Today, March 8, the International Women’s Day, IWD, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. No one understands this better than Optiva Capital Partners, where over 70 per cent of its 1000 workforce, most in leadership positions, are women. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that by championing inclusion in its leadership, the foremost investment immigration and wealth management company is harnessing the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation in championing global citizenship opportunities for Nigerians
The purpose of International Women’s Day (IWD), according to the United Nations, is “to uphold women’s achievements, recognise challenges, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality.” It is celebrated worldwide to spotlight women, their issues and achievements.
The theme for this year, “to inspire inclusion” serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done. Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognise the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life.
Promoting Diversity at Optiva Capital Partners
One institution that has shown its commitment to the empowerment of women is Optiva Capital Partners, a leading investment immigration wealth management firm. At Optiva Capital Partners, over 70 per cent of its workforce is women.
The company is daily committed to empowering its workforce, 70 per cent of whom are women, creating opportunities for them to serve, to get better, and to grow a career. When you raise one woman you raise a generation, because one woman impacts at least five people. So in a workforce of over 1000 people out of which seventy per cent are women, the multiplier effect is better imagined.
More importantly for Optiva Capital Partners is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions. By championing inclusion in its leadership, Optiva Capital Partners is harnessing the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation. The crop of its leadership is predominantly its women of excellence who consistently propel its growth.
Empowering and Supporting the Womenfolk
Beyond the recognition, celebration, and empowerment of its women workforce, Optiva Capital Partners is also deeply committed to issues that affect women, especially the down-trodden.
The company is involved in community service programs such as its initiative with the Lagos State government in maternal health. Basically it is to address maternal health care and reduce maternal mortality rate in Nigeria because different World Health organisation reports state that Nigeria contributes up to ten percent of the global maternal death.
Since joining Optiva Capital Partners, these women of excellence have accomplished a lot. From spurring an entirely new wave of thinking across the company rooted in vibrant customer experiences, to empowering women to empower women, these women are the epitome of passionate executives.
Though odds have been stacked against women as professionals for far too long, women like the Optiva Capital Partners Women of Excellence have found their moment. The values and roles that they have been associated with are no longer relegated or peripheral as they have become part of the mainstream consciousness of employees, regulators, and clients.
Dr. Jane Kimemia – Managing Director/CEO
Leading the remarkable transformative growth of Optiva Capital Partners is Dr. Jane Kimemia, an authentic business leader and entrepreneur who has devoted a lot of time and energy into getting where she is today.
This amazon who is re-writing the investment immigration landscape in the country has extensive experience in general management, with a track record of setting up and building sustainable businesses.
Her specialisation is in wealth management and working with high-net worth clients. An inspirational leader who understands alignment of work with values across the entire system, encouraging staff to set ambitious goals and accomplish them consistently, Kimemia promotes a clear sense of purpose that propels Optiva Capital Partners team members to find more value in their work.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Optiva Capital Partners, Jane Kimemia, a product of the Executive Education Programme of INSEAD Business School, France, has overseen the sustained and impressive growth trajectory of this leading investment immigration firm.
Prior to her current CEO role, Ms. Kimemia had a successful career in the banking sector of the financial service industry, having worked with two international banks, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and Barclays Bank for a combined period of 20 years.
She was the Executive Director and Head of Wealth Management at SCB, with responsibility for investments services, banc assurance and foreign exchange for an entire region. She was also Managing Director of Standard Chartered Investments Services (SCIS), one of the bank’s subsidiaries and was Managing Director at the Standard Chartered Insurance Agencies Limited (SCIAL).
Jane Kimemia also served as the General Manager of Priority and International banking at Standard Chartered Bank, where she spearheaded the setting-up, establishment and management of the Priority Banking proposition for high-net-worth clients across regions.
Prior to joining Standard Chartered Bank, she had worked for Barclays Bank holding senior positions including Head of Premier Banking; and Head of Scheme Loans.
With Jane Kimemia in the driver’s seat, Optiva Capital Partners growth trajectory is propelled by its resolute commitment to the established principles that drive sustainability and superior returns on investment, such as its customer-centric focus which ensures it understands its current and prospective clients, in order to better meet their requirements and expectations, which is visible in its improved customer loyalty.
Amaka Okeke-Lawal: Executive Director, Business Development
A quintessential business leader who is focused and goal-oriented, she has, by merit and dint of hard work risen to her exalted position. As the Executive Director of Business Development at Optiva Capital Partners, currently in charge of 21 branches, this University of Lagos alumnus, a certified business analysis professional, is a member of the Board and the Executive Committee at Optiva Capital Partners.
In an eventful career replete with achievements, she has learned to focus on one goal at a time and become a goal-oriented and result-driven person that she has transformed into, winning laurel after laurel. Ms. Amaka Okeke-Lawal started her career as a relationship management executive with primary duties of establishing and maintaining relationships with clients, seeking deep knowledge of the company’s products and services, providing clients with comprehensive products/services, and guiding their decision-making process.
From there, she grew to become a General Manager before her elevation to her current position as Executive Director of Business Development with responsibility for the implementation of business strategies, training, and development of the team, work tools for business development, overseeing 21 branches, branch expansion, institutional operations, and social media marketing.
Remarkably, Ms. Okeke-Lawal has the distinguished recognition of being the top salesperson consistently. Recently she received the GAHAWARD Youth Icon Award as the Future Shaper 2023 by GMYT Group.
She is also excited at the opportunity to be on the Optiva Capital Partners team, an institution that inspires inclusion in all ramifications. According to her, “working in an organisation like Optiva Capital Partners can be rewarding for several reasons. It offers the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and industries, allowing professionals to gain valuable insights into various sectors of the economy.”
Ms. Amaka Okeke-Lawal is proud to commit her long-term career to Optiva Capital Partners because of its culture of inclusion, and commitment to staff growth and well-being. According to her, “this positive atmosphere, combined with the shared commitment to excellence, has solidified my dedication to Optiva Capital Partners for the long term.”
Omoye Ebhomielen: Group Head, Special Duties
A woman of substance who is passionate about creating value, she is deeply rooted in the principles of organisation, efficiency, and effectiveness.
With a rich educational background in financial economics and an MBA focusing in Corporate Finance, Ms. Ebhomielen’s career path has significantly been influenced by her desire to bring order and efficiency to any environment she is in, leading her from potential careers in Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Finance to a broader focus in creating systematic improvements in business processes.
She is enthused about her career path which has taken her across various roles, notably as a Process Manager and Business Manager within the real estate and healthcare sectors, with each shift motivated by a longing to contribute to work that genuinely creates value, steering her towards opportunities where she makes tangible differences.
Since joining Optiva Capital Partners in 2018, she has evolved from managing the company’s product and service portfolio to becoming the Head of special duties, which role encompasses simplifying and disseminating complex product information for better distributor and marketer understanding, alongside spearheading strategic growth initiatives to enhance the company’s value proposition to its clients.
Ms. Omoye Ebhomielen’s work in automating business operations and crafting essential communication materials have been pivotal. Working closely with the leadership of Optiva Capital Partners, she has been able to align these initiatives with the company’s core mission, ensuring that every step taken is a stride towards greater value creation for its clientele.
Looking ahead, she is committed to making a positive difference by focusing on automation and the organisation of manual processes. She is also committed to fostering continuous value creation, particularly through concluding the company’s ongoing major automation project, which promises to significantly enhance efficiency across its operations.
As the world celebrates women today, these women of excellence and others will always be celebrated as outstanding individuals for constantly inspiring those around them.
