Tope Fajingbesi Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Chief is the only private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.

My lifelong dream became reality when I founded this company. Our work is centered around helping women of African descent develop resilience, grow, and become catalysts for positive change. The focus is on building community, sharing stories, fostering sisterhood, and offering outreach and peer mentoring to communities in need. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS➥ Launched this company to become a global organization.➥ Built our signature event (She-EO Conversations), hosting 14 across three continents.➥ Facilitated transformative women’s retreats annually since 2022, gathering 40+ attendees.➥ Coordinated programs to support low-income families, impacting 25K+ kids each year.➥ Founded a business mentorship program in Nigeria, pairing women entrepreneurs with advisors and resources.

Arlington, Virginia, United States

As a key member of the C-suite, I spearhead global efforts in financial planning, provide insights to the executive team to inform key decisions, and help ensure the long-term financial health of the organization. My team spans finance, external audit, and tax compliance with full oversight of accounting, cash flow, investments, and reporting. A large part of my job entails overseeing regulations and standards across 35 countries as well as relationships with donors and partners.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS➥ Streamlined financial management, redesigning processes for 33 global entities in just four months.➥ Managed $30M+ in credit lines, ensuring consistency across global currencies, economies, cultures, and regulations.➥ Turned around performance of outsourced accounting team, providing on-site training and mentorship in India.➥ Overhauled board reporting, cutting reports from 300 to 30 pages, enabling greater efficiency and impact.➥ Elevated team visibility with the board, offering opportunities to present and showcase team’s work.➥ Successfully navigated conflicting interests and funding priorities, maintaining strong relationships.➥ Saved $25K in expenses to fund employee development and retention programs.➥ Significantly reduced turnaround times for reporting and audits.➥ Mentored social entrepreneurs as part of the Young Changemakers program in India and Nigeria.➥ Offered advice and insights to the Diaspora program related to funding and tapping into U.S. interests.

Mount Airy, Maryland, United States

The farm is a passion project. My husband who is the director of farming operations, farmed for more than a decade in Nigeria before moving to the U.S. We operate a certified naturally grown farm, dedicated to sustainable farming practices and supporting local food systems. My role is focused on financial planning, growth, marketing, resource allocation, and profitability. I nurture relationships with impact investors, customers, the local community, and government agencies. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS➥ Secured a game-changing $1M land acquisition deal that expanded the operation to 10 acres.➥ Increased farm revenue by 1,400% over five years.➥ Established wholesale partnerships with local and regional food banks.

College Park, Maryland, United States

As an agribusiness advisor and professor, I developed and taught courses that equipped students with the knowledge and skills to become successful leaders in today’s global agriculture industry. I mentored students, fostering their development, and collaborated with industry partners to drive innovation and promote economic growth.COURSES TAUGHTAgriculture-focused courses on entrepreneurship, business management, finance, math, and leadershipKEY ACHIEVEMENTS➥ Integrated global perspectives into the curriculum, enhancing understanding of diverse cultures and economies.➥ Guided students in developing innovative products to address pressing social and environmental challenges.➥ Championed the creation and launch of global small farms conferences.➥ Established partnerships with the University of Lagos (Nigeria), and the University of Ghana.➥ Organized events focused on global farming challenges like increasing profitability and sustainability.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

I served as a trusted advisor to top executives in the nonprofit sector, guiding them on financial and social impact matters. My work focused on developing strategies that boosted financial performance, enhanced their impact, and ensured long-term sustainability. KEY CLIENTSThe Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), Global Business School Network, Mil Mujeres, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)KEY ACHIEVEMENTS➥ Led financial operations for a global nonprofit, providing strategic guidance and insights to senior leadership.➥ Transitioned a nonprofit to a new accounting structure, maintaining compliance with relevant financial standards.➥ Identified past fraud for a client and established preventative checks and balances for future prevention.➥ Empowered inner city entrepreneurs and business leaders through financial literacy training.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

One of only 50 students (the only one from Africa) admitted into the 1-year accelerated program.

Executive Education, Women Transforming Leadership

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Accounting

Fellowship

Activities and Societies: Recipient of Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Foundation Fellowship