To the women who build tables that hold generations
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso
There’s a kind of woman who understands that what she builds must be able to carry more than herself. She moves through the world with an awareness that her hands are shaping something that will be used long after she has stepped away. So she gives carefully. She gives deliberately. She gives as though the future is sitting across from her, watching.
She understands that a table that holds generations is built from presence. From staying when leaving would be easier. From choosing to answer the call to sending the introduction, sharing the knowledge, to opening the door and keeping it open. She knows that the table is built from hearts shared, lessons offered, stories told without trimming away the hard parts. That it is built from a woman deciding that what she has learned will not end with her.
We’re lucky to have these kinds of women at Raenest, and this International Women’s Day, we’re excited and proud to showcase them as well as how Raenest has helped them flourish on their journey.
Beverly Ezebuike - Community and Partnerships Manager, Raenest
If there’s anyone who understands the weight and joy of seeing potential bloom, it’s Beverly. Speaking on her career and growth, she highlighted what it felt like to be guided into the tech and crypto world, to have someone show her that she could belong before she even fully believed it herself. That memory became a vow: to guide others along the paths they have chosen, to make the journey less uncertain, to make ambition visible and achievable. Beverly does this by mentoring women every year, sharing what she has learned, opening doors, and helping others navigate spaces that can seem intimidating.
Her journey at Raenest reflects that same belief in potential. When Beverly stepped into the Partnerships role, it was new territory for her, but the company trusted her to grow into it. While she was still on probation, she represented Raenest on stage at the Africa Tech Summit, a moment that showed the team's confidence in her voice and perspective.
Raenest has also given Beverly room to keep expanding her horizons. Through learning budgets and sponsorship for tech events, she has been able to deepen her expertise, grow her professional network, and continue to stretch into new opportunities. Leaving us with gems, Beverly had this to say to every woman out there:
Oluwatoyin Fakorede - Head of Compliance, Raenest
Oluwatoyin approaches her work with a deep awareness that the systems behind financial platforms directly affect people’s lives. For her, compliance has never simply been about regulations or policies. It’s about building structures that protect individuals. Throughout her career, she has focused on strengthening systems that help businesses operate with integrity while shielding customers from fraud and financial crime. Knowing that her work contributes to safer financial environments gives her a strong sense of purpose.
That sense of responsibility extends beyond the office. Oluwatoyin cares deeply about helping others see what’s possible for them, especially women and young girls who may be wondering if there’s space for them in fields like technology, finance, and leadership. Mentoring young professionals has become one of the ways she puts that commitment into practice. She enjoys encouraging people who are just starting out, reminding them that their ambitions are worth pursuing and that the paths they are imagining are within reach.
She’s also inspired by women who are building careers or launching businesses while raising families. Watching them navigate those responsibilities with determination reinforces her belief that impact grows from perseverance and support.
At Raenest, Oluwatoyin has found the space to translate those values into tangible work. In her role, she has been trusted to design and strengthen compliance and risk frameworks that help protect customers while supporting the company’s growth.
What she appreciates most, however, is the culture that surrounds that work. Raenest has created an environment that encourages women to lead, share ideas, and grow professionally. The trust placed in employees, along with the flexibility and understanding extended to women balancing career ambitions with personal responsibilities, has made her experience especially meaningful. To every woman stepping into her potential, Oluwatoyin would like you to know that:
Yetunde Salawu — People Manager, Raenest
There are people who notice what others need before they even ask and make it their mission to guide them. Yetunde is one of those people. Her career began in customer support, fresh out of school, navigating the curiosity and uncertainty of a first internship. Even then, she was asking the questions that would define her path: “Where can I make the most impact? Where do people truly need guidance?” That curiosity led her to HR, a space where she could combine structure with care, rules with empathy, and help people feel seen from their very first day in a company.
When Yetunde joined Raenest as the sole HR professional, she became the first point of contact for everyone entering the company. She mentored new employees and tailored support to individual needs. She discovered the power of presence by showing up, listening, and shaping experiences that mattered. Leading the first cohort of graduate interns at Raenest, Yetunde designed a program that was not just about skills or KPIs but one that helped young professionals feel confident, supported, and ready to step into their potential.
