Boardroom To Startup Summit: The Agenda
A power-packed session designed to help corporate professionals take their first step into corporate entrepreneurship.
How the Event Unfolds
Anchor: Damilola (Refine Up).
- Registration
- Music & Entertainment
- Connection Games – Led by Quadry & Lola
- Restart Wall
- “Connect” Cards
- Light Refreshments
Speaker: Lola Eniolorunda
Kickoff and context: Why this summit matters now more than ever.
Speaker: Bunmi Akinyemiju
Why Tech Entrepreneurship, and Why Now?
- Mo shares his transition story
- Interactive Q&A with the audience
A 10-minute energizer and connection moment.
Speaker: Jimi Tewe
Making the Transition: How and Why Now
Another energizer and connect moment
- Speaker: Jesse Martinez
- Topic: When Should You Raise?
- Moderator: Taiwo
- Speaker: Danyell Miller
- Topic: Grounding Yourself: Managing Pressure and Staying Whole
- Moderator: Damilola
This session will be conducted in a fireside chat format for intimacy and relatability.
- Track A: Techniques for Managing Stress – Danyell Miller
- Track B: How to Build While Working Full-Time – Jimi Tewe
- Track C: Step-by-Step for Idea Validation – Lola Eniolorunda
A short 5-minute regroup session.
Delivered in Fireside Chat Format
A moderated discussion introducing the framework and its practical application.
- Personalized feedback sessions with experts
- Music, entertainment, and networking continues
- Light cleanup and team thank-you’s
Meet Our Speakers
Jesse Martinez
5x Startup Founder
Jesse is a dynamic, results-driven leader known for his decisive approach to business development, strategic partnerships, and emerging markets. With a visionary mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, he consistently brings innovative thinking and tactical execution to high-growth opportunities. Jesse excels at maximizing both human and financial resources to drive impactful business development campaigns, particularly within high-tech and startup environments. Recognized for his passion, competitiveness, and relentless drive, he brings a long-term strategic perspective and a strong commitment to quality customer service and operational excellence.
Mo' Ekujumi
Founder & CEO, SkillHat
Mo’ is the Co-Founder and CEO of SkillHat, a global tech company helping people of colour, women, and newcomers to North America launch successful tech careers through e-learning, coaching, and staffing. With 10 years of experience as a tech executive, he has led global teams to build products, drive revenue, and lead digital transformation across sectors like e-learning, insurance, e-health, and government at organizations such as the City of Toronto, Andela, and Marsh Canada. Mo’ has created globally accredited training programs with PMI, IIBA, and Scrum Alliance, and has trained over 700 professionals now thriving as Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Designers, Developers, and Analysts. He holds an Honours BA in Information Technology from the University of Toronto and is a certified PMP and CSM.
Ainsley TeGrotenhuis
Founder & CEO, Big House Consulting
Ainsley is the CEO of Big House Consulting, where she draws on a rich background in consulting, private equity, and the intersection of tech and media to help businesses scale with speed and precision. Her industry expertise spans technology, media, fashion, beauty, CPG, retail, and franchising, with clients ranging from global tech leaders and challenger brands to TV networks and craft spirits companies. At BHC, Ainsley delivers high-impact marketing strategies tailored to client goals and assembles high-performing teams to execute efficiently and accelerate growth. Known as a next-generation marketer, she capitalizes on cultural and industry trends through innovative, data-driven programs. With a reputation for operational excellence and inclusive leadership, Ainsley has built diverse teams that drive bold, aligned business outcomes at scale.
Jimi Tewe
CEO, The Jimi Tewe Company
Jimi Tewe is a globally renowned executive coach, corporate trainer, and transformation expert with over two decades of experience guiding C-suite leaders and executive teams toward sustainable organizational success. With a core belief that people are the most important “P” in business, Jimi has dedicated his life to helping individuals and organizations unlock potential, drive growth, and foster lasting impact. His innovative, results-driven coaching interventions have helped global companies boost leadership effectiveness and enhance employee engagement. Beyond the boardroom, Jimi is deeply committed to youth and SME development across Africa, serving as a consultant to government bodies like Nigeria’s Office of the Secretary to the Government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. His work has reached over 550,000 individuals in 30 countries across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, earning him recognition as an award-winning speaker and coach.
