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People, not strategies, are the building blocks of great organisations. Few professionals understand this truth as well as Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji. With a background in human resource management and people-centred leadership, she brings clarity to one of the most complex challenges modern organisations face: managing people at work.
Her work as an executive in residence at Miva serves as a reminder that human resources is a strategic force more than it is a support function. This belief consistently shows up in how she works. Whether she’s guiding a team, answering students’ questions, or speaking to a room of aspiring professionals, her work resonates because it makes sense, not just in theory, but in practice.
In This Post
The Building Blocks
The foundation of Oluwakemi’s thought leadership lies in her impressive and diverse academic journey. She began with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Business Administration from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, where she built a strong base in business principles, organisational thinking, and analytical skills.
Seeking to expand her global perspective, she earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Administration and Management from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. She went further to complete Management Essentials, an intensive online certificate programme at Harvard Business School Online.
Together, these experiences provided Oluwakemi with a multifaceted, global, and practical perspective on leadership, people, and organisational performance, which she now incorporates into her teaching.
Career Advancement
For Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji, her career journey is a story of steady growth, intentional learning, and deepening impact in human resource management and organisational change.
She started with early exposure to organisational systems and governance during her National Youth Service at the Federal Civil Service Commission, where she worked as a human resources intern. She went on to build practical HR expertise in the private sector, working as a human resources specialist at Firmcare Diagnostics and Medical Services, where she led recruitment, onboarding, workforce training, and change initiatives, training over 40 employees and driving performance improvement through structured learning.
Her growth continued at Wennovation Hub (a subsidiary of LoftyInc Allied Partners), where she served as Senior Human Resources Specialist. From there, she assumed broader regional and strategic responsibilities as manager of HR & Business Advisory Services.
Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji’s career then evolved into senior leadership at LoftyInc Capital, where she served as Head of Human Resources and Operations. Her execution excellence earned her the Executive Management Team’s Excellence Award in 2020. She later continued with LoftyInc as a human resources consultant, supporting human capital strategy and organisational alignment across Africa and North America.
In 2021, she joined uLesson Education, starting as a human resources business partner and later being promoted to people operations manager. Her progression continued into the role of Senior Manager, People & Culture at The uLesson Group, with strategic oversight spanning both uLesson Education and Miva Open University. Here, she led HR strategy, talent operations, compliance frameworks, and systems optimisation, supporting organisational growth and scalability across global teams. Concurrently, she served as Senior People & Change Manager at Miva Open University, advising on people strategy and organisational effectiveness.
Alongside these roles, she founded Ludzie.Co, a people and change consultancy, where she designs and delivers solutions in organisational development, change management, and talent acquisition.
She currently serves as a change management strategist at ATB Financial in Canada, where she supports enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. In this role, she works closely with leaders to manage change thoughtfully, ensuring that organisational shifts are implemented in ways that are sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred.
Alongside her corporate and consultancy roles, Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji has established herself as a thought leader in HR and organisational culture. As a career development coach, public speaker, and organisational culture expert, she has shared her insights at industry-leading events such as the AI4HR Global Virtual Summit and the Lagos Tech Skills Bootcamp, reaching audiences eager to learn from her experience in talent strategy, performance management, and change leadership.
Across every stage of her career, Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji has demonstrated a consistent commitment to building HR systems that are strategic, humane, and effective, reinforcing her belief that people are not just part of the organisation; they are the organisation.
Behind the Professional
Away from titles and work histories, Oluwakemi is deeply human. She is reflective, curious, and creative, with interests in personal branding, career development, and digital education. Through her Instagram page and online coaching, she shares ideas about professional growth and leadership, reaching audiences beyond traditional classrooms.
These personal pursuits strengthen her HR expertise, allowing her to connect with people not just as employees but as individuals navigating complex lives and ambitions.
Her Role at Miva Open University
Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji is the Executive in Residence for MBA8206: Human Resource Management at Miva Open University, where she applies human resource theory to real-world organisational challenges.
Students learn how HR policies are designed, implemented, and sometimes contested in real workplaces across the globe. She guides discussions on recruitment, performance management, employee relations, leadership, and change, showing how HR professionals balance organisational goals with human realities.
Rather than teaching HR as a checklist, she positions it as a strategic leadership function. Her role is not simply to instruct but to guide students as they learn to think like responsible, future-ready HR leaders.
Why It Matters for Students
For students pursuing careers in management, leadership, or HR, learning from Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji offers a powerful advantage. She brings human resource management out of textbooks and into lived organisational reality. She helps students understand that HR decisions influence culture, productivity, ethics, and long-term organisational success.
More than teaching HR frameworks, Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji guides students through the human side of management: navigating people dynamics, making ethical leadership choices, and designing systems that work for both organisations and individuals. Her sessions are grounded, reflective, and deeply practical, bridging policy, people, and performance.
In Conclusion
In a time when organisations are rethinking how work gets done, Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji stands as a reminder that people remain at the heart of performance. As Executive in Residence for MBA8206: Human Resource Management, she equips students not just to manage employees but to lead people well.
Are you ready to transform your career, lead with impact, and master the art of people and organisational strategy? Apply now for Miva’s MBA programme and learn from brilliant executives in residence like Oluwakemi Akinola-Adedeji.