Last week, our Chief Executive, Dr. Bekeme Masade-Olowola, was featured on the cover of BusinessDay Women’s Hub in a deeply personal interview that captures the very essence of her leadership journey and the values that define CSR-in-Action.
In this interview, Dr. Masade-Olowola shares the story behind CSR-in-Action’s founding, the moments that tested her resolve, the philosophies that shaped her leadership, and her thoughts on legacy. It is an article that we believe everyone, especially those leading organisations through uncertainty, should read.
In 2010, Dr. Masade-Olowola launched CSR-in-Action with a vision that was, in her words, “ahead of its time.” The term “sustainability” was hardly in regular use within the Nigerian corporate environment, and where it existed, it was often misunderstood. Yet she was convinced that true business success in Africa must be tied to social impact, environmental accountability, and ethical governance.
From humble beginnings of working from a desk in her home, she has built a firm that now operates across Africa, in the UK, USA and in Canada, with a client portfolio that includes multinationals, development institutions, and governments. CSR-in-Action has evolved from an “idea that seemed ambitious” to a full-service sustainability consultancy, a trusted advisory to high-level organisations, and a recognised thought leader in the global sustainability ecosystem.
At a time when most organisations were either unaware of or unbothered by ESG reporting, CSR-in-Action developed the Corporate Sustainable Investor Report (CSIR), a first-of-its-kind public ranking system that holds Nigerian businesses accountable for their social, environmental, and governance performance. This tool now serves as a benchmark for investors, regulators, and the public.
One of the most striking themes in the article is Dr. Masade-Olowola’s insistence on amplifying marginalised voices, particularly in industries where power is centralised. This is not a vague ideal. It is a strategic and consistent effort.
Through initiatives like the SITEI Conference (Sustainability in the Extractive Industries), now in its twelfth year, CSR-in-Action has created space for dialogue among government officials, oil and gas companies, host communities, and civil society. The platform has led to real policy discussions, community re-engagement, and in some cases, improved corporate practices in extractive communities.
She also spearheaded the Community Engagement Standards, a framework that provides businesses with tools to engage more responsibly with the people and environments where they operate, adopted by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. In a sector often marked by distrust and damage, this is a crucial step toward rebuilding relationships and creating shared value.
What makes Dr. Masade-Olowola’s leadership style distinct is not just her expertise, but her approach. The BusinessDay feature highlights how she leads with clarity and courage, two values deeply embedded in the CSR-in-Action culture.
We have always lived by three key values—integrity, clarity, and courage. These guide every recommendation we make, every strategy we design, and every conversation we enter.
Her leadership is not based on performance alone, but on presence. She listens. She builds. She empowers. And she demands the same standard from her team. This is evident in how CSR-in-Action operates with high standards, ethical boundaries, and a culture of professionalism that is rare in an industry still emerging.
She notes in the article how sustainability is often reduced to checklists, when in fact it requires personal commitment. “Sustainability,” she says, “is not just about frameworks. It is about people. And until you get the human side right, the systems will never work.”
Dr. Masade-Olowola is clear on one point: sustainability is not a Global North concept. It is an African necessity that globalisation once diluted.
Sustainability is not a western concept. It is an African necessity that we have practised for years, but that globalisation took away from us. It is a human duty, and whether you are in boardrooms or in the villages, you must ask yourself—what legacy am I building?
This quote, which concludes the BusinessDay article, is perhaps its most powerful. It reframes sustainability not as a regulatory obligation but as a cultural imperative—something deeply familiar to African ways of life, where communities shared resources, lived in harmony with the environment, and held one another accountable.
CSR-in-Action’s mission is built on this understanding. The firm does not simply import global best practices. It contextualises them, localises them, and ensures that sustainability in Africa reflects the values and realities of African people.
Dr. Masade-Olowola does not speak of legacy as something to be claimed at the end of one’s career. For her, legacy is being built in real time—through decisions made daily, values lived out, and systems built for the long term.
Through her work, she is laying the foundation for the next generation of African leaders who will not have to choose between profitability and responsibility. They will be able to pursue both with integrity, because someone paved the way.
At CSR-in-Action, we are proud to be part of this story—and to continue writing it together. We believe in leadership that listens. That builds. That holds the line when it is easier to bend.
This feature is not just a moment of celebration. It is a reaffirmation of the principles we stand for and a challenge to everyone reading, wondering: What legacy are you building?