Our Woman Crush Wednesday, Ayodele Alabi is a dynamic corporate communications expert, a skilled master of ceremonies, and a published author with an impressive track record spanning over 15 years. She currently leads Integrated & Corporate Communications at Nigerian Breweries Plc, a subsidiary of Heineken, where she shapes narratives, builds reputations, and crafts impactful engagement strategies.
Armed with a first-class degree in communications and a master’s in business management, Ayodele’s expertise covers a broad spectrum—including corporate storytelling, media relations, investor communications, brand positioning, sustainability messaging, government relations, crisis and reputation management, and employee engagement. She has also played a pivotal role in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Her career began at Globacom Nigeria, after which, she joined Unilever Nigeria as a Management Trainee in the Unilever Future Leaders Programme. Over six years, she took on multiple roles across different regions before moving to Guinness Nigeria Plc (a Diageo company), where she spearheaded corporate communications and employee engagement. In 2023, she brought her expertise to Nigerian Breweries, where she has been instrumental in reinforcing the company’s corporate image and internal culture.
Ayodele is known for transforming brand perception, driving engagement, and crafting innovative communication strategies that leave lasting impressions. Her ability to shape industry conversations has earned her multiple accolades, including being listed among Nigeria’s top 50 PR and communications professionals in the 2024 PR Power List by GLG Communications as well as by The Guardian. She has also been recognised by 9to5Chick as one of the top 100 leading career women in Nigeria (2022); honoured with The Industry Public Relations Change Maker Award in 2023; and received the Young Achievers Nigeria Award for Outstanding Indigenous Perception Manager (2022, 2024).
During her time at Guinness Nigeria, Ayodele revolutionised employee engagement, achieving unprecedented performance shifts. Under her leadership, employee engagement scores soared from 84% to an all-time high of 93% by 2023. Her impact went beyond numbers—she cultivated a thriving workplace culture, even in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, all without increasing budgetary allocations. These efforts earned her multiple Diageo Excellence Awards, including the Make a Difference (MAD) Heroes Award in 2019 and Stronger Together Award at the 2020 Pride of Africa Awards. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Diageo Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan (DELTIP) Award in 2021 and 2023.
A passionate advocate for workplace diversity, Ayodele redefined the landscape for women at Guinness Nigeria. She led the company’s women’s network, turning it into a powerhouse for learning and professional growth. This led to a remarkable improvement in the company’s diversity and inclusion score—outperforming global Diageo benchmarks. Her dedication earned her a nomination for the inaugural Diageo Global Inclusion Awards in the “Action through Inclusion” category.
Since joining Nigerian Breweries in 2023, Ayodele has continued to drive excellence, leading to numerous industry recognitions for the company, including BusinessDay CEO of the Year for the Managing Director and Corporate Communications Professional of the Year for the Corporate Affairs Director at the 2024 Lagos Public Relations Industry Awards.
Beyond the boardroom, Ayodele is a storyteller at heart. She is the author of Happiest Girl in the Room, a deeply personal book where she shares her journey through grief and healing after widowhood. Her story has become a source of hope for many, helping others navigate trauma and rediscover joy. She extends this mission through her podcast, The Happiest Diaries, where she explores themes of resilience, happiness, and purposeful living.
Ayodele is a believer in the power of words—whether through corporate messaging, poetry, or prose. She shares her insights on leadership, life, and creativity through her blog, website, and social media platforms (@happiestgirlintheroom).
Pride Magazine Nigeria celebrates Ayodele Alabi because she leaves an imprint of excellence, authenticity, and inspiration at every space she enters.