Over time, Raenest has become a space where Yetunde can bring her vision to life and continue growing as a professional. The company has entrusted her with meaningful responsibilities, from designing programs and mentoring teams to shaping experiences that touch the organisation as a whole. She has access to resources and support that allow her to experiment, learn, and stretch her abilities while ensuring her work has real impact. The environment at Raenest values her insights, encourages her leadership, and gives her the flexibility to balance personal and professional growth. Sharing her wealth of knowledge, Yetunde would like every woman who is building and growing to know this:
Udeme Jalekun — Quality Assurance Engineer, Raenest
If you were to ask Udeme Jalekun what drives her, she would say it’s seeing others grow and succeed. This understanding shapes everything she does, guiding her to spend much of her time mentoring aspiring and established QA professionals on platforms like ADP List and Ladder Tech. Through these interactions, she helps people navigate the challenges of starting or advancing in their careers, offering practical, compassionate guidance grounded in real experience. Her commitment extends to her role as Director of Training for the Association of Nigerian Software Testers, where she designs programs, coordinates facilitators, and ensures software testers at all levels have opportunities to develop their skills, completely free of charge.
Her support does not stop at structured programs. She has shared her experiences at events such as Mothers in Tech, drawing on her own journey to offer advice on balancing work, children, and personal commitments. In every interaction, she blends practical guidance with moral support, making space for women and mothers navigating demanding careers. She believes that nurturing confidence and offering direction is just as vital as mastering technical skills, and she approaches her work with that philosophy in mind.
At Raenest, Udeme has found an environment that amplifies this impact. Working alongside developers, QA specialists, and product personnel, she is challenged to think creatively and explore daring projects that push the boundaries of her role. The company encourages learning and networking through events and workshops, which allows her to connect with other professionals and broaden her vision. Here’s a little takeaway from Udeme:
Tobi Otokiti - VP of Product, Raenest
If you’ve ever heard of ProductDive, Tobi is the mastermind behind that incredible work. Creating a space where product professionals can learn, connect, and grow has always been central to her approach to impact. Early in her career, she experienced firsthand the difference guidance and encouragement can make. Walking alongside a senior colleague she admired, she learned the value of generosity and depth in helping others—lessons she has carried throughout her journey. Those experiences planted a conviction that whenever she has something to give, she gives it fully. Hoping that through her life itself, she could create a meaningful impact. In her words, “Whether someone encounters me directly or not, I want my life to show what is possible”.
Tobi has built her career around creating opportunities for others. She designs spaces where people can ask questions, gain clarity, and discover their potential. What started as AMA sessions—Ask Me Anything—on Twitter has grown into a global community of over 37,000 product professionals across the UK, Germany, Ghana, Nigeria, and beyond. She has helped early-stage professionals, product managers, founders, and mothers in tech navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and see that parenthood or career transitions do not mean the end of ambition. Her goal has always been simple: open doors, show what is possible, and provide the guidance she once wished she had.
At Raenest, Tobi has found the support and flexibility to grow and make an impact while balancing her family life. Working from home allows her to raise her two daughters while leading the company’s product strategy and shaping others' experiences in tech. She is trusted to take ownership of her work, experiment, and bring her full perspective to the table. Her voice is heard, her contributions matter, and they are considered on merit, not filtered through gender or seniority. As Vice President of Product, Tobi sees this culture reflected across the company. Women make up 56% of the leadership team, far above the global average of roughly 28% of tech leadership roles held by women. This demonstrates how deeply Raenest values and respects the contributions that women bring to the table. In this environment, she can continue to mentor, guide, and make an impact, while showing that it is possible to thrive in both career and family. Drawing from everything she has learned, Tobi wants every woman stepping into tech and leadership to hear this:
Told you we have remarkable women. In all, it becomes clear that giving creates ripples that extend far beyond the individual. At Raenest, this means providing flexible work environments, opening leadership pathways, and nurturing communities where knowledge is shared and doors are opened. These are spaces where women can not only thrive but also grow, lead, and carry others forward with them.
We are proud of the strides already made, inspired by the impact of the women in our ecosystem, and committed to doing even more. We look forward to seeing more women take up space, amplify their voices, and shape the future, and we will continue to do everything we can to make that possible.
Happy International Women’s Day!
