About us
ÒJÁ – a piece of cloth used to strap a baby to ones back. This is not just any kind of support but one that is used to carry weight of something precious. It represents closeness, confidence and is designed to sustain the object in place through and in spite of any challenging circumstance.
Founded in 2014, ÒJÁ has evolved from its humble beginnings of purely mentoring groups of women to working in communities and with organisations to make a difference in the lives of women, who often face multiple barriers to success.
We aim to empower black and ethnic minority women, equipping them with the tools they need to achieve their potential, foster accountability, and become active contributors to their communities and workplaces. We work with organisations to support their equality, diversity and inclusion goals and implement a range of social impact projects in under-served communities.
Our Founders
Tola is a HR Director for a large multinational company in the energy industry. She is an experienced HR Executive and an experienced Engineer. Tola holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, a master’s degree in Organizational Performance, a degree in Psychology and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development U.K.
Dr Ronke Akerele is a leader and seasoned professional in the healthcare sector. She is currently the National Director of Staff Experience and Engagement at NHS England and has served as a Board Executive Director across various NHS Trusts leading culture change, innovation, quality improvement and business transformation functions.
Our Origin
ÒJÁ is a name coined to celebrate our roots, one which we are immensely proud of, particularly as we function in diaspora. ÒJÁ was conceived following Tola’s completion of an executive leadership programme in Stanford University and Ronke’s completion of an executive leadership programme in Harvard – both world class Ivy League universities.
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All too often, we find ourselves forced to confront life’s challenges on our own.
ÒJÁ’s two-tiered mentoring model combines group mentoring and peer-to-peer mentoring to create a comprehensive support structure for ÒJÁ tribe members seeking guidance and development.