YOUNG
PEOPLE

Wim de Jong is the Founder and Owner of Young and is actively involved with the entire team as the dealmaker, strategist, and challenger. He derives energy from exploring new opportunities, pioneering ideas, and making strategic moves that have a lasting impact.

For Wim, Young is not just a company; it’s an empowering force dedicated to disrupting markets alongside other down-to-earth yet fearless entrepreneurs who are equally driven as he is. Together, he aims to shake up standards in proven and established markets and show the world that there’s always room for something new, something different, something better

Valeria Zancaner is the CEO Designate of YOUNG, becoming our official CEO as of January 1st, 2026. She is dedicated to ensuring the success of both existing and new ventures by driving strategic decisions that maximize growth and efficiency. With her strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach, she helps teams navigate challenges before they escalate. Valeria thrives in dynamic environments and believes that a collaborative and results-driven culture is key to long-term success.

Juan Cruz is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at YOUNG. He ensures that the company’s vision is executed with precision, translating strategy into actionable plans and measurable results. With a strong focus on alignment, efficiency, and accountability, Juan oversees the performance of all ventures, ensuring that each operates cohesively within the broader YOUNG ecosystem. His analytical and structured mindset drives clarity across operations, enabling data-informed decisions and consistent momentum. By fostering effective communication and streamlining workflows, he plays a central role in scaling YOUNG’s impact and sustaining its operational excellence.

Melanie Joubert, our CFO, is the financial and analytical leader. Melanie doesn’t just crunch numbers; she paints the financial future of Young. With a background steeped in corporate finance, controlling, portfolio management, and consulting, Melanie is the mastermind behind Young’s investment strategy. She is always leading towards down-to-earth financial decisions. Melanie is empowered by her passion to decipher businesses through numbers, crafting strategies and creating tangible value for Young.

Demi van der Stelt, our Management Assistant, is the warm welcome that greets everyone who walks through our doors. She’s the embodiment of a memorable first impression. But Demi’s role goes far beyond a friendly smile. She’s the engine that keeps our operations running seamlessly. Handling everything with meticulous attention to detail, Demi ensures Young functions like a clockwork. What drives Demi is the electric energy of Young, where we believe the sky’s the limit.

Marni Rohrs, our Finance Expert, brings a wealth of experience and precision to the real estate industry. With a passion for accurate financial reporting and a keen eye for detail, Marni’s mission at YOUNG is to elevate financial transparency and efficiency. Her dedication to excellence and her adept navigation of the complexities of the real estate market ensure that all financial operations align seamlessly with the company’s strategic goals. Marni’s expertise is instrumental in driving success and growth for our financial objectives, making her an invaluable asset to the YOUNG team.

Junjie de Graaff, our COO dynamo, isn’t your typical suit-and-tie exec. He’s the force behind our operational finesse at Young, blending his tech-savvy background, growth strategies, and knack for process optimization to ignite our brand and ventures.

With relentless drive, Junjie fuels our growth ambitions, turning challenges into stepping stones for success. His radar for opportunity and inventive solutions keeps Young on the cutting edge. But it’s not just about profits; Junjie’s all about building bridges and fostering sustainable growth.

Marlene Mostert is the connector behind YOUNG’s bold entrance into Cape Town, shaping our very first footprint in Africa.
As Founding Hub Associate, she fuses groundwork with growth—researching new leads, making first connections, and opening doors to collaborations with real potential. Working closely with the business development team, she helps translate global ambition into local opportunity, building momentum that feels both strategic and deeply rooted in context.
Passionate about creativity and community, Marlene thrives on bringing people and ideas together—whether by spotting untapped partnerships, shaping style-led strategies, or simply creating space for conversations that spark growth. Her work blends curiosity with commerce, always guided by a belief that purposeful ventures can transform cities.
For Marlene, Cape Town isn’t just a launchpad—it’s a living canvas. She’s here to lay the groundwork for something lasting: a community of ventures that inspire, connect, and grow together, fueling the city’s pulse with opportunity.

Alejandra is the Chief of Staff to the CEO at YOUNG. She acts as a strategic partner to the CEO, driving alignment across teams, prioritizing high-impact initiatives, and ensuring timely execution of the company’s most critical goals. With a sharp eye for detail and strong organizational skills, she translates strategic vision into actionable plans, streamlining decision-making and removing operational roadblocks. Her ability to connect dots across departments, facilitate effective communication, and maintain focus on outcomes plays a pivotal role in YOUNG’s ongoing growth and leadership.

Gabriela is the strategic navigator behind YOUNG’s market insights and global outreach—shaping our journey into new territories. As our Market Research and Expansion Assistant, she brings the precision of a cartographer and the curiosity of a pioneer. She doesn’t just map markets—she probes them, deconstructing assumptions and illuminating paths others might overlook.

With an expert-beginner’s lens, Gabriela approaches each region and segment free from bias, ready to absorb—and disrupt—the familiar. Her knack for questioning the status quo enables her to draw parallels from unexpected corners, translating innovations from unrelated industries into fresh, actionable strategies for our expansion.

Powered by insight, rooted in discovery, and energized by a global vision, Gabriela is here not merely to research markets—she’s here to lay the groundwork for YOUNG’s next enduring legacies.