Meet seven inspiring women who are taking bold steps to break barriers and lead change. Discover how they are using their voices, industries, and platforms to accelerate action worldwide.
Some women wait for change. Others create it.
They don’t wait for permission, the perfect opportunity, or someone else to step up first. Instead, they accelerate action—bold, decisive action that shifts industries, challenges long-held stereotypes, and paves the way for others.
This year, as we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme #AccelerateAction, we turn the spotlight on seven remarkable women who embody this spirit. From fashion to technology, education to filmmaking, they are not only thriving in their fields but actively reshaping them.
Their journeys are not easy ones. Each of them has faced setbacks, bias, and moments of doubt. But in those defining moments, instead of slowing down, they accelerated forward—and that made all the difference.
This feature isn’t just a list of accomplishments. It’s a deep dive into their struggles, pivotal turning points, and the real impact of their work. Their voices, raw and powerful, remind us why action is the difference between wishing for change and making it happen.
Meet the women who refuse to wait.
1. Adeyemi Kester: Fashion as a Force for Social Change
For Adeyemi Kester, fashion was never just about clothes. It was about representation. Who gets to be seen, who gets to feel beautiful, and who is given a seat at the table.
In 2019, while volunteering with youth-led organizations, she had a vision. At first, it seemed simple: she wanted to visit schools and teach students basic tailoring as a survival skill. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized this was bigger than sewing.
“I remember telling myself, ‘I’ll have my own NGO one day.’ But I didn’t know it would turn into this,” she says.
That vision became From Slum to Runway Africa (FSTR), an initiative that now works to accelerate action and bridge fashion inequalities—gender, social, and economic—by providing marginalized communities with opportunities they never imagined possible.
Challenging the Stigma of ‘Fashion as Unimportant’
Not everyone understood her mission.
“Because it’s fashion, some people assume what I do isn’t serious work,” she says. “And because I’m a woman, it’s almost expected that I would be doing this. But fashion is powerful, it’s tied to confidence, identity, and economic opportunity.”
The industry, often perceived as female-dominated, still has a leadership gap. While women are everywhere in fashion, very few make it to the C-suite or ownership level. Adeyemi is changing that by not only creating opportunities for women but also challenging the mindset that fashion is superficial.
A Moment That Changed Everything
One of the most unforgettable moments in her journey came during FSTR’s open shoot project.
“We decided to do a full styling and photoshoot session for a nonagenarian, a woman in her nineties,” she says, smiling. “So, we got her a custom outfit; iro, buba, gele, and ipele, something truly beautiful. We took the entire crew to her community so she wouldn’t have to travel. Dressing her up, seeing her reaction, hearing her excitement, those were the moments that reminded me why I do this.”
The moment became even more emotional when they surprised her with a new mattress.
“She had been sleeping on a bed frame layered with just a mat,” Adeyemi says, her voice softening. “When we gave her the mattress, she was overwhelmed. She started to kneel in gratitude, and we had to stop her.”
It was in that moment that she saw the bigger picture.
“If we say fashion is for everyone, then comfort should be for everyone too.”
Her Advice for Women Wanting to Drive Social Change
“The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a roadmap for anyone looking to accelerate action for a better world,” she says. “No matter what your passion is—whether it’s fashion, tech, or education—there’s a way to use it for social impact. You just have to dream beyond yourself.”
📍 Follow Adeyemi’s work:
2. Peace Irabor: Amplifying Women’s Voices in the Digital Space
For Peace Irabor, the internet isn’t just a place to scroll, it’s a platform for transformation.
As an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and business growth expert, she has built her career by helping brands gain visibility. But for her, marketing goes beyond talking about sales all the time. What matters here is the storytelling.
“To me, #AccelerateAction in the digital space means actually doing the work, not just talking about it,” she says. Every post, every campaign, every collaboration should aim to accelerate action for women’s visibility and empowerment.
“Women who show up and talk about what they do will always get more opportunities, partnerships, and recognition.”
Breaking Bias Through Storytelling
Peace has lived the power of storytelling.
“I’ve had to pivot careers, face setbacks, and build something from scratch more than once,” she says. “Every time I’ve shared my journey, it has connected me with people, opened doors, and challenged biases.”
One moment that stands out was when she started learning to code in 2021.
“I documented my journey online, and so many people—both men and women—reached out saying, ‘I didn’t know women could learn to code.’ That was when I realized if I don’t talk about it, who will?”
Turning Visibility into Opportunity
One of the boldest moves Peace made was quitting her 9-5 to focus on her new career path.
