She-EO 25.0
RISE by She-EO is not just an event. It’s a movement. Through powerful storytelling, healing, and honest conversations, we’ll journey through love, loss, motherhood, business, burnout, and becoming.
This is your space. This is your moment. This is sisterhood in motion.
✨ Your seat is waiting. Come rise with us.
HOST
Tope Fajingbesi is a social impact entrepreneur, a published author, and an educator. She is the founder and president of The She-EO – a global platform for women of African descent to have important conversations that matter. In addition to being the founder and coordinating trustee of United for Kids Foundation, Tope created and hosted the Impact Africa radio show, which inspired Africans and Africans in the diaspora to participate consciously and actively in African development from 2013 to 2015. Impact Africa earned Tope an invitation to a meeting with Senior White House officials during the planning stage of the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in 2014.
Tope frequently speaks to global audiences with a mission to inspire. She delivered a powerful address at Hillary Clinton’s final presidential campaign rally in Michigan in November 2016, the keynote speech at Grand Rapids City High School’s commencement ceremony in June 2017, and one of the two keynote speeches at the Future Harvest Conference in January 2021. Prior to becoming a full-time social impact entrepreneur, Tope worked for 2 of the “Big Accounting” Firms, a Fortune 100 energy company, and notable nonprofit organizations in Washington D.C. She also taught agricultural business courses at the University of Maryland, College Park until May 2022.
She is an alumnus of the University of Lagos in Nigeria, Emory University, Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria, and the University of Oxford. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and a United States of America Certified Public Accountant.
Tope is dedicated to serving her community. She served as the Treasurer of Future Harvest from 2020 to 2022, as the interim chairperson of the Women’s National Democratic Club’s Foreign Policy and National Security Task Force in 2021, and as a member of the Montgomery County Maryland County Executive’s Economic Recovery Advisory Group in 2020.
Tope is married to Niyi Balogun, who she co-owns Dodo Farms, a Certified Naturally Grown produce farm in Montgomery County (Maryland) with.
JUNE 20TH - ANCHORS
Abiola Johnson has been working in the non-profit world for more than 20 years. She is a professional writer and editor with experience working across multiple formats to offer a wide range of services to help teams to convey their messages and narratives. She has worked in various organizations, including Management Sciences for Health, the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank, and United Nations agencies. She is the Principal Writer and Editor at TerraCotta Editorial Services, a firm that provides creative solutions for the editorial needs of businesses. Abiola is also an Adjunct Professor of English at Towson University and has a creative writing career using Jola Naibi as her nom de plume. Her short stories have been published in various literary journals.
Abi Agidee-Adekunle (MBA, FCCA, FISBL)
Education Leadership Consultant | Financial Transformation Expert | Corporate Governance Specialist
Abi is a distinguished leader in education finance and governance, renowned for her expertise in financial transformations and Special Educational Needs & Disabilities. As a Fellow of the Institute for School Business Leadership and an adviser to the Department for Education since 2017, she has played a pivotal role in shaping financial strategies for schools across the UK.
Supported over 100 schools, local authorities, charities, and professional service providers with financial transformation, mergers and integration, strategic planning, and integrated financial curriculum planning. With a background spanning banking, accounting, and education leadership, Abi has successfully led mergers, academisations, and financial turnarounds, ensuring long-term sustainability for educational institutions. Her consultancy, Àshę Business Consulting Ltd, empowers schools and SMEs with strategic financial solutions that drive sustainable efficiency and growth.
HOTSEAT GUESTS
Olubunmi (Bunmi) Darlington is a project manager, ASD support coach, and author passionate about mentoring young people and supporting survivors of domestic abuse. A proud wife and mother of three, she finds joy in gardening, traveling, and empowering others through my work and lived experiences.
Dr. Aishah Adams—widely known as The Mind Doctor—is a Nigerian psychotherapist, public health professional (MPH), and Executive Director of the Siddiqah Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity, well-being, and opportunity to underserved communities through mental health support, trauma recovery, and empowerment initiatives.
With over a decade of work at the intersection of global mental health, trauma healing, and public health equity, she champions community-driven solutions rooted in compassion, Islamic values, and sustainable development. Her work centers particularly on women and youth across West Africa.
Aishah has led mental wellness interventions, psychosocial programs, and public awareness campaigns that align with SDG 3 and health justice priorities. As a speaker and educator, she helps reframe healing as a public health imperative.
“We’re not just feeding stomachs or minds—we’re restoring dignity. We do the hard work of healing from the inside out, and that’s the foundation of lasting change.” — Dr. Aishah Adams
Dr. Funmi Aiyegbo-Ohadike was born in Nigeria, raised in the US. She is a family nurse practitioner with over 25 years of advanced practice experience. She is currently the Vice President of Clinical Initiatives, Learning & Development and Employee Wellness at Optum and has been with the organization for 18 years.
Dr. Aiyegbo began her healthcare career in 1995 after completing her BSN at Rutgers University. She went on to complete an MS FNP at Columbia University and entered primary care - providing care to various populations of underserved patients, including those residing in homeless shelters. Dr. Aiyegbo continued her education to complete her DNP from Rutgers University in 2010. She has also served as a member of the faculty at several academic institutions. She is on the Advisory Board at Capella University and Stockton University’s MBA program.
