About this speaker
Gbemisola Abudu is a global strategist who builds bridges between Africa, the U.S., and the Middle East—aligning business, policy, and cultural capital to unlock opportunity and shape legacy. With two decades of leadership experience across sports, fashion, tech, luxury, private aviation, and country branding, she helps institutions and creatives expand globally with authenticity and impact.
She is the Founder & Executive Director of the BMGA Foundation, a non-profit closing the gender skills gap among university graduates. Through its flagship Fellows Program, BMGA equips young women across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Asia with employability skills, leadership development, mentorship, and access to influential networks—creating pathways for equity and representation in business and society.
Gbemisola also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, where she contributes to global policy conversations on Africa’s economic development and international engagement.
Most recently, she was Vice President of NBA Africa and Country Head of NBA Nigeria, leading the league’s entry into Nigeria. Her work spanned youth development, strategic partnerships, and cultural initiatives, including launching NBA Meets Culture and co-producing the NBA’s first-ever Afrobeats All-Star Halftime Show. Previously, she held leadership roles at Anap Jets, Polo Luxury, Louis Vuitton, White &Case LLP, The Walt Disney Company, and The Clorox Company. Across these platforms, she has been recognized for her advisory and leadership in global sports, culture, and investment—building cultural bridges, scaling organizations with authenticity, and shaping legacy brands through strategy, storytelling, and expansion.