Ayoola Olawumi, Olusunmbola is the Chief Operations Officer at Stren & Blan Partners, one of Nigeria’s leading full-service law firms, where she oversees the Firm’s people, culture, strategy, and operational excellence initiatives.
She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating with a Second Class Honours (Upper Division), and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar. She also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the same institution with a specialization in International Labour Law, graduating with a Ph.D.-grade distinction.
Prior to joining Stren & Blan Partners, Ayoola built a diverse professional career spanning legal practice, human resources, administration, and corporate operations. She served as Legal Counsel in various law firms and later as the HR/Admin and Legal Manager at Risk Control Services Nigeria Limited, a leading risk advisory and security consulting company.
Ayoola is a seasoned Human Resources and Operations professional with extensive experience in talent management, workplace strategy, organizational development, performance management, and professional career development. Over the years, she has spoken at several employability and career development events and has served as a panelist at notable professional engagements focused on career growth, workplace excellence, and employability for young professionals and lawyers. Most recently, she served as a panelist at the NBA Lagos Branch New Wig Induction Programme during a fireside chat session featuring HR Managers from leading law firms in Lagos, Nigeria.
She is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) and served as a two-term General Secretary of the CIPM Ibeju/Lekki–Epe Chapter. She also previously served as Secretary of both the Society for Professional Background Screeners and the Association of Aviation Security Trainers for a cumulative period exceeding seven years. In addition, she is a member of the Association of Law Firm Administrators of Nigeria (ALAN).
Ayoola holds both the Professional in Human Resources – International (PHRi) and Senior Professional in Human Resources – International (SPHRi) certifications from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). She also holds an Executive miniMBA from the London School of Business and Finance and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree at the Rome Business School.
In recognition of her contributions to leadership and professional excellence, Ayoola was recognised by The Guardian Nigeria in 2025 as one of Nigeria’s “100 Most Outstanding and Impactful Women in Leadership.”
Passionate about professional development, operational excellence, and people management, Ayoola is known for her strategic thinking, strong leadership capacity, and commitment to building high-performing teams and sustainable workplace systems.
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