We were lucky to catch up with Femi Ola recently and have shared our conversation below.
Femi , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I used to think purpose would feel like certainty — like a single, blazing path that revealed itself all at once. But I’ve come to learn that for women like me — women who wear many hats, carry layered identities, lead at home and in the world — purpose rarely arrives in a straight line. It’s not something you land on; it’s something you live into.
I was raised with a strong sense of identity — as a fourth-generation lawyer, I knew from a very young age that I was going to become one too. I imagined myself following the same path as my forebears: wearing robes, sitting on the bench, defending the vulnerable. And I did become a lawyer — a courtroom litigator, and later an in-house counsel, compliance expert, a board advisor, and general manager in the international oil and gas space. My journey is layered, multifaceted, and high-impact. And yet, at every transition, I sometimes felt a quiet guilt — like I was stepping away from the “original” purpose I had declared as a child.
But I’ve come to realize something powerful: your purpose isn’t defined by your job title or your industry. You can be deeply in alignment and still be in motion. You can grow, shift, evolve — and still be walking in purpose… even if it is uncomfortable.
Fashion is not a detour for me. It is a complementary calling. It emerged when I was in law school, and then many years later alongside my corporate work — as another language I can use to advocate, to uplift, and to make women feel seen. And just like in my legal and executive roles, it is not just about the surface. It is about understanding a woman’s needs, helping her step into her fullest expression, and building something excellent but beautiful.
I once heard Jay Shetty describe purpose as “passion in service.” That resonates with me. My passion is expression — whether through words, leadership, or design — and my purpose is to use it in service of other women. Ade by Femi is an embodiment of that: a space where women who lead can dress in a way that honours all their sizes and layers — their power, their softness, their heritage, their ambition.
I design for women who speak on stages, command boardrooms, raise families, and carry untold stories. My work isn’t about decoration — it’s about recognition. It’s about the moment a woman feels herself again, not because she’s performing, but because she’s remembered in her current state.
My career has evolved over the years, and my story isn’t one of abandoning one identity for another, but of expanding into the full range of who I am. Ade by Femi was born from that same idea: that women shouldn’t have to choose between being taken seriously and being stunningly expressive. That our presence — and our clothing — can hold all of it.
So how did I find my purpose? I stopped measuring it against my childhood declaration. I stopped believing that purpose had to stay fixed in order to be real. I realized it is bigger than law or fashion or business — it is in the core thread: using what I love to enhance the lives of others. That’s purpose to me. And yes, it can be fulfilling and financially rewarding. Service doesn’t have to mean free. It just has to be rooted in truth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Ade by Femi is a clothing and headwear brand influenced by my Nigerian and British roots, created for women who lead. Women who are seen often, but who don’t always feel seen. I created this brand to offer more than beautiful clothing. I design pieces that speak to a woman’s complexity — her power, her softness, her heritage, her ambition — without forcing her to explain any of it.
What excites me most about the work is seeing how women come alive when they wear Ade by Femi. There’s a moment — when they see themselves in the mirror — where their posture changes, their eyes light up, and they move differently. It’s immediate, visible transformation.
From red carpets to runways, Ade by Femi has steadily grown into a force — featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Simply Buckhead, BET, and Atlanta News First, and worn by influential women like Tabitha Brown, Bozoma Saint John, Teyonah Parris, and Rashan Ali. The brand has been recognized with multiple honors, including Best of Atlanta (2024 & 2025) and Sustainable Clothing Brand of the Year. Beyond accolades, our commitment to philanthropy, purposeful design and ethical production has fueled collaborations with artisans, non-profits, and women-led initiatives — all in service of celebrating the layered brilliance of women who lead.
Right now, focus is on growing the brand’s reach — getting Ade by Femi into select stores and major retailers, and preparing for our next runway showcase. We’re also expanding our seasonal offerings in exciting ways.
This autumn, we’re launching a new capsule collection of handmade embellished coats — a bold evolution of our original embellished blazer collection – designed to make a statement before a woman ever removes them. So often, people wait for the big reveal once the coat comes off. We’re turning that on its head — making the coat itself the grand entrance.
