ariel okubanjo

Executive Director

Ariel is Founder and Executive Director of IKOYI CDC. Ariel has 20 years’ experience as a leader of people and businesses. Ariel has led turnarounds, developed winning brands, executed successful marketing campaigns, cultivated strategic client relationships, built and led international teams in finance, sales, PR, marketing, digital and operations. She is a strategic leader whose passion allows her to drive business results.

Ariel is an advocate for sustainable affordable housing solutions. Working with organizations such as the Junior League, Ariel has worked to combat the issues faced by those individuals and families facing housing crisis,  access to healthcare, food and finacial literacy. It is this work that led her to found IKOYI CDC to address one of the key issues plaguing community stability; sustainable long-term affordable housing. Ariel provides leadership in efforts to ensure effective policy, capacity and resources for affordable housing and community development locally and nationally.

Ariel was previously President & General Manager, International, at the African American owned, Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Prior to this, Ariel honed her expertise at L’Oreal USA where she worked in Global Marketing on the Kiehl’s brand. She began her career in financial services at Credit Suisse in New York where she worked in Real Estate Leverage Finance Origination and Restructuring.

Ariel has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Howard University, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. She is also member of the National Women’s Affordable Housing Network.