Dr. Aiyegbo is passionate about promoting a patient centered health care system and elevating leadership development for underrepresented groups. She is married to her husband Emeka, and they have 2 sons Chima 24 and Luka 20.
Osai Ojigho is a distinguished human rights expert, lawyer, and gender equality advocate with extensive experience in international development and advocacy. She has over 18 years of experience working with various organisations, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, and the African Union Mission in Mali and the Sahel. She is the Director of Policy, Public Affairs, and Campaigns at Christian Aid, a development, humanitarian relief and advocacy organization working to eradicate poverty.
She has successfully led initiatives on good governance, electoral observation, youth mobilization, policy and legislative change, law reform, and human rights protection. She has also promoted women’s inclusion in politics and decision-making. She has published widely and is well-travelled. She has played a key role in landmark legal cases, including leading a team to victory in a gender discrimination case, Dorothy Njemanze v Nigeria, before the ECOWAS court and submitting an amicus curiae brief to the International Court (ICC) arguing that forced marriage in war is an international crime in the case of Prosecutor v Ongwen. She received the University of Wolverhampton Alumni Global Impact Award in 2023. She was named one of Nigeria’s 100 Most Influential Civil Society Leaders in 2021. She was featured in the film Voices Uprising, which encapsulates her role in demanding justice for the voiceless. She was named one of 25 women in law who inspire in 2025 by the Institute for African Women in Law.
She holds an LLB from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, an LLM from the University of Wolverhampton, UK, and a practice diploma in International Human Rights from the College of Law, England and Wales, UK. Twitter/Instagram: @livingtruely; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/osai-ojigho
Osime Saibu is the Founder & Creative Director of SIMEOGIEME, a luxury fashion brand that blends simplicity, sensuality and sophistication. She is a fashion enthusiast with a passion for designing clothing and accessories, as well as painting art and creating patterns, with which the fabrics for her clothes are created.
She has a B.Sc in Accounting from the University of Lagos, and an MBA from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom, amongst other professional qualifications in IT and Project Management. She has also spent over 20 years working in the corporate world in London and Lagos for companies like Experian, Stanbic Pension Managers, Coca Cola and currently Brita UK. She runs her fashion business while working a 9-to-5 job in the UK. Her brand, Simeogieme has participated in multiple fashion shows in London in 2013, 2023 and 2024.
Osime loves to travel, explore great cuisine, enjoys diverse music genres, and she loves to dance. She is a woman of faith and a cancer survivor
Patrick O. Okigbo III, Founding Partner at Nextier, has 28 years of experience providing policy, strategic, and financial advisory services. Earlier in his career, he was a Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, Chief Financial Officer at Transcorp Plc., Vice President at Citigroup in New York and Washington DC, and a Consultant with Accenture.
Patrick has a Bachelor of Agriculture degree from the University of Nigeria, a Master of Business Administration degree from Emory University (Atlanta), and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Public Policy. He was a Senior Fellow of the Mossavar-Rahmani Centre for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Patrick sits on several boards, including technology and real estate development firms. He is a Global Adviser to Energy for Growth Hub, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, and a member of several committees of the federal and state governments in Nigeria. He was recently appointed a Member of Nigeria's Presidential Economic Coordination Council.
JUNE 21ST - ANCHORS
Dr. Bilikis Oladimeji is an internationally trained physician informaticist who bridges healthcare transformation with clinical insight and cutting-edge technology. She has led innovation in clinical research, decision-making, digital health and AI adoption/governance. She is a Women’s Health Advocate and passionate about future healthcare professionals. With experience spanning clinical medicine, genomics, pharma, and health technology - past employers include Optum/UHG, GlaxoSmithKline, Duke Health, a Personalized Medicine Startup and a few healthcare facilities in Nigeria including Lagos University Teaching Hospital. She has spoken on multiple stages about Women’s Health including at ESSENCE Festival of Culture, Women’s Health Innovation Summit and at MIT Hacking Medicine. She also speaks on various topics in healthcare technology, Artificial Intelligence and professional careers in healthcare. She obtained her Medical and Informatics degree from the University of Lagos and Duke University respectively and obtained executive education in strategy and digital transformation from Harvard and Stanford University. She is also a writer and poet.
Ms. Lydia Nylander currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a $65 billion federal agency dedicated to humanitarian assistance, sustainability, and country ownership. Prior to this role, she led a team of over 25 professionals in Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Control, offering technical and policy guidance on development projects in more than 25 countries.
Ms. Nylander previously held senior roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. Earlier in her career, she was Director of Grants and Resource Development at the National Association of Consumer Advocates, where she oversaw the $15 million Institute for Foreclosure Legal Assistance, providing legal support to families impacted by predatory subprime lending.
