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By Kareem Islamiyat
From Lagos to Boston, Ese Atakpu has built a global career helping organizations grow stronger and smarter. Her journey has taken her from development finance in Nigeria to advising global corporations on transformation strategy.
In this conversation, she reflects on what she’s learned about building organizations that grow with purpose.
You started out in law and now work in strategy consulting. What led you to make that transition?
I’ve always been fascinated by how systems work, whether in business, finance, or policy. Law gave me a foundation for structure and analysis, but I wanted to move closer to the decision-making side of how organizations grow. That’s what drew me to development finance and later to consulting. Every step in my journey has been about helping institutions think strategically and grow sustainably.
What does your current work focus on?
I work in strategy and organizational transformation, helping companies improve performance and scale responsibly. At Bain & Company, I’ve supported clients in industries ranging from manufacturing to software and financial services. My work typically involves diagnosing operational challenges, designing transformation roadmaps, and guiding leadership teams through change. The most rewarding part is seeing how small structural shifts can unlock efficiency, innovation, and long-term competitiveness.
You’ve also worked in development finance. What did you learn from that experience?
My time at the Development Bank of Nigeria showed me how strategic design can empower entire ecosystems. I helped shape financial products aimed at expanding access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises. It taught me that transformation isn’t limited to corporations, it can also happen within development institutions that fuel economic growth. The experience reinforced my belief that sustainable change requires both sound strategy and empathy for those the system serves.
You’ve managed to stay deeply connected to your roots while building a global career. How do you balance both?
I think of it as a two-way bridge. My work in Africa gives me insight into how innovation and resilience emerge in resource-constrained environments. My work in the U.S. exposes me to global best practices in operational excellence. I try to bring those lessons together to help organizations anywhere become more efficient, inclusive, and future-ready.
You were Co-Director of the Sustainable Business and Social Impact (SBSI) Conference at Duke. What did that experience teach you?
It was one of the highlights of my MBA. Working on the 20th SBSI Conference taught me what it means to mobilize people around a shared purpose. We had about 250 attendees and raised funding for students pursuing social-impact internships. It was a lesson in leadership and` execution, and in how ideas can translate into tangible value for others.
Tell us about SME Finance Hub. What inspired it?
I founded SME Finance Hub to provide financial and advisory support to small businesses in Nigeria. In our first year, we facilitated over ₦12 million in microloans and offered tax, regulatory, and financial advisory services to help entrepreneurs formalize their businesses. The goal is to make small business growth more sustainable by bridging the information and resource gaps that hold many founders back.
Looking back, what moments have defined your career so far?
Three stand out. The first was working at DBN, seeing how finance can change communities. The second was joining Bain, learning what world-class strategy execution looks like. The third was at Duke, realizing the power of purpose-driven leadership. Each of those experiences has shaped how I define success: it’s not just growth for its own sake, but growth that transforms people and institutions.
And looking ahead?
My goal is to continue helping organizations scale responsibly. I’m passionate about building systems that combine strategic clarity with operational strength. Whether that’s advising Fortune 500 companies or supporting social enterprises, I want to keep contributing to organizations that drive both economic and social progress.
Ese Atakpu is a strategy consultant specializing in organizational growth and transformation. She is an MBA graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where she served as co-President of the Business in Africa club, co-Director of the Sustainable Business & Social Impact Conference and COLE Fellow, among other leadership roles. She is also Co-Manager and Partner at Kurating.com, an art platform dedicated to democratizing Nigerian art and culture, and founder of SME Finance Hub, a platform supporting small-business access to finance.
