Adedamola Ojoawo: Where Safety Meets Style and Bold Business Begins
In a world where health and safety often live behind the scenes, Adedamola Ojoawo brings it front and center — and she does it with purpose, power, and undeniable style. A seasoned Health, Safety, and Risk Management professional, Adedamola has spent nearly a decade navigating high-risk industries, from pharmaceuticals to food manufacturing. But her mission goes beyond compliance; she’s here to build cultures of care, clarity, and confidence — especially for startups and small businesses ready to scale.
As the founder of SafetyPath Advisory, she helps entrepreneurs turn risk into resilience, and through her lifestyle brands, Kings & Queens Ready-to-Wear and Kings & Queens Interiors, she proves that professionalism and personal expression can walk hand in hand. Now, as a proud voice in the Global Woman community, Adedamola is redefining what it means to lead — with integrity, intention, and a touch of regal flair.
What made you choose a career in health and safety? Was there something that sparked your interest?
For me, safety is personal. I didn’t just fall into this career; I answered a calling. I have seen how one unsafe decision, one overlooked risk, can change a life forever. More importantly, I have seen how safety, when done right, protects what people care about most: their families, their health, their peace of mind, and their businesses. That is my ‘WHY’. I want workers, people to go to work and come back home whole, safe, and ready to enjoy the life they are working for.
Over the years, I have led safety operations in fast-paced, high-risk environments, ranging from logistics, retail, hospitality, and pharmaceutical, where decisions impact real lives every day. Working across technical and leadership roles helped me understand the reality of workplace safety. Those experiences built my confidence and shaped the kind of leader I have become, one who doesn’t just implement systems but advocates for people who need to be protected. That is what inspired me to start Safety Path Advisory, to bring the same level of clarity, care and excellence to smaller businesses that are often overlooked.
You’ve worked in some pretty high-risk industries—what’s one thing you think every business should know about staying safe?
The most important thing every business needs to understand is that safety is about people, not just policies. Behind every protocol is a person who wants to go home to their children, their partner, their lives, and their dreams. Safety is not just compliance, it is compassion, it is leadership. It’s a commitment to protect what matters most for every person in a team. When leaders embrace that mindset, safety becomes a shared responsibility and a shared value.
You talk about creating a culture of care at work. What does that mean in day-to-day life?
Creating a positive safety culture means recognizing that people are not just workers, they are parents, sons, daughters, caretakers, and dreamers. Every day, they show up not just to do a job, but to build a life. A positive culture of care makes room for that. It means designing systems that protect people, listening to their concerns according to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and making safety a lived experience, beyond just a safety law poster on the wall. When people feel that their ‘WHY’ is respected and protected, they show up and perform better at work, too.
Why do you think small businesses often struggle with health and safety, and how do you help them get it right?
Small businesses wear many hats, and safety often feels like ‘one more thing’ on an already packed list. It can seem complicated, expensive, or only meant for big companies. But the risks don’t shrink just because the team is small.
What I have observed from managing compliance in larger, higher-risk environments is that good safety is not about size; it is about mindset and structure. Through SafetyPath Advisory, I make safety feel doable. I simplify the process, cut through the cliche, and help business owners embed safety into the heart of how they work and run their business practically, affordably and without the overwhelm. Safety is not a luxury; it is the foundation, and every business deserves access to that and ensures they get it right on the first attempt.
Some people see health and safety as just rules and checklists, but you see it as something that helps businesses grow. How so?
When you prioritize safety, you are investing in people, and people are the heart of your business. It is not just about avoiding accidents; it is about protecting futures. When your team knows they are safe, they perform better, think clearly, and trust you more. And when your business operates with that kind of integrity, growth becomes sustainable. Safe businesses are not just compliant, they are resilient, respected and ready for what is next.
You’re also into fashion and interiors! What made you start those lifestyle brands?
Creativity has always been a part of my identity. I always believed that excellence shouldn’t just be functional, it should also be beautiful. Kings and Queens- ready-to-wear and Kings and Queens Interiors were born out of that belief. I wanted to create spaces and pieces that reflect elegance, confidence, and identity, especially for women and families who carry so much on their shoulders but still want to feel stylish and strong. These brands are my creative outlet and my way of empowering others to own their presence.
How do your creative projects reflect who you are outside of your professional life?
They reflect my joy, my love for details, and my ability to see potential and turn vision into reality. In my safety work, I bring order and structure; in my creative business, I bring expression and emotion. The threads are the same, I design environments that elevate people, whether it is a workplace or a wardrobe, I want people to feel secure, valued and inspired through my creations.
Is it ever hard juggling your work in safety with your creative businesses? How do you manage both?
It can be challenging. But I’ve learned to lead with clarity and lean into my strengths and the strengths of my team. I am building a platform that empowers others, so I understand the power of collaboration. I do not try to do it all; I delegate, I prioritize, and I stay focused on what I can do. That mindset allows me to lead with purpose, not pressure and to grow sustainably across every area I am called to serve.
What does being part of a community of global woman mean to you?
It means strength, connection and possibility. As women, especially in leadership or in technical fields, we are often made to feel like we have to prove ourselves without support. But the truth is, we don’t have to carry it all alone. Being part of the Global Women Community is a powerful reminder that we rise higher when we rise together. We are not just building careers, we are building legacies, and when women support each other, we become a force that is impossible to ignore.
What advice would you give to other women trying to build something meaningful, especially in a field that’s mostly male?
I understand that women in leadership often have to prove themselves capable or are expected to fit a certain mould, My advice? You don’t have to. You do not need to become someone else to be the best version of you, lead with confidence in your knowledge, own your space and bring your voice to the table, even if it shakes. I have learned to trust my expertise, to stand firm on my values and to build bridges where doors didn’t exist. Whether you work in a male-dominated industry or otherwise, you don’t need to do it alone; surround yourself with a strong network, mentors, peers, collaborators, people who lift as they climb. Success in a male-dominated space isn’t about proving you belong; it is about knowing you do, doing the work so well, your presence can not be ignored. Lastly, remember to equip yourself so that your presence is so strong, no one forgets you or your impact when you leave the room.
