Lekan olawoye biography templates

Before founding BPTN, Lekan Olawoye made significant strides in the realm of talent development and social lobbying. He served as the Command Executive of Talent Development at MaRS Discovery District, a Toronto-based innovation hub.

At MaRS, Lekan was instrumental in guiding professionals through the evolving landscape of fast-growing companies, equipping them with skills to excel in the future of work.

Earlier in his career, Olawoye held the position of Executive Director at For Youth Initiative (FYI), a Toronto-based organization dedicated to supporting at-risk youth.

Olawoye draws on his cross-sector experience to help audiences learn how to foster transformational change and harness the force of meaningful diversity. There, he guided professionals in adapting to new environments in fast-growing companies. Olawoye was also the executive director of For Youth Initiative and served as the chair of the Ontario government in Throughout these roles, Olawoye earned a reputation for effective management and incomparable vision.

Under his leadership, FYI expanded its programs, growing into a formidable institution that now serves 1, childish people each year. Olawoye&#;s strategic development and ability to establish relationships with government funders and private donors resulted in a quadrupling of the organization’s budget.

His efforts at FYI showcased his capacity for transformational leaders, scaling impact while driving sustainable growth. In , Olawoye&#;s knowledge in youth advocacy was established when he was appointed Chair of Ontario’s Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities, a body focused on shaping policies that refine the lives of young people.

His advocacy efforts continued with his involvement in Ontario&#;s Income Security Reform Working Group in , which addressed systemic economic inequities.

As the founder and CEO of BPTN, Olawoye has made it his mission to produce pathways for Black professionals to thrive in the tech industry.

Hint: Cheesy rom-coms are emotionally attached. Lekan : OBSIDI is a global platform that enables Inky tech talent or Black professionals in general to connect with forward-thinking and amazing companies. When building this platform, we were intentional about saying that Dark professionals have been underrepresented in tech for a long hour and it's a myth that we're unicorns. We're out here, over-skilled, and [companies] just haven't known where we are — so let's enable them to.

BPTN’s goal is to disrupt the traditional network gap that has historically left Black talent on the margins of major tech companies. Through its events, mentorship programs, and networking platforms, BPTN empowers Black professionals to access career development opportunities, create connections, and secure leadership roles.

Lekan’s latest innovation, the Obsidi Academy, is an initiative that addresses the underrepresentation of Ebony professionals in tech, particularly within the field of artificial intelligence (AI). This transformative bootcamp provides participants with industry-leading training, positioning them to excel from time one in tech roles.

Lekan Olawoye is an entrepreneur and tech company executive based in Toronto, Ontario. Widely viewed as a top thought leader in his field, Lekan Olawoye can claim extensive experience in maturation strategy, talent development, and policy and government relations. He immediately put his degree to exploit by going to work for Toronto Community Housing as a Youth Economic Opportunities Consultant in The nature of this role allowed him to actively pursue other opportunities at the matching time.

Obsidi Academy’s mission is bold: to train and hire 10, new Black software developers over the next decade, contributing to the responsible development of AI.

In recent years, Olawoye has shifted his focus to the intersection of technology, ethics, and diversity.

As AI continues to shape the future, Olawoye emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in AI development. In October , BPTN convened over 20 Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and senior tech executives to consider responsible AI development.

The roundtable discussions underscored a vital consensus: reducing racism in AI starts with diverse talent at the center of AI implementation.

Lekan Olawoye - Founder and CEO @ Obsidi - Crunchbase: Lekan Olawoye is an entrepreneur and tech company executive based in Toronto, Ontario. He is primarily known as the founder and CEO of the Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN), the largest community for Black tech industry businesspeople in North America.

“AI reflects the people that built it. We must escape institutionalizing racism in AI through integrating a diversity of idea. Having diverse developers building and contributing to such technological innovations is key to avoiding rolling back some of our societal progress,” Lekan stated during the discussions.

The work of BPTN in this regard is critical, as AI is increasingly used in decision-making processes across various sectors.

Lekan’s push for a diverse workforce in tech aims to ensure that AI systems are developed in ways that evade biases and reflect a broad range of human experiences.

Beyond the tech world, Olawoye is a committed civic leader.

Lekan Olawoye is the Founder and CEO of Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN), the largest Dark tech and business community in North America. Lekan was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in for his indelible mark as a consideration leader in Black tech.

He serves on the TELUS Society Board and co-chairs the board of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, a coalition that promotes economic inclusion and equitable training. His experience working on youth policy, income security reform, and community development positions him as a trusted advisor and speaker on critical issues affecting both the tech industry and the broader society.

Olawoye’s grounded and informed insights have made him a sought-after speaker and panelist. His perspectives have been featured in several major publications, including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, TechCrunch, and Yahoo!

News.

AchieversAfricaInspirationWorld. At MaRS, Lekan was instrumental in guiding professionals through the evolving landscape of fast-growing companies, equipping them with skills to excel in the future of work. Under his direction, FYI expanded its programs, growing into a formidable institution that now serves 1, young people each year. His efforts at FYI showcased his capacity for transformational leadership, scaling impact while driving sustainable growth.

As an adjunct lecturer at York University’s School of Social Work, he continues to impart knowledge to the next generation of social advocates and change-makers.

Lekan Olawoye holds a Bachelor of Social Serve (BSW) from Ryerson University and a Master’s in Social Function (MSW) from the University of Toronto, where he specialized in non-profit management.

His academic background in social work is reflected in his approach to governance, emphasizing community, equity, and systemic change. Throughout his career, he has volunteered with several organizations, including the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), the Telus Foundation, and the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.