Young Pacific Leader and Academy for Women Entrepreneur participant Yolène Koteureu hopes to launch her own consultancy in New Caledonia.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
Yolène Koteureu has a long list of skills and knowledge she hopes to gain from taking part in the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), but at the top of the list is sharing energy, creativity, and a spirit of solidarity among Pacific women leaders.
Hailing from Kanaky New Caledonia, Yolène works as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Community Relations Manager at Société Le Nickel (SLN)-Eramet, one of the main nickel operators in the Pacific.
She is one of 25 YPL selected for the Where Dreams Become Reality Conference in Mangilao, Guåhan, from April 21-25, 2025.
The conference is part of AWE, a United States Government initiative to ensure women have equal opportunity to participate in the economy around the globe.
Selected YPL will take part in the 12-month AWE, which involves online training supplemented with local speakers, networking opportunities and skill-building activities that support women as they develop their businesses, such as the upcoming conference, hosted by Guam Community College.
The five-day event includes presentations from expert speakers, workshops, networking sessions, and industry tours around the US territory.
With a background in sociology and international studies, Yolène’s professional journey has been rooted in social development and cultural resilience, she says.
“I’m passionate about creating meaningful bridges between industrial operations and the communities that host them.
“I applied for the YPL AWE program because I would love to take the next step of launching a consultancy firm that helps Pacific-based entities design inclusive and culturally relevant CSR and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.
“The AWE program offers the perfect space to refine my business model, deepen entrepreneurial skills, and connect with a powerful network of like-minded women across the region.”
In Yolène’s current role at SLN, she designs and implements CSR programs that respond to both corporate priorities and local needs, while collaborating with local communities, youth groups, and institutions to co-develop projects focused on inclusion, sustainability, and mutual respect.
Driving her desire to launch her own consultancy is the urgent need to rethink our development models in the Pacific—especially as we face growing inequality, climate impacts, and political uncertainty, she says.
“Entrepreneurship, for me, is a tool for empowerment and transformation.
“I want to help local organisations not only comply with global standards but create value with and for their communities, through projects that are grounded in local priorities.”
Ultimately, Yolène has hopes to amplify local voices and help shape systems where communities can lead their own change.
“Whether it’s through sustainable livelihoods, youth leadership, or gender equity, I want to contribute to a region that is more resilient, united, and inclusive—where CSR isn’t just a corporate checkbox but a real driver of transformation for our island societies.”
Visit the Young Pacific Leaders website for more details on the US Department of State initiative.