Garrett Hester
Senior Vice President, AlixPartners
Garrett is a seasoned organizational leader with a diverse background across the Energy, FinTech, Management Consulting, DeathTech, and Connected Homes industries. He has successfully led product, technology, and operations teams, bridging consumer needs with innovative product features while driving efficiency through cost reduction and operational consolidation. With both startup and corporate leadership experience—including at a FTSE 100 company—Garrett brings a unique blend of agility and scale, having built high-performing teams, overseen board-level accountability, and led fundraising efforts. He’s known for delivering impactful SaaS solutions, commercializing connected technologies, and launching new market strategies. His expertise spans product management, P&L ownership, GTM execution, data analytics, CX design, and post-merger integration, all underpinned by a hands-on tech background and a focus on solving complex challenges.
Danyell Miller
Founder & Executive Director, Bend The Twig
Danyell is a visionary technology leader with over 20 years of experience scaling enterprise platforms, leading global teams, and delivering mission-critical digital transformations. Most recently at S&P Global, she led division-wide data strategies that enhanced governance, observability, and security across a $300M portfolio. Her expertise spans AI, cloud, automation, and enterprise architecture, with a proven ability to align technology with business goals to drive measurable value. From scaling startups to leading Fortune 500 and government tech initiatives, Danyell has built high-impact solutions—including a climate analytics platform that led to a multimillion-dollar acquisition. A recognized innovator and award-winning leader, she’s also passionate about people-centered leadership, advocating for burnout-proof cultures that sustain innovation in high-growth, agile environments.
Bunmi Akinyemiju
Partner, GreenHouse Capital
Bunmi is a serial entrepreneur, technology innovator, and investor, currently CEO of Venture Garden Group (VGG), a high-growth tech holding company addressing payment and data inefficiencies across key sectors in Africa. He is also a Founding Partner at GreenHouse Capital (GHC), the venture arm of VGG, which has backed over 20 fintech startups and is often the first investor in ambitious African tech founders. Under Bunmi’s leadership, VGG has deployed impactful technology solutions in aviation, education, power, banking, and more—driving efficiency and supporting public-private transformation. He also owns interests in U.S.-based Enliven Software LLC and actively contributes to Africa’s digital development through volunteer work with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
Chumze Chukwudebelu
Founder & CEO of The Chum Effect
Chumze is the Founder of TheChumEffect (TCE), a VP-level operator, and author of Business as a Baby, with over 12 years of experience helping companies scale through product, people, and systems. He’s led product launches in high-scale and regulated environments, built AI-driven hiring workflows, and placed over 30 top-tier engineers, PMs, and GTM leaders. Through TCE, he has generated over $10M in revenue for clients across SaaS, health tech, cybersecurity, and staffing. Chumze is known for embedding where needed—whether as an executive leader, strategic partner, or hands-on operator—with a relentless focus on execution that drives results. His BAAB framework, rooted in real-world lessons, guides founders and teams to grow sustainably without skipping critical stages.
Lola Eniolorunda
COO, VG Platform Inc
Lola is a global strategy and growth leader with over 16 years of experience building, scaling, and advising high-growth technology companies across North America and Africa. She has consistently driven revenue growth, ROI, and shareholder value through a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, and relentless innovation. Lola is known for launching new markets backed by rigorous data analysis, customer obsession, and agile execution. Her expertise spans product development, business process transformation, P&L leadership, and cross-functional alignment. A technology evangelist and empathic servant leader, she thrives in ambiguity, fosters elite teams, and champions integrity, transparency, and results-driven collaboration at the highest levels of leadership.