Joyce Olaghere, a UK-based programme management professional, has been recognised for her role in leading complex SAP transformations across multiple global industries and contributing to international tech ecosystems.
Her story offers practical lessons for leaders navigating complex programmes while standing as a source of inspiration for African women aspiring to lead at the highest levels of technology and governance.
From leading multi-million-pound transformations across Europe to building a brand in artificial intelligence (AI) governance, Olaghere’s career path reflects how Nigerians in the diaspora are making a significant impact across industries beyond borders.
Her journey offers a roadmap for how Africa can unlock its digital ambitions through execution excellence and future-ready leadership.
Born and raised in Benin City, Edo State, Olaghere earned her law degree before moving to the United Kingdom (UK), where she later completed an MBA at Durham University.
Pivoting into programme management, she carved out a career defined by excellence in governance, risk management, and programme turnaround and has spent nearly two decades working on large-scale digital and enterprise resource planning (ERP) programmes.
Her portfolio spans global organisations including Deloitte, BP, BBC, Credit Suisse, Harrods, and Scottish and Southern Energy, where she has driven large-scale digital and ERP change. She is currently heading the PMO team on a £100 million SAP S/4HANA programme delivered across four countries.
Olaghere directed some of the most complex transformation initiatives in Europe, bringing governance discipline and delivery excellence to high-profile programmes at Urenco, Royal Mail, and Transport for London.
Yet, while her impact is firmly established on the international stage, her vision looks homeward: to see Africa, and Nigeria in particular, harness the same governance discipline and execution excellence to scale its digital ambitions.
“It’s not enough to launch an idea or build a prototype. We need strong programme leadership to scale these ideas sustainably.”
“I never imagined I’d be leading SAP S/4HANA programmes for global energy and retail companies,” she reflects. “But looking back, my legal training, combined with my Nigerian upbringing, gave me the critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability that transformational leadership requires.”
Shaping major transformation programmes across sectors
Olaghere has built a reputation for steering large-scale transformation programmes across diverse industries, combining strong governance with strategic delivery expertise.
At Harrods, she spearheaded a £45 million SAP S/4HANA initiative that modernised finance, supply chain, and retail operations for the iconic luxury retailer.
At a multinational energy company, she directed governance for the £100 million+ Global ERP transformation, coordinating delivery across four countries in the highly regulated energy sector.
Her work at Royal Mail saw her oversee governance for a £32 million enterprise portfolio, driving improvements across logistics, finance, and technology.
Earlier in her career at Transport for London, Joyce contributed to the £500 million+ signalling upgrade for the London Underground, earning recognition for governance frameworks that provided clarity and assurance on one of the capital’s most complex infrastructure programmes.
The missing link in Nigeria’s tech story
Having shaped major transformation programmes at Harrods, Credit Suisse, and Royal Mail, she believes those same governance principles can help Nigeria translate ambition into tangible results.
According to her, Nigeria has the capacity to scale its digital ambitions, but only if it can move beyond innovation into disciplined execution.
She believed that although Nigeria is rich in technical talent, with software developers and fintech founders recognised on the global stage, the real challenge is in ideation, not delivery.
“It’s not enough to launch an idea or build a prototype. We need strong programme leadership to scale these ideas sustainably, especially in sectors such as public infrastructure, utilities, and large-scale government technology programmes.”
Looking ahead, Olaghere sees AI governance as the next frontier for Africa’s digital story. “AI will be at the heart of how governments and enterprises operate in the next decade. Without proper governance, the risks will outweigh the benefits. But with the right controls, AI can transform everything from public services to financial inclusion in Africa.”
She believes Nigeria has the capacity to scale its digital ambitions beyond innovation into execution.
Her career demonstrates the power of combining vision with disciplined governance. She believes that Nigeria’s digital ambitions will only be realised if execution excellence becomes the foundation of national transformation.
