While some people build brands, our Woman Crush Wednesday, Oluwabukunmi “Kunmi” Sobowale builds meaning into them.
With over a decade of experience across marketing, communications, and consumer engagement, she has carved a career out of understanding people first, then shaping how brands meet them. Her work is rooted in insight but carried by instinct, allowing her to translate strategy into stories that feel lived in, not manufactured.
Today, she leads luxury beauty brand strategy for Chanel Fragrance and Beauty at InterAfrican Marketing, overseeing a diverse African cluster that spans Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Ghana. In these markets, her role goes beyond maintaining presence. It is about ensuring that a global brand finds local relevance without losing its identity.
Before stepping into luxury, Kunmi spent nearly five years at British American Tobacco, navigating one of the most competitive consumer landscapes. There, she led product launches, drove innovation, and executed campaigns that required both precision and cultural awareness. It was a space that demanded clarity and speed, and she delivered both.
Her foundation in communications was built at LSF|PR, where she worked on campaigns that shaped how brands entered and reintroduced themselves to the Nigerian market. From the launch of Godrej MegaGrowth to the repositioning of Darling Nigeria, her work consistently centred on visibility and connection. She also led a user-generated content campaign for Philips Electronics that brought consumers into the conversation, not as spectators but as participants. She also handled media and public relations for the early editions of the Lagos Leather Fair, contributing to what has now become a key platform for the creative industry.
Her experience in film marketing has always added another layer to her understanding of audiences. Working on cinema releases that later reached global streaming platforms, she gained a deeper appreciation for how stories travel and how marketing shapes that journey.
Kunmi holds a degree in mass communication from Babcock University and an executive master’s in marketing and sales from Rome Business School. She is a Certified Management Consultant, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants Nigeria, and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
Away from work, she dances salsa and kizomba, watches films, and spends time with people who matter to her. She also mentors teenagers within her church community, guiding them through questions of identity, growth, and purpose. Kunmi is also the convener of “A Decade of Insights,” a platform that unites Babcock University Mass Communication alumni to share their experiences, industry trends, and career insights.
Pride Magazine Nigeria celebrates Kunmi’s leadership – one that shows in the details, in consistency, and in how people are treated long after the work is done.