“I made sure people knew what I did. I spoke at events, networked, built my personal brand. When I started job hunting, I had multiple offers at the same time. Visibility changed everything.”
Her Advice for Women Hesitant to Build Their Brands
“Just start,” she says. “Pick a platform that works for you—LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, whatever—and start sharing your thoughts, your work, your expertise. Consistency beats perfection.”
As the project manager for the women-centric initiative HERcelerate, she’s also empowering young women by providing free vocational training in fashion, hairstyling, and other in-demand skills.
📍 Support Peace’s work:
3. Cynthia Urie: Evolving with the Fashion Industry and Embracing Personal Branding
For Cynthia Urie, fashion was never just about trends. It was about identity, confidence, and how a single outfit could change the way a woman carried herself.
Her journey into fashion started in 2015, almost by accident. At the time, she was waiting to gain admission into university when her mother insisted she learn tailoring instead of sitting at home. She wasn’t thrilled about it, but she agreed.
“In those days, learning a skill had a certain stigma. People saw it as something you did only if you had no other options,” she says. “But I made good use of my time.”
What she didn’t realize then was that this “temporary” skill would become the foundation of Uriestitches, the brand she would later build to cater to professional women of all shapes and sizes.
Adapting to an Ever-Changing Industry
When she first started learning the trade, fashion was different. Customers would flip through magazines to pick out styles for tailors to recreate. But things have changed. Now, people pull up Pinterest boards, Instagram photos, and TikTok videos, demanding modern, trendy designs.
“The fashion industry keeps evolving, and you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I want to evolve with it, or do I want to stay the same?’” she says.
It wasn’t just the style of fashion that changed, it was the business of fashion too. Materials became more expensive, competition grew fiercer, and brands that failed to adapt started fading into the background. Cynthia knew she had to make a choice: stay stagnant or embrace evolution.
She chose the latter.
Pushing Through Setbacks and Reinventing Her Brand
In 2020, she applied for two grants, hoping to expand her business. She had the vision, the drive, and a plan in place. But both applications were rejected.
“That was a tough moment,” she admits. “I had all these ideas, and I was ready to take Uriestitches to the next level, but the funds just weren’t there.”
Instead of giving up, she did what any determined entrepreneur would do; she re-strategized. She revisited her designs, streamlined production, and found ways to make her brand more visible.
It wasn’t easy, but little by little, things started to shift.
The Power of Personal Branding in Business
One of the biggest lessons Cynthia learned was the importance of visibility. If more women in business amplify their work, they can accelerate action in closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship.
“It doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do, if people don’t know about you, you’ll struggle,” she says.
For years, she hesitated to put herself out there. She didn’t want to come across as too promotional, and she wasn’t sure if anyone would care about her story. But over time, she realized that the basics of branding is about showing up, not off.
“Personal branding is your pathway to opportunities. If you think your idea is impossible, look around. Someone has done it before and done it well,” she says. “You just have to step out and claim your space.”
Her Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
“Do it. Stop waiting for the perfect time, because it will never come,” she says. “The only way to move forward is to start.”
📍 Follow Cynthia’s work:
4. Omalicha Benny: Taking the Leap from Corporate Burnout to Building a Denim Empire
For Omalicha Benny, the 9-to-5 world always felt like a cage.
She tried to make it work. She took job after job, hoping that the next one would finally make her feel fulfilled. But the pattern never changed. A year into any position, the same thought would creep into her mind: I don’t belong here.
Eventually, she stopped fighting it.
“I realized I needed more. The corporate world wasn’t for me,” she says. “I wanted to build something of my own.”
Turning a Side Hustle into a Full-Time Business
Even before quitting her job, Omalicha had started selling denim pieces on the side. She had a good eye for quality fabric, knew what women wanted, and quickly built a loyal customer base.
Then something happened that made her decision clear.
“Two weeks into my business, I made more than my monthly salary,” she says. “That was when I knew—if I gave this my full attention, I could do so much more.”
A Business Built on Authenticity and Empowerment
Unlike many entrepreneurs, Omalicha never faced gender-based challenges in her journey. If anything, she believes her womanhood made things easier.
“I’ve been lucky. Women see me building my business, and they feel inspired to start their own. I’ve had so many reach out, asking for advice,” she says. “I always tell them the same thing: if I can do it, you can too.”
What makes Oma’s brand different is that her focus isn’t solely on selling clothes; it’s about showing women that they have options, they have power, and they don’t have to settle.
The Biggest Lesson in Business
If there’s one thing Omalicha has learned, it’s that visibility is everything.
