About Me
I’m Mofoluke Ayoola, a creative strategist, storyteller, and doctoral researcher in sustainable innovation strategy and leadership. With an inquisitive mind and a purpose-driven heart, I explore the intersections of innovation, identity, and impact.
My calling is to help people and businesses design futures that are not only innovative but deeply human, more meaningful, more inclusive, and more transformational.
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My Origin Story: Made in Lagos
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I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, a city of vibrant contrasts and boundless creativity, where resilience is not just a virtue but a way of life. As the eldest of four daughters, I inherited responsibility early, but also imagination, faith, and the power of voice. These threads have shaped every season of my journey, from launching businesses in my living room to standing before global executives as a design thinking coach.
My early career in finance and business consulting taught me the value of structure. But structure alone wasn't enough. I craved meaning, beauty, and impact. That yearning led me to create Red Violet Company, one of Nigeria's first digital home décor platforms, providing access to quality and affordable home furnishing and styling solutions at a time when few platforms were bridging design and accessibility in the digital space.
The Leap and Bounds​
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In 2018, I took a leap of faith, left everything behind, and moved to London to pursue a Master's in Innovation, Creativity, and Leadership at Bayes Business School. There, I learned to frame complexity, challenge assumptions, and trust in the creative process. It was also where I found a language for something I had always known: that human-centred design isn't just a method; it's a philosophy, a way of seeing, listening, and doing that restores systems from a human view.
This insight has since guided my work across industries, from tech to real estate, boardrooms to startup ecosystems. Whether leading a strategy sprint, facilitating a design workshop, or mentoring others, my intention remains the same: to create environments where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to co-create impactful change.
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The Journey in Practice
I'm currently pursuing a doctorate in Business Administration at Durham University, where my research focuses on helping scale-ready SMEs in emerging markets develop dynamic capabilities to access global markets.
In my work, I specialise in design operations and user experience, with a focus on:
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Business Design: Crafting solutions that align user needs with business goals.
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Innovation Strategy: Guiding organisations through transformative processes to foster innovation.
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Design Thinking Facilitation: Leading workshops and coaching sessions to embed a design-centric mindset across teams.
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Leadership Coaching: Supporting leaders and emerging talent to grow in clarity, authenticity, and impact.
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The Why That Grounds Me​
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I am a woman of faith, not in the abstract, but in the everyday. I believe in divine timing, in our shared capacity to lead change with people at the centre, and in the kind of leadership that begins with service. My purpose is not simply to do more but to ensure that what I do is aligned with a greater calling.
I'm drawn to environments and cultures where commerce meets conscience, where ideas evolve into movements, and where stories, especially the unheard ones, become catalysts for equality, innovation, and shared growth. I believe in the transformational power of bold questions, in building with intention, and in creating things that outlast trends, things that serve, sustain, and scale with purpose.
Who I Am When No One's Watching
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I love savoury and spicy food, honest conversations, brilliant design, and the quiet power of early mornings. Writing helps me make sense of the world and my place in it. Walking gives me room to breathe and to listen to what's within and what's around me. Prayer grounds me. It's how I return to the source: my God.
Lately, I've taken up landscape photography. It helps me energise and pay attention to, as well as document, the beauty of the world around me.
Away from titles and timelines, I'm someone who believes in beauty, integrity, and the slow work of becoming. I value presence over performance, especially the kind that seeks approval over authenticity and the process over perfection. I strive daily to live that out.
And yes, there are mornings when even these things, faith, creativity, stillness, aren't enough to get me out of bed. That, too, is part of the journey.
Let's Build What Lasts
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I collaborate with leaders and organisations working to build sustainably, aligning growth with purpose, people, and long-term impact. Whether you're scaling a bold idea in an emerging market, strengthening your organisation's capabilities, or using storytelling to shape strategic direction, I'd love to hear from you. 📩 hello@mofolukeayoola.com
