Daily Inspiration: Meet Oluwapelumi Kolade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Oluwapelumi Kolade.

Hi Oluwapelumi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my journey in Nigeria as a Civil Engineering student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. During my undergraduate years, I developed an early interest in entrepreneurship and marketing, co-founding a greeting card business during a school break. I later participated in the Unilever Africa Idea Trophy competition, where my team represented Nigeria and emerged as one of two African teams selected for the global finals in London. I was honored with the Best Presenter Award alongside my teammates at the national finals in Lagos, Nigeria. That experience led to my first internship at Unilever.

That opportunity sparked a deep passion for brand strategy and consumer behavior. I went on to build a marketing career at global companies like Unilever, Cadbury (Mondelez), and Reckitt, leading campaigns for iconic brands such as Sunlight, Dettol, and TomTom. Over the years, I delivered double-digit revenue growth, won more than eight industry awards, and was nationally recognized as one of Nigeria’s Top 35 under 35 Marketing Professionals.

Despite these successes, I felt the need to pursue formal business education to sharpen my strategic thinking and global perspective. That decision brought me to the United States, where I recently earned an MBA in Business Analysis from Georgia State University. During the program, I served as President of the university’s Graduate Business Association ( GBA) for the 2024/2025 academic year. I led the GBA board in delivering high-impact initiatives that enhanced the student experience and fostered community engagement. I also completed a Product Management internship at Cummins, where I worked on sustainability-focused business models, which led to my current role as a Product Manager at Accelera by Cummins, the company’s clean energy technology business unit.

Today, I am passionate about using data, strategy, and storytelling to drive business transformation that delivers both commercial value and positive social impact.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, but each challenge has shaped the professional and person I am today.

One of my earliest struggles was overcoming a fear of public speaking. In my first year as an undergraduate, I froze on stage in front of a large audience. That moment could have discouraged me, but instead, it sparked a determination to become a confident communicator. Years later, even after winning university debates and competing in global business case competitions, I remained committed to continuous growth. Most recently, I joined Toastmasters International during my summer internship at Cummins. There, I delivered both prepared and impromptu speeches and worked closely with a mentor to improve my communication and leadership skills. It was a full-circle moment that reinforced the value of intentional growth and lasting confidence.

This dedication to personal development contributed to two recent milestones. I was recognized as Best Presenter in my bracket at the 2024 National Black MBA Case Competition, where my team also finished as a top seven finalist. In March 2025, I competed in the annual Georgia State University Three Minute Thesis competition, where I was named a finalist and received the People’s Choice Award in the master’s division.

Professionally, transitioning from engineering into marketing was a significant challenge. Without formal business training at the start, I had to learn quickly, adapt continuously, and consistently prove myself in competitive environments. That drive eventually led me to pursue an MBA in Business Analysis, which has helped strengthen my strategic thinking and expand my professional toolkit.

Relocating to the United States also came with a range of adjustments, including academic, cultural, and social changes. Balancing coursework, leadership roles, and career development while adapting to a new environment required resilience, time management, and personal discipline.

Each of these challenges has contributed to my growth, not just in skill but in character. I have learned to lead with empathy, embrace lifelong learning, and turn every obstacle into an opportunity for development.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a product manager and brand strategist with a multidisciplinary background that combines engineering, marketing, and business analysis. Over the past seven years, I have led brand and marketing strategy for some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands, including Sunlight, Dettol, Closeup, and TomTom, while working at global companies such as Unilever, Cadbury (Mondelez), and Reckitt.

Today, I serve as a Product Manager at Accelera by Cummins, the clean energy business unit of Cummins Inc., where I focus on products that support the company’s net-zero emissions goals.

One of the career moments I am most proud of occurred in 2022, when I returned to Unilever, the company where my marketing journey first began, and led the revitalization of the Sunlight brand, a household name across West Africa. This effort required us to navigate shifting consumer behavior, economic uncertainty, and competitive market dynamics. Despite the challenges, our team delivered outstanding results by achieving over 35 percent year-over-year revenue growth, significantly improving brand profitability, and growing Sunlight’s brand power in Nigeria.

These efforts earned national recognition, including:

Brand of the Year and Best Rebrand of the Year – Nigerian Marketing Awards

Outstanding Detergent Brand of the Decade – Marketing Edge

Most Outstanding in Consumer Engagement – Brand Communicator

3rd Place in Brand Revitalization – Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN)

I was also personally recognized as one of Nigeria’s Top 35 Under 35 Marketing Professionals, an honor that underscored the impact of our work and the values that guided it.

What sets me apart is my ability to bridge disciplines by combining data-driven insights, compelling storytelling, and strategic thinking to drive innovation and business transformation. I am passionate about building brands and products that are not only commercially successful but also culturally relevant and socially impactful.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The product management and brand strategy landscape is set to evolve rapidly over the next 5 to 10 years, with Artificial Intelligence playing a major role in shaping that transformation.

One area I am particularly excited about is how AI will redefine personalization at scale. Imagine a Super Bowl commercial where 50,000 households are each shown a personalized version of the same ad, tailored to their individual preferences and behaviors. I firmly believe that level of hyper-personalization will become a reality very soon. It has the potential to completely transform how brands connect with their audiences, making large-scale campaigns feel uniquely personal.

AI will also revolutionize how we develop and scale product and marketing strategies. Understanding consumer needs, which has traditionally been a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, will become faster and more precise through AI-powered tools and predictive analytics. Product and brand teams will be able to iterate rapidly, make smarter decisions, and deliver results with greater speed and efficiency.

In addition, I believe sustainability will continue to be a defining factor in how companies and products are perceived. Consumers are increasingly holding brands accountable for their environmental and social impact. It will not be enough for companies to adopt sustainable practices. They will also need to communicate these efforts clearly and authentically.

In summary, I believe the future of product and brand strategy will be shaped by the intersection of AI-powered insights, rapid innovation, and purpose-driven sustainability. This is the space where I am excited to keep learning, leading, and contributing meaningful impact.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koladepelumi/