“You can have the best product in the world, but if you don’t put yourself out there, how will people find you?” she asks. “Social media is a game-changer. Even business owners who used to rely on foot traffic are tapping into online platforms now.”
Her Advice for Women Ready to Take the Leap
“Stop overthinking and just do it,” she says. “There is no perfect time. You just have to start.”
📍 Follow Omalicha’s exploits:
👉 Twitter
5. Adejumobi Agunloye: Fighting for a Better Education System and Creating Real Impact
For Adejumobi Agunloye, the reality of Nigeria’s education system hit her hardest in a single moment.
She had walked into a public secondary school in Ibadan as a volunteer facilitator for a leadership program. During introductions, she told the students she was a content writer. They stared at her blankly.
“They had no idea what that was,” she says, shaking her head. “Not even a vague idea.”
That moment changed something in her.
“If they don’t even know what a content writer is, how can they ever dream of becoming one? And if they can’t dream it, the opportunities in that field are already closed off to them before they even begin.”
The realization stayed with her, and from that seed of frustration, she built The Luminary Foundation for Education, a project focused on closing the gap between what students are taught and the skills they actually need to succeed.
Challenging an Outdated System
For Adejumobi, the problem isn’t just that education is underfunded or mismanaged. It’s that it’s stuck in the past and to fix it, we must accelerate action toward modern, skill-based learning that prepares students for the future.
“We are preparing students for a world that no longer exists,” she explains. “The job market is changing, industries are evolving, but our education system is still teaching the same things it did decades ago.”
She describes it as trying to fit a round peg into a square hole; students today have round-shaped needs, but the system keeps offering them square-shaped solutions.
“The world is moving forward. If we don’t evolve our education system, we are setting an entire generation up for failure.”
The Gender Bias She Faces as a Woman in Leadership
Leading a volunteer-driven initiative as a woman comes with a unique set of challenges.
“One of the most frustrating things I hear is, ‘Oh, you’re a fine girl, fundraising should be easy for you,’ as if I can just smile and money will appear,” she says, rolling her eyes.
Then there’s the constant condescension.
“When people see the name ‘Jumi’ online, they assume I’m a man. I don’t correct them right away. Then, when they hear my voice or meet me in person, there’s this double shock. First, that I’m a woman, and second, that I’m small in stature. It happens all the time.”
Despite the bias, she keeps pushing forward because the mission is bigger than the obstacles.
Creating Real, Measurable Change
One of her proudest moments came during her Illumination for Excellence project. She and her team organized a JAMB training for prospective university students and followed it with a seminar on how to maximize their university experience beyond just getting a degree.
“Before the event, we did a survey. Most students had very low aspirations. They were only thinking about getting a degree; nothing more,” she recalls.
After the event, something changed.
“Their post-event survey responses were completely different. They started talking about volunteering, workplace experience, even entrepreneurship. One student said, ‘I realize now that if I truly want something, I need to go after it with wild focus.’”
Those are the moments that remind her why she does this work.
Her Advice for Those Who Want to Drive Social Change
“Do whatever you can, wherever you are. Not everyone needs to start an organization, but everyone can do something.”
📍 Support Adejumobi’s work:
6. Yanmife Arogundade: Using Film to Challenge Stereotypes and Redefine Narratives
For Yanmife Arogundade, storytelling is more than entertainment. It is a tool for revolution.
As a writer, poet, filmmaker, and a trainee of the Multichoice Talent Factory, EbonyLife Creative Academy and Royal Arts Academy alike, she sees film as one of the most powerful ways to shift perceptions, challenge biases, and spark cultural change.
“To me, #AccelerateAction in the film industry means moving forward boldly. It means telling stories that haven’t been told before and making sure women’s voices are central, not secondary.”
Breaking Through Bias in the Film Industry
The entertainment industry is tough for women. Even in creative fields, where talent should speak louder than gender, women constantly have to prove themselves over and over again.
“I’ve had to deal with the ‘Oh, it’s just a woman’ attitude,” she says. “People assume you can’t handle certain roles. You have to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously.”
Her approach? Let the work do the talking.
“I don’t argue, don’t over-explain. I create work that is so undeniably excellent that no one can question whether I belong here.”
The Subtle Power of Film in Changing Mindsets
Unlike activism, film doesn’t demand that people change; it invites them into a new perspective.
“People don’t always realize they’re being influenced by the films they watch. They think they’re just enjoying a story, but in reality, they’re absorbing new ideas, new ways of seeing the world.”
Through her work, Yanmife is committed to making sure women are portrayed as multi-dimensional, flawed, ambitious, vulnerable, strong.
