Meet the passionate team behind the experience. A collective of visionary organizers dedicated to bringing this conference to life with purpose, excellence, and heart.
Conference Chair
Dr. Sade Oyofo is a passionate advocate, mentor, and change agent committed to building community and advancing equity. Her leadership is deeply rooted in lived experience and driven by a core belief in creating access and belonging at scale. With a unique blend of grassroots passion and strategic vision, she leads with intention, empathy, and an unshakable commitment to helping others thrive. Her work reflects the power of people, purpose, and the collective impact that emerges when we invest in one another.
Early in her consulting career, Sade navigated the challenges of being a first-generation professional, American-Nigerian immigrant, and Black woman in corporate spaces where support was often limited and representation rare. Out of that tension, she founded Wazobia, a community created to connect, affirm, and uplift fellow African professionals. What began as a modest monthly call evolved into a global network of over 650 members, advancing leadership, visibility, and connection across geographies and industries. That same commitment to equity and belonging fueled her leadership of her former firm’s National Black Leadership Summit, a landmark gathering that brought together over 550 Black professionals and became a model for building culture and community at scale.
Sade brings this same clarity and conviction to her work as a senior executive in the technology space, where she has spent more than 20 years driving innovation, business strategy, and talent development. A U.S. Army veteran, she is known for leading with both precision and empathy, balancing mission-driven execution with a deep commitment to people.
Her impact also extends beyond the workplace. For over 15 years, she has volunteered at a local women’s shelter and currently leads a food pantry through her church that serves over 150 families each month, offering consistent access to essential resources with dignity and care.
Her latest and most personal endeavor, The Arête Woman Conference, is a bold movement to empower women, especially Black women, to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Rooted in the pillars of advocacy, restoration, empowerment, transformation, and engagement, Arête offers a transformative leadership experience grounded in sisterhood, strategy, and legacy.
Sade holds a Doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University, an MBA, and a Bachelor’s in Accounting. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband of 21 years and their two daughters. She is continually inspired by the power of service, purpose, and legacy—and is committed to leaving every space better than she found it.
Conference Director
Partnerships & Outreach Director
Hospitality & Guest Experience Director
Communications & Engagement Director
Creative Director
At Arête, Ebunoluwa leads the creative direction of the conference, shaping its visual identity and storytelling across platforms. With a thoughtful blend of strategy, empathy, and artistic expression, she ensures every element—from branding to media—reflects the boldness and brilliance of the Arête Woman. Her leadership is marked by a deep commitment to excellence and a passion for advancing narratives that center women’s voices and experiences.
A dedicated servant-leader, Ebunoluwa is the Director of Ministry at her church, where she oversees the Music, Media, and Marketing departments. She is a mentor and trusted confidant, deeply respected as a truth-teller and steady presence through every season. Her commitment to integrity and excellence has made her a role model to many, both within and beyond her community.
Professionally, Ebunoluwa is a Lead UX Strategist at a Fortune 500 company, where she has spent over seven years crafting human-centered digital experiences that align user needs with business priorities. She brings this same intentionality to every space she occupies. Designing with purpose, leading with empathy, and showing up with consistency.
Rooted in faith and family, she draws strength from her roles as a wife, mother of three, and leader committed to purpose and excellence.
Operations & Logistics Director
Ivie Aghayere is a purpose-driven cybersecurity professional, mentor, and advocate whose work bridges the worlds of digital protection and human empowerment. With over a decade of experience in cybersecurity and risk management, she brings not only deep technical expertise but also a fierce commitment to equity, service, and legacy. Her leadership is defined by integrity, guided by empathy, and rooted in the belief that real security begins with people.
As a Nigerian American woman navigating the evolving landscape of technology, Ivie understands the importance of representation, access, and resilience. Throughout her career, she has helped organizations from federal agencies to global teams recognize that true security is more than compliance or control; it’s about stewardship, trust, and protecting what matters most. Whether leading critical initiatives or guiding teams through transformation, Ivie is known for bringing clarity, calm, and conviction to every space she enters.
Beyond her professional impact, Ivie is deeply committed to giving back. She currently serves as one of the directors of Mercy & Compassion, a nonprofit that supports children, women, and orphans living in poverty. Through this initiative, Ivie helps lead programs that cover school tuition and supplies, provide food and clothing, offer basic healthcare, and empower women through entrepreneurship training. What began as a grassroots mission is growing into a national movement by reaching more lives and restoring hope in places often overlooked.
Under Ivie’s leadership, Mercy & Compassion partners with local leaders to identify those in need and respond with dignity, care, and consistency. From education to enterprise, nourishment to medical care, her heart for people shines as brightly as her presence in boardrooms and briefings.
Today, Ivie serves as a consultant, helping organizations strengthen their security posture and navigate complexity with confidence. Whether she’s mentoring women entering tech, leading security strategies, or mobilizing change in underserved communities, Ivie leads with purpose and power. She believes that when women are empowered, they don’t just protect systems—they secure futures.
Her mission is simple— protect what matters, build what lasts, and always remember where you come from.
Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator