Full Name
Yolandi Jukes
Job Title
Group Corporate Legal Counsel
Company
Pepkor Lifestyle
Speaker Bio
Yolandi Jukes is a highly versatile legal and compliance professional with over 20 years of corporate experience, excelling in navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Her expertise spans regulatory compliance, corporate governance, risk management, and business solutions across diverse industries. Armed with an MBA Essentials certification, she seamlessly blends legal acumen with business insight to provide comprehensive solutions that align corporate objectives with legal frameworks while fostering sustainable growth.
Jukes’ ability to adapt to ever-evolving challenges is paramount, as no two days present the same obstacles. She leads teams to safeguard businesses against regulatory risks while monitoring developments that could impact operations. Her role extends to mitigating legal risks through collaboration with business partners, assessing the feasibility of strategies, and ensuring compliance is embedded within business decision-making.
Her passion lies in transforming challenges into opportunities, reinforcing a competitive edge through continuous re-evaluation of business processes, particularly in retail and credit products. Jukes emphasises the necessity for legal professionals to be approachable, operating with an “open door” policy to foster effective human-centered solutions. “Non-compliance should never catch business off guard—legal professionals must be the first call in containing issues,” she advises.
To ensure strong stakeholder engagement, Jukes advocates for open communication channels, including virtual or in-person coffee meetings with key executives and management teams. She believes that business buy-in is essential; once trust is established and value is demonstrated, even risk-driven recommendations become more palatable and accepted at an executive level.
Jukes has made her mark in industries such as consumer retail, financial services, and the hospitality/sporting sector, contributing to high-profile organisations like Pepkor Lifestyle and Cricket South Africa. She reports directly to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) with dotted-line reporting to the CFO and CEO, positioning her as a trusted strategic advisor at the highest corporate levels.
Jukes’ ability to adapt to ever-evolving challenges is paramount, as no two days present the same obstacles. She leads teams to safeguard businesses against regulatory risks while monitoring developments that could impact operations. Her role extends to mitigating legal risks through collaboration with business partners, assessing the feasibility of strategies, and ensuring compliance is embedded within business decision-making.
Her passion lies in transforming challenges into opportunities, reinforcing a competitive edge through continuous re-evaluation of business processes, particularly in retail and credit products. Jukes emphasises the necessity for legal professionals to be approachable, operating with an “open door” policy to foster effective human-centered solutions. “Non-compliance should never catch business off guard—legal professionals must be the first call in containing issues,” she advises.
To ensure strong stakeholder engagement, Jukes advocates for open communication channels, including virtual or in-person coffee meetings with key executives and management teams. She believes that business buy-in is essential; once trust is established and value is demonstrated, even risk-driven recommendations become more palatable and accepted at an executive level.
Jukes has made her mark in industries such as consumer retail, financial services, and the hospitality/sporting sector, contributing to high-profile organisations like Pepkor Lifestyle and Cricket South Africa. She reports directly to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) with dotted-line reporting to the CFO and CEO, positioning her as a trusted strategic advisor at the highest corporate levels.
Speaking At
