In this momentous inaugural edition of our magazine, The Brand Colossus proudly recognises Ifeoluwa Esther Obafemi as a distinguished luminary in the realms of advertising and marketing communications. As we honor International Women’s Month, we are privileged to cast our spotlight upon Ifeoluwa Esther Obafemi and her extraordinary achievements. Through this feature, our aim is to exalt the remarkable accomplishments of women like Ifeoluwa Esther Obafemi, whose contributions serve as catalysts of inspiration and empowerment within the industry and far beyond.
With over 18 years of experience spearheading commercial excellence, Ifeoluwa emerges as an accomplished business leader, wielding expertise across a multifaceted spectrum encompassing marketing, sales, channels, strategic management, leadership and people capability development, as well as digital and media management, and digital business transformation.
Her professional journey commenced in academia, with a brief interlude in aviation, before embarking on a fruitful odyssey in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, commencing with Nestle Nigeria PLC.
In her current capacity, she serves as the Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Cluster Digital, Media & Insights, wielding oversight across 45 countries and 14 brands within the Sub-Saharan Cluster of Frieslandcampina, the foremost dairy company in the world. With fervent dedication, she leverages her expertise to drive digital transformation initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and organizational change, culminating in tangible impacts on revenue and business growth. Her superpowers lie in championing and orchestrating business and organization-wide transformations that deliver palpable value and results.
An alumna of Heriot-Watt University-Edinburgh Business School, Scotland UK, Ifeoluwa has pursued courses and certifications across four continents, including prestigious institutions such as the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and IMD Business School, Switzerland.
Her leadership prowess, strategic acumen, and analytical aptitude serve as bedrocks for innovation and growth, earning her recognition as one of the 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation in Africa by CIO Magazine (2021-2022). Additionally, she holds the esteemed titles of Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ifeoluwa is deeply passionate about nurturing early to mid-career professionals, providing guidance and support as they navigate their career trajectories and strive towards realizing their ambitions. As the founder and convener of the Business & Leadership Series, a global networking and learning platform, she fosters a community of growth and development spanning five continents since its inception in 2019.
She is a revered speaker, train-the-trainer, digital content creator, business and leadership coach, humanitarian, and advocate for women’s and children’s health and education. Moreover, she has authored a professional book titled “Polished Gem” and two faith-based book series titled “Ponder on These vol 1 & 2”. In her personal life, she is happily married to an exceptional partner and blessed with two wonderful sons.
