Olabisi Matthews

I attribute my success first and foremost to my mother, Funmi Ogboye. She is my earliest and forever mentor — the strongest woman I know.

My father was a fighter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force and passed away in a plane crash when I was only four months old. My mother was just 27 years old, raising three young children alone. Watching her resilience, her faith, and her refusal to accept limitation shaped my understanding of strength long before I understood leadership.

Every birthday is a reflection point for me — not just of how far I’ve come, but of what her sacrifice made possible.

Beyond my mother, I’ve been sustained by extraordinary support. My husband, Steve, whom I met 20 years ago, has been my anchor and steady encouragement throughout my adult life. My pastor, Pastor Yemisi Asogba, grounds me spiritually. My faith is deeply intertwined with my work — it calls me to act with compassion, integrity, and courage. It is my North Star.

Professionally, I’ve been fortunate to have leaders who saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself — Professor Rosemary Baberet in College, Mary Ferguson in law school, Melissa Morris at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Lisa Newstrom at Bay Area Legal Aid, and Professors Deanne Lawrence and Jeanice Dagher-Margosian in law school, who entrusted me with responsibilities that helped shape my confidence and voice. I’m continually inspired by peers like my friend Kemi Mustapha and Tamura Gidado-Afolabi, who remind me that living your dream is possible with discipline and conviction.

I believe deeply in paying it forward. Every opportunity I’ve received has strengthened my commitment to create pathways for others.

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.

Believe in yourself but make sure that belief does not stand alone. Pair confidence with competence.

No one should be able to tell you that you can’t do something simply because you are unprepared. You must first have faith in your own ability. But beyond that, you must be excellent in your craft. Know your field. Study deeply. Do the hard work. Master the details.

In my industry, credibility is everything. Your work must be defensible. When you are prepared, disciplined, and thorough, your work speaks for itself.

So my advice is this: trust yourself and do your homework. Confidence opens the door, but excellence keeps you in the room.

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.

The values most important to me are accountability, justice, and fairness.

My faith is deeply intertwined with my work. It calls me to act with compassion, to stand for what is right, and to advocate for those who may not have a voice. That is my compass — my North Star.

I am especially mindful of those who are less fortunate or less powerful. Serving in a role where I can hold individuals in positions of public trust accountable is not just a responsibility; it is a calling. Ensuring that fairness prevails and that standards are upheld brings me profound purpose.

I also believe strongly in mentorship and paying it forward. Every opportunity I’ve received strengthens my commitment to create pathways for others. Leadership, to me, is not just about enforcement. It’s about service and elevation.

On a personal level, I value community and intentional presence. I find joy in opening my home, building relationships, and learning from others. Also, I am deeply intentional about carving out precious family time for my amazing husband and our three daughters. Life moves quickly, but those moments together are what anchor everything else.