The 2025 Guardian Woman Festival was an inspirational gathering of women who mean business.
On 14th March 2025, Guardian Woman brought women together at the Federal Palace Hotel & Casino to celebrate high-flying women’s brilliance, excellence, and achievements. This year’s festival, themed Woman Means Business, was a tribute to Nigerian women excelling globally across various sectors.
The conversations and panel sessions explored the significance of collaboration, building solid networks, and the resilience required for women to thrive. Each discussion delved into different aspects of business success — from the Business of Coaching and Mentoring to the Business of Entrepreneurship — featuring insightful conversations with brilliant Nigerian women who have made their mark across industries.
The Business of Entrepreneurship
The penultimate panel of the day — The Business of Entrepreneurship— was moderated by Yetunde Bankole Bernard and introduced by the Acting Managing Editor of Marie Claire Nigeria, Denise Eseimokumoh. She emphasised the importance of celebrating and amplifying the stories of outstanding women, a mission Marie Claire Nigeria upholds.
Sponsored by GAIA Africa and Marie Claire Nigeria, the panel featured accomplished women across industries: Tara Fela-Durotoye, the beauty mogul behind House of Tara, who redefined Nigeria’s beauty business landscape; Ola Williams, Managing Director of Microsoft Nigeria; Omobola Johnson, Honorary Chairperson of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) and Partner at TLCom Capital; and Lola Ogunnaike, an award-winning journalist at Time Magazine.
In an illuminating discussion, these high-achieving women shared invaluable insights into their journeys. Tara Fela-Durotoye highlighted the importance of courage and conviction:
“You must have the courage to do something that has never been done before. Courage is required, and conviction is contagious. It’s not enough to have a novel idea; you must build a business around that conviction.”
She also stressed the need for women to create solutions that outlive them and empower future generations.
For Lola Ogunnaike, authenticity was non-negotiable:
“Being true to myself was important. When I started, many people told me to change my name, but I didn’t—because I wouldn’t have made this much of an impact as ‘Lola Jackson’. My name is an essential part of my journey and success.”
She also emphasized the value of surrounding oneself with a strong support system:
“Surround yourself with people who believe in you to a delusional level.”
Yetunde Bankole Bernard expertly guided the conversation as the panellists shared their wisdom on collective success. Omobola Johnson debunked the myth that women don’t support each other:
“There are women who will advocate for you and amplify your voice. Trust is built through community, keeping your word, and collaborating through mentorship and partnerships.”
Ola Williams reinforced this, stressing that collaboration is crucial for collective growth:
“Leaders need to cultivate new leaders and create an environment where they can emerge. This is how we build a sustainable pipeline of female leadership.”
Tara Fela-Durotoye added that the very qualities women naturally possess—collaboration, empathy, and emotional intelligence—make them exceptional leaders and should be harnessed more. And in a lasting piece of advice, Lola Ogunnaike shared:
“Do not let success get to your head and don’t let failure get to your heart.”
This panel was the perfect conclusion to a day filled with inspiring stories of women building businesses, empires, and legacies that will stand the test of time.
