Tokunbo Ifaturoti: Leading Beyond Borders with Purpose

In a world where leadership demands vision and versatility, Tokunbo Ifaturoti stands out as a bold voice for inclusive, strategic change. As a global leader, senior project strategist, and cultural intelligence advocate, she advises business executives, nonprofits, and governments on how to thrive in today’s interconnected world. Tokunbo sparks bold, solution-driven conversations that bridge continents and challenge the status quo through her groundbreaking podcast Let’s Act: Sustainably Developing Africa and Beyond. With a mission to drive sustainable growth, empower diverse teams, and lead with purpose, she is reshaping the future of global leadership—one conversation at a time.

Tokunbo, your journey spans law, media, corporate responsibility, and global advocacy. What defining moment led you to dedicate your life to empowerment and social impact?

My deep curiosity about how people think, interact, and build trust across cultures shapes my journey. One defining moment was when I saw firsthand how cultural misunderstandings could limit opportunities for women and youth in underserved communities in the United Kingdom and Africa. I recall meeting a young entrepreneur who was seeking funding to launch her African-inspired bag business in the UK, aiming to target a diverse customer base.  Her pitch focused on heritage and craftsmanship, while investors prioritised market scalability and consumer accessibility. The cultural misalignment made it challenging to secure funding.  Through mentorship and coaching, I guided her in refining her pitch by striking a balance between authenticity and broad market appeal. I also helped her secure corporate partnerships, boosting visibility and direct engagement with professionals eager to support inclusive and sustainable brands. That realisation led me to step beyond corporate law and into leadership, mentorship, and sustainable development, helping people navigate barriers, embrace their potential, and create meaningful change.

As the founder of TAAI Consultancy and ChiYoWo, how do these initiatives reflect your vision of leadership, mentorship, and sustainable development?

TAAI Consultancy and ChiYoWo actively promote inclusion, cultural intelligence, and sustainability to drive global progress. TAAI Consultancy focuses on corporate and nonprofit leadership, ensuring businesses integrate ethical governance, diversity, and sustainability into their operations. ChiYoWo is my heart-centred initiative, empowering children, youth, and women by breaking barriers in education, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Through ChiYoWo, we donated 7,229 books to students in 40 schools across hard-to-reach communities, ensuring access to education and literacy development. Through both, I aim to nurture leaders who bring diverse voices into decision-making spaces.

You champion confidence and self-mastery as keys to professional growth. What practical steps can individuals take to cultivate these qualities, especially in challenging environments?

Confidence and self-mastery don’t come overnight; they require intentional practice and a growth mindset. Here’s what I recommend:

Understand Your Strengths: Recognise your unique contributions and amplify them.

Develop Emotional & Cultural Intelligence: Self-awareness and adaptability are key.

Push Beyond Your Comfort Zone: Growth happens when you challenge yourself.

Find Mentors & Allies: A strong support system helps navigate uncertainties.

A mentee of mine, struggling with imposter syndrome, applied these principles and secured a leadership role in a multinational company by embracing her strengths and refining her cultural intelligence.

You lead with cultural intelligence and promote diversity and inclusion. What does authentic, inclusive leadership look like to you in practice?

Authentic, inclusive leadership means listening, learning, and amplifying diverse voices. It’s about moving beyond representation and creating environments where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their ideas. I practice this by building multicultural teams, fostering open dialogue, and ensuring diverse perspectives inform decision-making. During a leadership symposium in Shanghai, I facilitated discussions on global governance and inclusion, helping students and lecturers refine their cultural intelligence in decision-making. One notable outcome was that a group of international development students re-evaluated their leadership approach after understanding the impact of hierarchical structures in East Asian corporate environments compared to Western models of collaboration. The symposium fostered networking and cross-cultural connections, leading to joint leadership initiatives across universities and corporations. 

In practice, by bridging these perspectives, participants were left equipped with tools to lead inclusively, adapt strategically, and navigate cultural nuances in global decision-making.

Through your podcast, you elevate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a lens for systemic change. Which of the goals resonates most with you personally, and why?

Through my podcast, Let’s Act: Sustainably Developing Africa and Beyond, I create platforms that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that global conversations translate into real impact, which is at the core of everything I do. While all SDGs are essential, three resonate deeply with me:

SDG 4 (Quality Education): Education is the foundation of empowerment and opportunity. I believe in accessible, equitable learning, especially for children and youth in underserved communities. Through initiatives like ChiYoWo, I have helped provide educational resources, mentoring, and skills training to drive long-term social transformation.

SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Empowering women and girls isn’t just a moral duty; it’s an economic and social necessity. From mentoring emerging female leaders to advocating for inclusive policies, I continuously work to dismantle systemic barriers that limit opportunities.

SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Bridging socioeconomic gaps is crucial for creating opportunities, fostering inclusive career growth, and ultimately leading to a more equitable world. 

One inspiring example was during a talk at my local university, where I shared insights on career mobility, overcoming systemic barriers, and using transferable skills to enter new industries. One student, deeply passionate about sustainable development, had been struggling to transition from corporate finance due to a lack of formal experience in the field. Inspired by my message on leveraging expertise, networking, and mentorship, she applied these principles to build credibility, attend global forums, and actively engage with leaders in the sustainability field. She leveraged cultural intelligence, adaptability, and persistence to break barriers and secure a leadership role in a global sustainability firm.

When people have equal opportunities, they create a sustainable impact, not just for themselves but for future generations.

From boardrooms to community spaces, you emphasise a “pay it forward” approach to leadership. How do you inspire others to adopt this mindset?

