Yolanda Friend

Managing Director & North America Inclusion and Diversity Lead, Accenture

Yolanda Friend is the Inclusion and Diversity lead for Accenture North America,  responsible for setting the strategic direction of Accenture’s inclusion and diversity agenda in the United States and Canada. She is a member of Accenture’s North America Leadership Team.

Yolanda started her career at Accenture in 2006 through Talent & Organization within Accenture Strategy, where she led numerous clients through talent and workforce transformations. 

As a thought-leader, Yolanda’s speaking engagements feature partner organizations, including Black Enterprise, Brandon Hall, Fair360 (DiversityInc), Great Place to Work, FairyGodboss, HRO Today, Seramount, and a multitude of culture moments and celebrations within Accenture.

She holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Florida A&M University, a historically Black university. She also has Executive Certificates in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University and Cornell University. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington Ballet. Yolanda is married with a blended family of four children.