Bola Adesola: A Trailblazing Leader in Africa and Beyond

Bola Adesola is a true trailblazer in every sense of the word. She's a Nigerian lawyer and businesswoman who has made a name for herself in Africa and beyond.

Bola has been a pioneer in promoting women's empowerment and leadership in Africa, and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. She's a highly respected figure in the business world.

As the former CEO of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Africa, Bola has a wealth of experience in the financial sector. Her expertise has been invaluable in driving growth and innovation in the industry.

Bola Adesola was born in Nigeria.

Growing up in a family that valued education, Bola's parents encouraged her to pursue her academic interests.

She earned a Bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Lagos.

Bola's academic achievements paved the way for her to attend law school.

She later earned a Master's degree in Law from the University of Lagos.

Bola's education and experience laid the foundation for her future career as a lawyer and business leader.

She began her career in law with a brief stint as a practicing lawyer in Lagos.

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Bola Adesola, Senior Vice-Chairman of Africa at Standard Chartered Bank, has been honored in the EMEA Diversity Awards.

She was one of the eight businesswomen recognized in the annual WeQual Awards, which identify and promote diversity and gender equality in the group executive committees of EMEA's largest companies.

The WeQual Awards selected winners from a shortlist of 24 finalists, and Bola Adesola was among them, employed in a prominent executive role at Standard Chartered Bank.

The awards aim to tackle the slow progress in appointing diverse women to executive roles and highlight successes where they occur.

A quarter of WeQual award winners in the UK and USA have since been promoted to the global executive committees of FTSE and Fortune 500 companies.

Bola Adesola's achievements don't stop there - she was also honored as the Most Outstanding Woman in Business in 2013 at the Africa Business Awards.

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Bola Adesola's journey is a testament to the power of living a purpose-driven life. She started with a blank canvas, just like her parents advised, but it took her four years to figure out her true calling.

She practiced law for four years, but was still searching for her purpose. That's a long time to be unsure of one's path, but it's not uncommon.

Adesola's career took a dramatic turn when she decided to give banking a try. She applied for a job at a bank and got hired, marking the only time she ever had to apply or be interviewed for a banking-related job.

She spent nine years in senior leadership roles at Citibank in Nigeria and Tanzania, serving as Country Treasurer and Assistant Vice-President, Corporate Finance and product development. That's a lot of experience to gain in just nine years.

Her next move was to Kakawa Discount House Limited, where she became Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. She was then headhunted to join First Bank of Nigeria Plc as Executive Director, Corporate Banking, with oversight of the retail and commercial banking business in Lagos.

Bola Adesola's career is a reminder that it's never too late to pivot and follow a new path. She's had many roles and responsibilities, but has always stayed true to her purpose.

She eventually became CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited in 2011 and later took on the role of CEO for Nigeria and West Africa in 2015. She was also the Chairperson of the Board of Standard Chartered Bank Mauritius and a Director at Standard Chartered, Ghana.

In 2019, she was promoted to Senior-Vice Chairman, Africa of Standard Chartered Bank group. And in 2023, she became the first female board chairman for Ecobank Nigeria.