Every leader must uplift others. Whether through mentorship, storytelling, or advocacy, I encourage people to share knowledge, open doors, and invest in the success of others. The simplest way to inspire this mindset is by leading by example; when people see generosity in action, they naturally pay it forward as well. I belong to several organisations that have provided me with good platforms to “pay forward” my duty. For instance, through Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) and Women on Boards (WIMBOARD), I have actively mentored and supported women aspiring to leadership roles, ensuring they gain visibility, strategic insights, and boardroom readiness. One notable example is a senior executive who, despite her expertise, lacked access to board opportunities. By connecting her with the WIMBOARD Executive Mentoring Program, she gained critical boardroom skills, mentorship from top leaders, and access to board nominations. 

This experience proved that when leaders share knowledge, open doors, and invest in others, the ripple effect of empowerment continues.

ChiYoWo focuses on empowering children, youth, and women. What barriers are most urgent to address, and how is your organisation creating breakthrough opportunities?

The most significant barriers include access to education, financial independence, and cultural biases that limit opportunities for women and children. At ChiYoWo, we tackle these challenges by:

• Providing mentorship & skills training to young leaders.
• Supporting entrepreneurship through grants and networking opportunities.
• Advocating for gender equality & cultural inclusion in policy discussions.

At ChiYoWo, we actively address education gaps, financial independence, and cultural biases through targeted programs that create real opportunities for children, youth, and women. Some of our activities include:

ChiYoWo Sustainability Hub: A dedicated space where young innovators receive mentorship, training, and resources to develop sustainable solutions for their communities. One standout project involved a group of female entrepreneurs designing eco-friendly soap and packaging for local businesses, leading to funding opportunities and market expansion.

Competitions for Young Entrepreneurs: We host business pitch competitions where young entrepreneurs present innovative ideas in search of funding and mentorship. A recent winner developed a reading lamp, securing investment and implementation support in underserved areas.

Financial Intervention Programmes: Through micro-grants and networking opportunities, we support women-led businesses in scaling their operations. Three recipients, including a single mother, were trained in making pastries and received funding to set up production, access larger distribution channels, and scale up their businesses into sustainable enterprises.

These initiatives have empowered hundreds of young leaders, fostering economic independence, innovation, and long-term impact in their communities.

You’ve spoken at the UN and other global platforms. What message do you hope to leave with world leaders, and what has been the most powerful response you’ve received?

My message to world leaders is clear. Leadership must be culturally intelligent, inclusive, and sustainability-driven. True leadership is not just about policies; it’s about representation, action, and ensuring that voices from marginalised communities are heard and empowered. One of the most powerful moments in my journey came after speaking at the UN, where I shared my firsthand experience of providing reading materials and donating books to UNICEF in Nigeria. These resources helped establish a library and reading club in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri, Borno State, a region deeply affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. After my speech, a young girl approached me, visibly moved. She thanked me for my work and described me as brave for visiting her state amidst so much turmoil. She shared that the UN had saved her, relocated her to the USA, and was now studying to become a doctor, with the dream of one day returning home to help her people. Her story was a testament to endurance, hope, and leadership, especially as a young woman who had overcome unimaginable challenges. 

The most powerful response I receive from world leaders is not just their support; it’s seeing the people I empower take their place at the table, break down barriers, and create change in their communities and around the world. Moments like that affirm the importance of representation and action.

You’ve directed a TV program reaching over 30 million viewers and authored children’s books. How do storytelling and media play a role in shaping a more equitable future?

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for cultural and social change. Through my TV program and children’s reading and colouring books, I’ve used media to amplify real stories, elevate marginalised voices, and inspire change. When people see themselves represented, they believe in their potential, and that belief fuels transformation. 

Storytelling and media are transformational tools that drive cultural awareness, inclusivity, and systemic change. Through my then-nonprofit, Lighthouse Children’s Workshop Productions, I have harnessed both to amplify diverse voices, educate young minds, and foster global understanding. One of our flagship programs, Time Out with Auntie Toks, used television, digital platforms, and live events to connect embassies, schools, corporate leaders, and nonprofits with children and youth. Through engaging interviews, documentaries, and interactive storytelling, people from different backgrounds shared their cultures, foods, life experiences, and career journeys, inspiring young minds to embrace diversity and inclusion from an early age. For instance:

Broadcasting Inclusion: Media allowed us to reach beyond physical events, ensuring children from underserved communities had access to leadership insights, cultural education, and inspiring real-life stories.

Educational Excursions: Our visits to Oxford University, Buckingham Palace, and Cadbury World provided young participants with firsthand experiences of leadership, history, and innovation, reinforcing cultural intelligence at a formative stage.

Representation & Visibility: Through storytelling, we ensured that children saw themselves reflected in leadership roles, academia, and creative industries, reinforcing their sense of belonging and possibility. By integrating storytelling and media, we have created a platform that enables young minds to embrace diversity, understand global perspectives, and envision themselves as future leaders. 

Today, we have a plethora of media outlets that allow cross-cultural storytelling to shape a more equitable world.

Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to build, and how can listeners and readers join you in co-creating a sustainable, inclusive future?

I envision a world where cultural intelligence, inclusivity, and sustainability are not just ideals but fundamental pillars of leadership and development. My legacy is rooted in empowering the next generation of global leaders, ensuring they possess the knowledge, confidence, and resources to create meaningful and lasting change.

How you can help:

• Advocate for inclusivity in your workplace and community.
• Mentor and uplift others, ensuring opportunities are shared.
• Support sustainable initiatives that drive ethical leadership.

I am available for speaking engagements, where I share insights on cultural intelligence, leadership, diversity, and sustainability, inspiring individuals and organisations to embrace inclusive, purpose-driven change.

I firmly believe that we can shape a future where leadership is culturally intelligent, inclusiveness is the norm, and sustainability drives progress. We can all invest in the success of others, and together, we can shape a truly global and inclusive future.