The Executive Woman Summit will examine workplace barriers preventing women from advancing into executive management and chief executive positions. Its second edition is scheduled for 28 October in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Organisers announced the focus at a 30 September media parley themed “The Winning Playbook”. Speakers called for clearer career pathways that give women decision-making influence and economic power.
Executive Woman Summit Looks Beyond Board Seats
According to Premium Times’ report, the forthcoming event is themed “Playing to Win: Elevate Your Vision, Value, and Visibility”. It is expected to bring together women executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and emerging leaders.
Convener Bola Matel-Okoh founded BMO Advisory Services and the Women’s Lifestyle Hub. She argued that women’s advancement should not be measured solely by their presence in organisations or leadership positions.
“We have been so focused on inclusion that now the conversation needs to shift from inclusion to actual participation, influence and economic equality,” she said.
Matel-Okoh said women can occupy board seats while remaining underrepresented in senior and executive management. Those management levels, she noted, make many critical organisational decisions.
She called for clearer pathways, including for women entering through human resources and legal departments. Her comments placed workplace systems alongside individual professional development.
Business Knowledge And Strategic Relationships
Board chair and independent non-executive director Folake Sanu urged women to develop knowledge beyond their immediate specialisations. She identified market performance, customer experience, strategy and financial matters as requirements for senior leadership.
Sanu encouraged women to understand their roles’ key performance indicators and take cross-functional responsibilities. She also urged them to build strategic relationships.
She described sponsorship as important when senior leaders recommend qualified women for opportunities and greater responsibility. Her Forward’s related leadership coverage includes OGDC’s women management trainees.
Matel-Okoh also urged women to understand and communicate their organisational value. She said strategic visibility, strong relationships and measurable results should support professional competence.
Learning From Professional Setbacks
Kikelomo Atanda-Owo, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Z-Edge Limited, discussed how women respond to setbacks. She urged them not to treat professional or personal failure as the end of their ambitions.
“Failure is not the opposite of winning. Failure is part of winning,” she said. “You cannot play to win if you are not willing to lose.”
Atanda-Owo encouraged learning from setbacks while supporting other people’s development. She also stressed continuous learning, unlearning and relearning.
Leadership legacies, she said, should partly be measured by their impact on others. Related Her Forward reporting covers a women’s business network and mentorship for women-led startups.
Building Influence At Senior Levels
Other speakers included values and character strategist Izehi Anuge and Wema Bank’s Mabel Adeteye. They identified emotional intelligence, personal values, competence and measurable impact as important leadership elements.
The Executive Woman Summit’s inaugural edition took place in 2025. Organisers say the platform addresses pursuing and sustaining senior careers, including wellbeing, mentorship, networking and professional demands.
The forthcoming edition will focus on demonstrating value, strengthening visibility and building strategic influence. Organisers intend that work to help women position themselves for senior leadership roles.
