The Team

Meet the dedicated professionals working to transform clean cooking in West Africa—one household at a time.

Founder & CEO

Hermann DeSouza, Founder and CEO of VieVert Inc.

Hermann DeSouza

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Austin, Texas, USA • Originally from Benin, West Africa

“At my core, I am a builder—of people, of programs, and of possibility. I’m not just managing programs; I’m reshaping what’s possible when talent meets mission.”

Hermann's story begins in Benin, West Africa—but its roots stretch deeper, grounded in generations of resilience. As a descendant of enslaved people, the oldest of six children, and now a father of three boys, he carries a powerful commitment: to leave the world better for the next generation.

When he immigrated to the U.S. without speaking English, most would see an insurmountable barrier. Hermann saw the next challenge to overcome. Within months, he added English to his toolkit—his seventh language—and spent 15 years learning how Apple builds supply chains, manages operations at scale, and delivers products that customers love — rising from frontline support to executive relations and business process reengineering, designing systems that now support millions.

But his impact reaches beyond corporate walls. Through One-to-Many and Cercle Social, he brought digital learning to 700+ students in underserved communities, transforming shipping containers into mobile computer labs—work showcased at the United Nations as a model for grassroots innovation.

15
Years at Apple
7
Languages
700+
Students Impacted
Former Apple (2011-2025) Six Sigma Google PM BPMN 2.0 UN Featured Innovator
Read His Full Story

Ground Team in Benin

Managing day-to-day operations in West Africa

Roland de Souza, Supply Lead

Roland de Souza

Supply Lead

Benin, West Africa

Roland serves as VieVert's eyes and ears on the ground in Benin, overseeing daily operations and ensuring seamless coordination between field activities and headquarters.

Crépin Houenou, Agronomy Lead

Crépin Houenou

Agronomy Lead

Benin, West Africa

Crépin brings specialized expertise in agricultural engineering to VieVert's bamboo cultivation operations. He leads technical planning for bamboo plantation development, soil assessment, and sustainable farming practices.

Oréola Paulette Atchadé Savimbi, Community and Environmental Partnerships Lead

Oréola Paulette Atchadé Savimbi

Community & Environmental Partnerships Lead

Benin, West Africa

Oréola Paulette brings a decade of proven community mobilization experience across southern Benin directly to VieVert’s ground operations. As a recognized climate leader and founder of NGO Pauly Afrique Bio, she has built trusted relationships with local authorities, women’s groups, farming communities, and government bodies—exactly the networks VieVert needs to establish its social license to operate in the Ouémé-Plateau region. Her fluency in French, Fon, and Tchabè gives VieVert an authentic, culturally grounded voice at the community level.

Strategic Advisors

Guiding VieVert's growth and impact

Yolanda M. Smith, Brand Strategy Advisor

Yolanda M. Smith

Advisor, Brand Strategy & Market Positioning

USA

Yolanda M. Smith, known as "The Brandthrupist," is an award-winning personal branding expert, business strategist, and keynote speaker. A 2025 Stevie Award Winner for Coach/Mentor of the Year, 2024 Inc. Power Partner, and 4-time bestselling author, she brings deep expertise in brand positioning and market visibility. With an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, a B.S. in Marketing from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and executive leadership certification from Georgetown University, Yolanda advises VieVert on brand strategy, market positioning, and building authority in the clean cooking sector—helping VieVert establish its voice as West Africa's pioneering bamboo fuel company.

Oswald Luis Carrena, Real Estate Advisor

Oswald Luis Carrena

Advisor, Real Estate & Asset Management

USA

Oswald Luis Carrena is the founder of Carrena Property Management, a family-owned property management and real estate company established in 2002 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. With over two decades of experience managing 150+ residential and commercial properties across Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Oswald brings deep expertise in real estate operations, asset management, and property development. His advisory role supports VieVert's land acquisition strategy in Benin, operational infrastructure development, and long-term asset management as the company scales its bamboo plantation and production facilities across West Africa.

Lara Indrikovs, Strategic Advisor Data Intelligence and Organizational Development

Lara Indrikovs

Strategic Advisor — Data Intelligence & Organizational Development

USA

Lara Indrikovs is a data intelligence and organizational development professional with a track record of turning complex information into clear decisions and scalable systems. She specializes in identifying the metrics that matter, designing the frameworks that make lean teams operate with discipline, and translating field data into narratives that move stakeholders to act. At VieVert, Lara advises on the KPIs and impact metrics that underpin investor reporting, helps shape the storytelling around ground-level data from Benin operations, and builds the organizational structures that keep a cross-continental team aligned as the company scales—ensuring every decision VieVert makes is grounded in data, structured for accountability, and ready for scrutiny.

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We're building a team of passionate individuals committed to solving Africa's clean cooking crisis. Interested in joining us?

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