She is a former Commissioner for the DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs and a founding board member of Trade plus Impact, a global platform empowering African women entrepreneurs in the craft and natural cosmetics sectors. Ms. Nylander earned her Bachelor of Laws from the University of London and a Master’s in International and Comparative Law from The George Washington University Law School. She is a 2018 Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s International Career Advancement Program and made the Center for Strategic and International Studies 2023 List of National Security Leaders to watch.
Ms. Nylander currently consults on enterprise risk management and crisis communications with global clients and runs @Nice and Creative, a visual storytelling studio she co-runs with her husband, producing films, documentaries, and social impact content.
HOTSEAT GUESTS
Dr. Chizoba Wonodi, MBBS (Benin), MPH (Hopkins), DrPH (Hopkins), is an Associate Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with nearly three decades of experience as a public health physician and implementation science researcher. A recognized leader in the immunization field, Dr Wonodi oversees projects that support the deployment and evaluation of childhood, adolescent, and adult vaccines in multiple countries, including Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia, Haiti, and India. Dr. Wonodi has helped to shape global immunization policies in her previous roles on the Immunization Agenda 2030 coordinating group and the Gavi CSO Constituency Steering Committee. Through her work as the founder and convener of the vaccine coalition called Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), Dr. Wonodi continues to promote national and global efforts to strengthen the meaningful inclusion of Civil Society in decision-making and delivery of immunization and primary healthcare services, to drive equity and impact.
Funlayo Alabi Co-Founder and CEO, Shea Radiance Funlayo Alabi is a passionate builder of beauty, business, and community. As Co-Founder and CEO of Shea Radiance, she turned a kitchen-table mission into a global movement—creating clean, effective skincare that nourishes women’s skin and their spirits. Through Shea Radiance, she uplifts women by sourcing shea butter directly from women-led cooperatives in West Africa, helping fuel economic empowerment and generational change. Today, Shea Radiance products are proudly sold at Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, MOM’s Organic Market, and online at shearadiance.com. Her leadership has earned national recognition in Essence, Oprah Daily, and Forbes. Funlayo holds a BA in International Business from Howard University and an MBA from Regent University. She is deeply committed to mentoring women, championing pro-aging beauty, and inspiring others to rise with authenticity and joy. When she's not leading or speaking, Funlayo finds joy in family, faith, and the beautiful work of helping women thrive.
Danyell T. Miller is a tech executive, behavioral change strategist, and fierce advocate for working mothers and women-led businesses. After a high-achieving career nearly cost her everything—literally landing her in the hospital from burnout—she transformed that wake-up call into a mission: helping other women break the burnout cycle and reclaim their peace.
Danyell is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Bend The Twig, a data-driven health and well-being company focused on transforming maternal mental and emotional health through AI-powered tools, behavioral science, and emotional data. Her flagship product, PeaceFULL, is a digital wellness companion designed to support overwhelmed moms with micro-dose interventions, personalized insights, and scalable self-care systems. Through this work, Danyell blends cutting-edge technology with human-centered care to create tools for sustainable, holistic health.
Previously, she served as Vice President of Product and Engineering at S&P Global, and held the same role at The Climate Service, where she scaled the flagship analytics platform by 20X and helped lead a multimillion-dollar acquisition. Her early career includes product and engineering leadership at Fortune 500 companies including IBM, USAA, and Harris Corporation.
A second-time founder, Danyell also led Nterspec Technologies, delivering over a decade of digital transformation for high-stakes clients like the U.S. Army, Air Force, NASA, and global energy leaders.
Beyond the boardroom, Danyell is a passionate advocate for maternal health, mental wellness, and early literacy. She is a sought-after speaker on burnout-proof leadership, self-care as strategy, and the intersection of tech and well-being, regularly speaking at women’s conferences and wellness summits across the country.
Based in Durham, North Carolina, Danyell integrates her professional pursuits with the joys of raising two thriving teenagers, co-parenting with her husband, and keeping up with their inquisitive Airedale Terrier.
Hafeezah Muhammad is an extraordinary mompreneur, passionate about leveraging technology to address critical societal issues. With an extensive background in leadership and a profound understanding of the transformative power of A.I. and technology, she embarked on a mission to revolutionize mental health support for children. Her visionary leadership has catapulted her company to the forefront of the industry, setting new standards and paving the way for a more accessible and inclusive approach to mental wellness.
Hafeezah’s leadership extends beyond the realms of technological innovation. She has cultivated a company culture of empathy, collaboration, and personal growth. By prioritizing her team’s well-being and professional development, she has fostered a collective spirit of excellence and unwavering dedication. Hafeezah understands that authentic leadership is not just about creating groundbreaking products but also about inspiring others to achieve their full potential.
Jamie Green is the founder of Sunshine Soul Vibes, a powerful space dedicated to helping men and women heal from past trauma, release limiting beliefs, and step boldly into their power. As a Trauma Release Specialist and Organizational Wellness Facilitator, and a proud veteran, she is passionate about helping others heal from the inside out—releasing stored trauma, emotional blocks, and patterns that no longer serve. In the workplace, she brings that same transformational energy—eliminating stress and turning toxic environments into spaces of harmony, balance, and productivity.
With expertise in NLP and Time Line Therapy®, she doesn’t just talk about change—she creates lasting transformation.