“Representation matters, and it’s not just about being seen. It’s about how we are seen.”
A Moment That Proved the Power of Storytelling
One of her most personal projects was Cheer!, a stage performance based on her own life.
“I stood on stage and told my story: my fears, my failures, my dreams. I was completely vulnerable.”
The impact was immediate.
“After the show, women started reaching out. They saw themselves in my story. Some even asked how they could create their own performances, share their own truths.”
That was the moment she realized that authentic storytelling is a form of activism.
Her Advice for Women in the Film Industry
“Start now. Start small, but start. Don’t let fear stop you from taking up space.”
📍Yanmife’s work includes: Hook, Line and Sinker, The Last Sane Man in Lagos, Conversations from the Past,The Brick Show, Get Out of Your Head, and GONE; an Africa Magic feature film. Keep up with her work:
👉 Instagram
7. Anuoluwapo Ero-Phillips: Navigating Leadership in Corporate Spaces and Advocating for Inclusion
For Anuoluwapo Ero-Phillips, leadership isn’t just a title but also about owning your space, speaking up, and making an impact wherever you are.
She started her career in customer support, a field that often goes unnoticed despite being the heartbeat of any business. Every day, she interacted with customers, handled escalations, and worked behind the scenes to keep businesses running smoothly. But something kept nagging at her.
She knew she could do more.
“I didn’t just want to respond to problems; I wanted to solve them before they happened. I wanted to make systems better, not just manage them.”
That realization set her on a path to product management, a field where she could design better experiences for customers instead of just reacting to issues.
Taking the Bold Step to Level Up
Switching career paths isn’t easy, especially while working full-time. But Anuoluwapo didn’t wait for the “perfect time” to make the move.
“I enrolled in a Product Management course while still working my regular job. Balancing coursework, assignments, and my full-time role was exhausting, but I knew it was the right step.”
The effort paid off.
That training gave her the skills and confidence to think beyond just customer interactions and start focusing on how businesses build products that serve people better. It completely changed the way she approached work.
“Now, I don’t just think about fixing customer issues. I think about the entire journey, how products are built, what makes an experience seamless, and how we can create solutions that actually work for people.”
Breaking Barriers as a Woman in Tech-Driven Spaces
Like many women in tech and corporate leadership, Anuoluwapo has faced biases and challenges that have nothing to do with her skills.
“There have been times when I’ve been in meetings, and my ideas were overlooked—until a man repeated them, and suddenly they were ‘great suggestions,’” she says.
Instead of shrinking, she amplified her voice.
“I started speaking up more. Also, I made sure my contributions were documented. I owned my work instead of waiting for recognition.”
Her confidence grew. And with it, so did the opportunities that came her way.
Why Inclusion in Corporate Spaces Matters
Beyond her own journey, Anuoluwapo is passionate about workplace diversity and inclusion, especially for women in customer-facing and tech roles.
“Customer support professionals are the unsung heroes of every business, but they are often overlooked. And when you add gender bias on top of that, it’s even harder for women to move up.”
She believes companies need to do more than just talk about diversity, they need to act on it.
“It starts with listening to the women in your organization. What are their challenges? What are their aspirations? Companies need to actively recognize and promote the contributions of women.”
Her Advice for Women Looking to Grow in Corporate Spaces
“Don’t wait for permission. If you have ideas, share them. If you want to grow, seek out opportunities, even if they’re outside your comfort zone.”
She also stresses the importance of visibility.
“If you don’t talk about your work, how will people know what you bring to the table? Advocate for yourself. Be your own biggest champion.”
How Women Can Take Action Today
For women looking to grow their careers or transition into leadership, Anuoluwapo suggests three key steps:
1️⃣ Invest in yourself. Take courses, learn new skills, and stay ahead in your field.
2️⃣ Build your network. Connect with other women in your industry, find mentors, and support each other.
3️⃣ Own your voice. Speak up in meetings, share your ideas, and don’t be afraid to take credit for your work.
“Your career growth is in your hands,” she says. “You have to go for it.”
📍 Follow Anuoluwapo’s journey:
The Women Who Refuse to Wait
These seven women are proof that change isn’t something we wait for; it’s something we create.
Each of them has faced challenges. Each of them has had moments where they could have stepped back, slowed down, or doubted their abilities. But instead, they took action.
And through every struggle, one truth remained clear:
Action is what makes the difference.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, the question is no longer if we can create change. The real challenge is how each of us will accelerate action in our own way.
What action will you take today?
Because the future doesn’t wait. And neither should you.
