Madam Ola Kukoyi

First and foremost, I attribute my success to God. My faith in Jesus Christ is central to who I am, and I believe that with God, all things are possible — without Him, I am nothing. I also credit my mother, who has been my greatest cheerleader. She raised five daughters with an unwavering belief in education and in the power of women to accomplish great things. She gave us everything we needed not just to survive, but to thrive. Beyond that, I am deeply grateful for my husband, my son, and my extended family — my siblings and loved ones — whose love and encouragement have been a constant source of strength throughout my journey.

The best advice I ever received was simply this: do not give up. Keep pushing forward, keep trying, and success will follow. Alongside that, I was encouraged to pursue work that aligns with both my passion and my skills — and that guidance has guided every major decision in my career.

My first piece of advice is to lead with passion. You must genuinely care about people — about lifting them up and addressing the real challenges they face. Without that heart, the work becomes difficult to sustain. Second, be intentional with your time. This kind of work requires commitment and sacrifice. Third, embrace teamwork. You cannot do this alone, and the sooner you accept that, the more effective you will become. Fourth, be outspoken. Use every platform and every opportunity to raise awareness about the issues that matter — but do not stop at talking. Be actively looking for solutions. Finally, commit to cultural competency. If you are working with immigrants, refugees, or any diverse population, you must take the time to understand and respect their cultures. Something as simple as asking someone how they prefer to be addressed is a powerful act of respect. In many cultures, including my own, titles and forms of address carry deep significance — and honoring that matters.

One of the most pressing challenges is funding. Running a nonprofit in today's climate is incredibly difficult, and securing consistent financial support requires a great deal of persistence and creativity. Beyond funding, there is the challenge of being truly seen — of having people recognize your value and your expertise regardless of the color of your skin or the sound of your accent. I spent 17 years working in government, and while I am proud of that work, I often felt that the opportunities I had earned were not fully extended to me. Time and again, I had to prove myself — and even then, advancement was not guaranteed. As an African woman, and an African-born professional, those barriers are compounded. Yet in those same challenges lie opportunities. There is so much important work to be done in health equity, immigrant integration, and community empowerment — and those of us who have lived these experiences bring an irreplaceable perspective to that work.

Respect is at the core of everything I do — respect for people's dignity, their cultures, and their lived experiences. I also deeply value the opportunity to help others grow, to walk alongside someone and support them in moving from where they are to where they have the potential to be. And I value time — both my own and that of others. When someone chooses to invest their time in you, that is a gift, and I never take it lightly.