For Ukonwa Ojo, leadership is not about fitting into systems — it’s about creating new ones.
A Nigerian-born business leader and marketing powerhouse, Ojo has held senior executive roles at Amazon Prime Video, MAC Cosmetics, and CoverGirl, before charting her own entrepreneurial path with Zaia Ventures, a firm focused on investing in and scaling creative businesses led by women and people of color.
Born in Nigeria and raised between Lagos and the United States, Ukonwa grew up with a multicultural lens that would later shape her global storytelling approach.
After earning a degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, she began her career in brand management at General Mills.
Her instinct for cultural resonance quickly set her apart, leading to pivotal leadership roles at Unilever, Coty, and later Estée Lauder Companies, where she became Global Chief Marketing Officer of MAC Cosmetics.
At CoverGirl, Ojo orchestrated one of the most celebrated brand transformations of the decade. With the bold campaign “I Am What I Make Up,” she repositioned the brand around empowerment and diversity, spotlighting a new generation of models and redefining what beauty meant to millions of women globally.
The campaign became a case study in inclusive marketing — proving that representation is not just socially responsible, but commercially powerful.
Her move to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios in 2020 marked another historic milestone. As Chief Marketing Officer, she led campaigns for global hits like Coming 2 America, The Boys, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, managing marketing efforts across more than 240 countries.
Her tenure reimagined how streaming platforms connect with audiences through culture-led storytelling and data-driven creativity.
After nearly two decades at the top of global corporations, Ukonwa charted a new path as a founder.
In 2023, she launched Zaia Ventures, an investment and advisory firm that supports underrepresented founders and creative entrepreneurs.
Through Zaia, Ojo is channeling her expertise into building a more equitable creative economy — one that empowers diverse voices and scales purpose-driven innovation.
The company focuses on storytelling, brand strategy, and capital access, helping founders bridge the gap between creativity and sustainable business growth.
Beyond her impressive portfolio, Ukonwa Ojo remains deeply committed to mentorship and representation. She serves on advisory boards for organizations that champion women and minorities in leadership, and continues to use her platform to advocate for inclusion in the global creative and tech industries.
Her accolades — from Adweek’s Power List to Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Marketing and Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs, affirms her status as one of the most dynamic marketing leaders of her time.
She stands at the crossroads of creativity, strategy, and impact — proof that great brands and great legacies are both built the same way: with clarity, courage, and conviction.
Through Zaia Ventures, she continues to amplify diverse voices, mentor the next generation, and redefine what global leadership looks like when driven by authenticity.
