whether building new capital vehicles or designing breakthrough models for inclusive development, Cheryl brings unmatched insight, bold thinking, and deep experience to every room she enters.