We’re also building out vacation capsule collections for summer — think elevated, coordinated looks for women traveling together on celebratory group trips. With destination weddings, milestone birthdays, and girls’ getaways on the rise, we want to help women show up in cohesive-yet-individualized resort wear that turns their travel photos into timeless keepsakes.
And of course, our signature headwear collections continue to evolve — particularly around springtime tea parties and daytime celebrations where women want to be expressive without being overstated.
Finally, we’re preparing to collaborate with a major name who embodies everything Ade by Femi stands for. While we can’t reveal who just yet, it’s a partnership rooted in shared values, elegance, and impact. We’re building something meaningful — and I can’t wait to share it.
As the brand evolves, so does my voice. I’ve begun stepping into more public conversations — not just around fashion, but around purpose, reinvention, and the complexity of identity. These are topics I’ve wrestled with privately for years, and now feel called to share more publicly through writing, panels, and speaking engagements. I’m also deeply engaged in the intersection of creativity and emerging technology — particularly how AI can be used to enhance, not erase, human expression. Whether I’m designing, speaking, or building community, I remain committed to creating spaces — and garments — where women can show up in the fullness of who they are.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First, a willingness to learn. That means staying open — not just to feedback, but to entirely new ways of thinking. I’ve shifted across industries and roles, from law to corporate leadership to fashion entrepreneurship, and each time I’ve had to relearn what I thought I knew. Being willing to ask questions — even when I was the most “senior” person in the room — has kept me grounded and growing. For anyone early in their journey, I’d say: stay teachable. The smartest people I know are the most curious.
Second, emotional self-awareness. The more you understand yourself — your patterns, your insecurities, your instincts — the less power outside voices will have over you. And the more empathy you’ll have for others. We often underestimate how much emotional intelligence matters in business, leadership, and creativity. But for me, it’s been the foundation. Learn to sit with yourself. Learn to hear your own voice beneath the noise. That’s where clarity begins.
Third, a resilient devotion to doing the work. Not just when it’s exciting. Not just when there’s applause. But on the quiet days. On the hard days. On the days you wonder if it’s all worth it. I’ve learned that consistency — more than talent, more than connections — is what moves you forward. Do the work, even when it’s unglamorous. That’s where the transformation happens.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Overwhelm is something I know intimately. For a long time, I wore it like a hidden layer — underneath the wins, underneath the leadership roles, underneath the polished exterior. I carried a lot: responsibilities, expectations, ambition, the desire to be present for my family, the pressure to execute with excellence at every turn. It never really goes away.
What I’ve learned is that overwhelm doesn’t always look like chaos. Sometimes it looks like functioning at a very high level — while quietly struggling inside. And because I’m the type of woman people lean on, I learned early to silence my own needs in order to meet the moment.
But here’s the truth: overwhelm isn’t just a scheduling issue — it’s a signal. It’s often asking, What are you trying to hold alone that was never meant to be carried alone?
These days, when I feel overwhelmed, I pause. I pay attention. I look for what I’ve outgrown, what I’m resisting, or where I need support. I’ve learned to reach for help earlier — whether that means pausing a decision, calling in collaborators, or simply saying “not now.” I am still learning that I don’t have to do everything at once to be effective — and that sometimes, the most powerful thing a person can do is choose to do less, better.
My advice to anyone feeling overwhelmed is this: stop trying to earn your worth through endurance. You’re allowed to protect your peace. You’re allowed to ask for help. You’re allowed to build slowly. And yes, you’re allowed to want ease — not because you’re lazy, but because your energy is a resource worth stewarding.
I’ve also found that aligned collaboration can lighten the load in meaningful ways — not just logistically, but emotionally. I’m always open to partnering with thoughtful, creative people who understand that beauty and structure can coexist — whether in business, in art, or in life.
Overwhelm will visit, but it doesn’t have to stay. The work is to notice it — and to give yourself grace instead of guilt.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adebyfemi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adebyfemi/profilecard/?igsh=OHByeHk5cGxnbmdk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1627P1KUL6/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-ola-90701a303?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adebyfemi/
Image Credits
Dallas Fashion Week Mariam Crandall Photography Atlanta Fashion Week Jeboda Media NAACP Image Awards Getty Images
