Olabisi Matthews
Olabisi Matthews is the Director of Enforcement at the San Francisco Ethics Commission, where she leads a team dedicated to investigating and regulating violations of ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and governmental accountability laws. Licensed to practice law in California, New York, and New Jersey, she brings extensive expertise in legal research, writing, oral advocacy, and complex investigations. Her work ensures that city and county employees, political officials, and campaign committees are held to the highest standards of public trust and accountability.
Before joining the Ethics Commission, Olabisi built a strong foundation in government oversight and public advocacy. She began her career as an investigator with the Civilian Complaint Review Board in New York City, monitoring police conduct, and later served in roles at Bay Area Legal Aid, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, and Legal Services NYC. She holds a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law, where she received a Trial Practice Certificate from the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Criminal Justice, magna cum laude, from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Driven by a lifelong commitment to justice and public integrity, Olabisi combines her investigative acumen, legal expertise, and managerial skills to uphold accountability in government. She is passionate about advocating for those without a voice, promoting transparency, and ensuring fairness in public service. Fluent in Yoruba, she draws upon a global perspective shaped by her early experiences growing up in Nigeria, where witnessing corruption firsthand inspired her dedication to ethics and oversight in public life.
• Trial Practice Certificate
• Michigan State University College of Law - JD
• Distinguished Law Student Finalist
• Civilian Complaint Review Board
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first and foremost to my mother, Funmi Ogboye. She is my number one mentor and the strongest woman I know. My dad passed away when I was young - he was a fighter pilot with the Nigerian Air Force and died in a plane crash. My mom was only young when that happened, a young mom with 3 children, and I was the youngest of 3. But look at me now - every birthday is a reflection point of how far I have come, mostly due to my mother's resilience and faith and refusal to take no for an answer. She is my earliest and forever mentor. Beyond my mom, I've been fortunate to have incredible support. My husband has been my everything for 21 years - he's my strong support system in my adult life. My pastor, Pastor Yemisi Asogba, grounds me in my faith, which is intertwined with my work. The Bible calls us to love, to be compassionate, to be that advocate to the poor and to the needy, and that's my compass, my North Star. Professionally, I've had great bosses like Lisa Newstrom at Bay Area Legal Aid, and Professor Deanne Lawrence in law school who had faith in me and believed in my dream. She gave me the opportunity to serve as her teaching assistant, which built me up and allowed me to impact other law students. My friend Kemi Mustapha who just became a county judge, inspires me - she's living her dream right now. I'm a strong believer in passing it forward - everything that I receive, I pass forward to others.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you ever find yourself in a room, it’s because you belong there. Use your voice at that table and do exactly what you’ve purposed to do.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in yourself. You can't let anybody tell you, “no, you can't do it.” You have to first of all have that faith in yourself, and then on top of that, you also have to be excellent in your craft. You have to know what you're talking about. You have to study up, work hard, do your homework, so that your work will always be defensible. That's my advice - that's what I've always told folks when I mentor them. Trust yourself, but also do your homework, so that nobody can question your work. Your work will always speak for itself.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in my field today is a cultural devaluation of ethics. Election-year compliance demands and high-profile investigations further increase the complexity of our work. At the same time, I view this environment as an opportunity to strengthen public accountability and to emphasize the importance of ethics across all sectors.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are accountability, justice, and fairness. My faith is intertwined with my work - the Bible calls us to love, to be compassionate, to be that advocate to the poor and to the needy, and that's my compass, my North Star. I always remember those who are not as fortunate. I want to be that voice for folks who wouldn't otherwise have that voice. Being in a role where I can hold people who are in a position of power and public trust accountable for their actions - that's what brings me joy. Making sure that the right thing is done, that justice and fairness happen in any way that I can make that happen - that's my calling. I also believe strongly in mentorship and passing it forward. Everything that I receive, I'm a strong believer in passing it forward. I find joy in opening my door and my home to folks, touching them, learning from them, and building community. I'm very intentional about spending time with my family - my husband and my three daughters - because life is really busy, but those moments together matter.