By Miftaudeen Raji

In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, where technology and operations are deeply intertwined, few professionals stand out for their ability to consistently turn complexity into measurable results. One such professional is Lola, a business operations and technology executive whose work continues to shape how organizations align strategy with execution.

With a career spanning over a decade involving business operations, and technology strategy execution, Lola’s journey reflects a rare blend of strategic foresight and hands-on operational excellence helping businesses make better decisions, optimizing enterprise operations, and building digital solutions that empower everyday users.

Lola has built a reputation as a results-driven operator and innovator, one who understands that sustainable growth is not achieved through vision alone, but through disciplined execution, data-informed decision-making, and strong people leadership. That belief has shaped her career for over 15 years, leading her to work with one of the top technology-driven venture organizations as a senior operations leader.

At Venture Garden Group, Lola has been at the center of high-impact projects creating digital operating infrastructure that have significantly shaped the success of the organization and improved the lives of businesses globally.

Her leadership directly led to the successful spin-off of five portfolio companies, including PowerTech, VigiPay, Fleap, and Exequi, with each now operating as a self-sustaining business, generating millions in annual revenue. These specific accomplishments secured VGG’s financial stability and cemented its reputation as one of Africa’s most innovative venture platforms.

One of the results of her tech innovation, Fleap, a cross-border payments solution designed to address liquidity challenges for small businesses and diaspora communities, has improved financial inclusion and operational decision-making for entrepreneurs operating across borders by enabling faster, more reliable access to capital and real-time financial insights.

Through Exequi, she destroyed the barrier faced by corporate professionals when considering entrepreneurship – Fear of Starting Out (FOSO). Her expertise in business operations and technology facilitated the design of Exequi, a platform that helps corporate professionals transition into the start-up world without leaving their regular jobs, by providing structure.

A defining aspect of Lola’s leadership approach is her emphasis on measurable outcomes. By leveraging performance frameworks such as Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), she ensures that teams remain aligned, accountable, and focused on results that drive long-term value. This approach has helped organizations under her leadership remain agile, improve their operational efficiency, and respond effectively to market changes.

Beyond her operational execution at VGG, Lola is also recognized for her contribution to the industry at large. The Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) Nigeria has awarded her a Fellowship status for her outstanding achievements in the field of business operations and technology. The Silicon Review also recognized her in January 2025 as “One of the 5 Most Inspiring Leaders to Watch”.

Lola’s colleagues describe her as a leader who not only understands the numbers but also the people behind them. According to them, she exemplifies the modern operations executive, one who bridges vision and execution, technology and people, ambition and discipline.

As businesses increasingly seek leaders who can navigate uncertainty while delivering tangible results, Lola’s career offers a compelling example. Her work continues to influence how organizations think about operational leadership and how when optimally focused on, can drive meaningful and lasting impact.