There’s storytelling and then there’s the kind that changes how people listen, think, and act. Olufunke Olufon our Woman Crush Wednesday has mastered the latter.
For over two decades, she’s been the quiet force behind some of the most powerful voices and global brands, shaping narratives that inspire trust, drive influence, and make impact measurable. She doesn’t just craft words, she architects meaning.
Olufunke’s journey didn’t begin in boardrooms or global philanthropy circles. It began with boldness and belief, building Quintessentially Nigeria from the ground up. That experience forged in her an unshakable understanding of what it means to build, to risk, and to rise. It’s also why her clients don’t just get glossy messaging; instead, they get storytelling that breathes strategy, clarity, and truth.
While at the Gates Foundation, one of the world’s most influential philanthropic institutions, her campaigns reached over half a billion people and helped shape global partnerships that changed lives. But to call her merely a storyteller would be an understatement. Olufunke is a gifted translator – distilling complex ideas into human stories that connect hearts to action. From her time as a World Bank spokesperson to leading communications during EY’s global transformation and creating partnerships at Dell that linked technology to human progress, she has become fluent in the universal language of influence.
Now, through Iwà Consulting — the firm she founded and leads, Olufunke pours her expertise into helping purpose-driven leaders and organisations find and amplify their authentic voice. Her work spans brand positioning, reputation management, executive visibility, and purpose-led campaigns, each crafted with precision, empathy, and vision.
Her TEDx talk, The Extraordinary Power of Ordinary Voices, perfectly sums up her philosophy: that true communication is about telling better stories and widening the circle of who gets to tell them.
An author, mentor, board member at Bloom Africa, and advisory council member at George Washington University’s School of Business, Olufunke continues to guide the next generation of communicators with the same intentionality that defines her work.
Armed with graduate degrees from Tufts and Seton Hall universities, executive education from Harvard Kennedy School and Cornell University, and certification as a Project Management Professional, she marries intellect with intuition, proving that storytelling can be both art and discipline.
Yet beyond the global accolades and campaigns, Olufunke remains grounded by what matters most, which are family, reflection, and the simple joy of meaningful conversation.
Pride Magazine Nigeria celebrates Olufunke Olufon, a woman whose words don’t just tell stories but build bridges, shape purpose and inspire change.