From Lagos to New York, Olufikayo Amusan has built a career that spans engineering, business strategy, and insurance leadership. His professional journey reflects both cross-disciplinary expertise and an approach to building sustainable value for organizations, clients, and people.
Reflecting on his transition from engineering into business, he explained that his path represents a broader trend in today’s workforce. “My journey from engineering into business strategy reflects what I believe is the future of work: cross-disciplinary fluency. The most pressing challenges today are rarely confined to a single discipline, they demand technical precision, strategic foresight, and people-centered leadership working together.”
Fikayo’s foundation was laid with a Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, followed by an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), New York, where he was a Saunders Leadership Fellow and BMW Scholar. He has also strengthened his expertise with certifications in project management, financial modelling, business analysis, and process improvement.
In Nigeria, Fikayo held critical roles across telecoms and financial services with Globacom, MTN Nigeria, FBNHoldings & subsidiaries, and VFD Group, contributing to strategic planning, corporate transformation, and cross-subsidiary collaboration. At FBN Insurance Brokers, his impact on enterprise transformation earned him the Chairman’s Silver Award for Professionalism (2018), personally presented by the company’s Chairman, and in 2019, he received the FBN Holdings GMD’s Cash Prize for Group Synergy.
Fikayo’s full-time international career began at Starr Insurance Companies in New York, where he served as a Management Consultant. In this role, he advised senior executives on business transformation, conducted competitive benchmarking of global insurers, and consistently evaluated the potential impact of Generative AI on the business. Beyond strategy, he mentored analysts, ensuring the delivery of high-quality outputs that aligned with executive expectations.
In 2025, he joined Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies as a Business Process Engineer, where he focuses on driving efficiency through process design, workflow standardization, and cross-functional collaboration
These experiences gave him deep insight into varying organizational cultures, “whereas U.S. firms emphasize process maturity, governance, and scalability, Nigerian organizations are often more agile and entrepreneurial, requiring adaptability and resilience”.
He believes technology holds particular promise for Africa’s financial sector but insists that it must be adopted responsibly. “Data analytics and generative AI can unlock efficiency, expand access, and personalize customer experiences at scale. However, to leverage these technologies responsibly, institutions must build strong governance frameworks from the outset. Importantly, institutions should also ensure that AI adoption doesn’t widen inequality. The goal should be to use technology to enhance trust and inclusivity, not erode them.”
For Fikayo, process efficiency is most valuable when it enables innovation rather than restricts it. “Efficiency is only meaningful when it strengthens an institution’s ability to deliver value, to its people, clients, and stakeholders. When efficiency becomes narrowly focused on cutting costs or automating for its own sake, it risks eroding the creativity, collaboration, and human touch that fuel innovation”.
Leadership and mentorship are also central to his philosophy. “I believe the next generation of African professionals will thrive under a leadership model that is both globally fluent and locally grounded. On one hand, leaders must be adept at navigating global markets, technologies, and cultures; on the other, they must remain deeply connected to local realities and values.”
Across his career, Fikayo has combined technical skill with strategic foresight, building a reputation as a professional who bridges engineering, business, and technology. For him, leadership is rooted in service, mentorship, and preparing organizations for the opportunities of tomorrow.
