Yomi Abiola, Founder & CEO of The Fem League
The Fem League, founded by the dynamic entrepreneur and former model, Yomi Abiola, is not merely a boutique leadership development firm. It is a transformative force dedicated to empowering predominantly individuals who identify as women to become leaders capable of navigating the complexities of our rapidly changing world. I sat down with Yomi Abiola to talk why the Fem League's commitment to fostering self-leadership, curiosity, and integrity is not just a business strategy, but a response to the urgent need for heightened leadership in confronting global challenges.
Drawing from Abiola’s background as a journalist, the Fem Leagues uses proprietary Cultural Curiosity and Greater Leaders programs to cultivate vital leadership. Curiosity has become the sharpest tool in the Fem League’s toolbox, operating under the core belief that you risk quickly becoming obsolete without strategically embracing curiosity.
“We need heightened self-leadership to confront global issues, from climate change to mental health. With their innate leadership skills for volatile times, women have unexpressed leadership potential. We are committed to transforming that. The Fem League is efficient and creates extraordinary financial results for clients, and our drive truly stems from knowing that we do it by elevating women and marginalized folks in their careers,” Abiola explained the rationale behind the Fem League.
The journey that led to the creation of The Fem League is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and a commitment to making a meaningful impact. Born out of a profound loss—the imprisonment and death of her father, Nigeria's first democratically elected president—Abiola’s life experiences solidified her ethos, drive and awareness that life is a precious gift not to be taken for granted.
Her early admiration for trailblazing figures like Naomi Campbell and a successful career in modeling provided the foundation for a global perspective and an unwavering curiosity about diverse cultures. “As early as age 12, I remember being deeply inspired by Naomi Campbell. I was in awe of her presence, power, and visibility. It wasn’t common to see black women depicted the way she was in mainstream media. I later became the first British-African face for Maybelline Cosmetics. My career taught me to cultivate value from the inside instead of in the hands of the next casting agent. Modelling took me around the globe, feeding my deep curiosity for humans and culture; it brought me to New York, which became my true home,” Abiola reflected.
Journalism became the catalyst for building The Fem League. Abiola felt blessed to be trained by the best professors like Howard French and Anne Cooper, at Columbia School of Journalism and Science Politique in Paris. Later, she became a US correspondent for Vogue Italia highlighting untold stories and unseen talent from Kingston, Jamaica, to unknown faces at Afro Punk, highlighting the work of folks like Toyin Odutola. The journey organically expanded from working with teenagers in challenged areas like Bridgeport, Connecticut, to leadership circles in New York, culminating in partnerships with organizations like the World Bank and working with leaders across 36 countries.
The philosophy at the core of The Fem League is encapsulated in the powerful mantra, 'Difference is power.' Abiola recognizes the strength in diverse perspectives, “Diverse perspectives in our personal and professional lives surround us. I hold that our strength comes from recognizing and harnessing these varied life experiences and viewpoints. I think this unique combination of perspectives and capacities is what has helped us evolve as a species. Natural ecosystems thrive and survive on diversity, not conformity.”
A key leadership advantage to achieve desired outcomes is to nurture this perspective when meeting increasingly complex challenges. Abiola sees curiosity as the ultimate tool to meet complex challenges, “My suggestion is a constant movement and challenge of perspectives, especially those that are held as common beliefs. Because we often judge based on similarities or past experiences, and it does not serve us well in unpredictable situations. Instead, analysing from first principles is beneficial, stripping issues down to core facts uninfluenced by biases. Organizations rich in perspective are less prone to biases and better at creating measured, powerful solutions.”
The Fem League's partnership with the World Bank is a testament to the recognition that building local leadership capacity is essential for societal stability and thriving, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Fem League is now in a multiyear contract with the Global Financing Facility at the World Bank to support them in achieving their strategic directions. The World Bank has defined that building local leadership capacity creates a greater chance for stability, survival, and thriving for society's most vulnerable populations. This makes it possible for The Fem League to roll out its flagship program, the Greater Leaders Program, in 36 countries across three continents, supporting women leaders working on the hardest issues in the toughest healthcare realities. Ultimately impacting the lives of millions of mothers and infants to come through childbirth safely. Again, it shows that leadership is key to producing desired outcomes no matter the context or task.
“As this partnership pushes The Fem League to greater heights, we see our understanding of the crucial role leadership plays in society is shared by institutions and corporations. It is an honor to be a trusted partner on that shared journey. To exemplify how enabling leaders and building cultures of leadership is so important no matter the context. During the pandemic, we supported Oatly in restructuring for fully remote work, recruiting and doubling staff, and doing an IPO, all within 2 years,” Abiola added.
Get Visible Retreat 2023
Looking forward, The Fem League's excitement lies in the incredible women joining its ranks—from corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, doctors, and politicians. What most have in common is that they are incredible at what they do, but they are not visible for it. The organization has identified the need for women to better advocate, build narratives, and enhance their visibility, leading to the launch of 'Get Visible.' “The launch of this program was a retreat in Portugal that happened earlier this November. Yvette Noel-Schure, Beyoncé’s head of communication and founder of Schure Media, was our guest expert. If we, over time, can elevate the visibility of women like those joining The Greater Leaders Program or Get Visible, their positions of influence will rise and give way for new generations of women to lead themselves and others, both in their careers and private lives. That excites me,” Abiola concluded.
As The Fem League continues to break barriers and empower women globally, it exemplifies the transformative potential of leadership when fueled by curiosity, diversity, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
