Ifeoma Okoli is Ventures Platform's Culture Champion of the Year 2026!

“Culture isn’t a side conversation; it’s the firm’s operating system.”

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At Ventures Platform, culture shows up most clearly when the stakes are high - during moments of pressure, complexity, and rapid execution. It’s in how teams collaborate across functions, how accountability is upheld without blame, and how clarity is prioritised even when timelines are tight. These are the moments that reveal whether culture is merely stated or truly lived.

Over the years, we’ve learned that culture doesn’t scale by accident. It requires people who are willing to carry it deliberately - in how decisions are made, how pressure is handled, and how teams show up for one another. As our Head of People and Culture often emphasises, recognising those who consistently model our values helps make culture visible, actionable, and sustainable as the firm grows.

This year, we are proud to recognise Ifeoma Okoli as our Culture Champion. In her role across fund operations, ESG, and stakeholder reporting, Ifeoma has distinguished herself by how she leads from within - bringing structure to complexity, calm to pressure, and thoughtfulness to collaboration. She embodies our values not through grand gestures, but through the discipline of everyday excellence.

In this conversation, Ifeoma reflects on the moments that shaped her approach to culture, what it means to institutionalise values as the firm grows, and why intentional leadership - at every level -  is critical to building organisations that endure.

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1. Can you share a memorable moment or experience that truly reflected how you embodied the company’s core values over the past year?

One moment that really stands out for me was when we were juggling multiple high-pressure deliverables during fundraising across fund operations, ESG, and stakeholder reporting. There were a lot of moving parts, and understandably, some tension.

What mattered most to me in that moment was how we showed up, choosing clarity over assumption, collaboration over silos, and accountability over blame. I took the time to bring people together, align on priorities, and ensure everyone felt supported and heard, even while holding a high bar for delivery.

That experience reflected our core values for me: ownership, integrity, and teamwork. It reinforced my belief that culture shows up most clearly not when things are easy, but when the pressure is on.

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2. What drives you to contribute to the company's culture, and how do you ensure your actions align with the company’s mission and values?

What drives me is a deep belief that culture isn’t a side conversation; it’s the firm's operating system. Our mission is ambitious, and to deliver on it sustainably, people need to feel trusted, respected, and empowered to do their best work.

I try to align my actions by being intentional in the small, everyday moments: how I communicate, manage ambiguity, give feedback, and support others through complexity. I constantly ask myself, “If everyone behaved this way, would this be the culture we want?” That question keeps me grounded and accountable.

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3. In your opinion, what role does a strong company culture play in achieving business success, and how do you see yourself contributing to this vision moving forward?

A strong company culture fosters consistency in decision-making, resilience in the face of uncertainty, and trust across teams. It reduces friction, improves execution, and ultimately allows the business to scale without losing its soul.

Moving forward, I see my contribution as helping to institutionalise culture, not just through values statements, but through processes, norms, and behaviours. Whether it’s how we onboard new team members, collaborate across functions, or engage external stakeholders, I want culture to be something people experience, not just talk about.

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4. As a 'Culture Champion,' what advice would you give to other team members on fostering a positive and collaborative work environment?

My advice would be: lead from where you are. You don’t need a title to influence culture.

Be generous with context, assume positive intent, and take responsibility for how your actions impact others. Speak up when something doesn’t feel aligned, but do it with empathy and respect. Culture is built in moments; in meetings, in emails, in how we handle disagreement. If we’re all intentional about those moments, collaboration becomes natural.

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5. How do you stay motivated to continuously reflect and promote the company’s values in your daily work, and what keeps you inspired in your role?

I stay motivated by remembering the bigger picture, the people we serve, the founders we back, and the long-term impact we’re trying to create. That perspective makes the work feel meaningful, even on difficult days.

What keeps me inspired is the calibre of people I work with and the trust the firm places in me. Being part of a team that values excellence, learning, and integrity pushes me to show up better every day, not just as a professional but as a teammate.

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Ifeoma’s recognition as our Culture Champion of 2026 highlights the profound impact of leading with intentionality, empathy, and accountability, and most importantly - ownership. Her ability to foster alignment, lift others, and embed our values into everyday actions exemplifies how culture becomes a living, breathing force within Ventures Platform. As we continue to grow, it’s the contributions of team members like Ifeoma that turn values into practice, making our firm not just a workplace, but a community where purpose, collaboration, and shared success thrive.

Here’s to celebrating the champions who shape our culture and to another year of leading with heart, integrity, and impact!

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