Joan Tariere Oke

Joan Oke is an Economist with a Master’s degree in Marketing and a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience spanning banking, NGO management, media consultancy, entrepreneurship, women’s development and mentorship.

She began her professional career in banking, spending 10 years in the industry before leaving International Merchant Bank in 1994 as an Assistant Manager. She subsequently spent almost a decade as Director of Operations at Women’s Board (the Educational Co-operation Society), a women-focused NGO with consultative status with the United Nations. In this role, she was responsible for the organisation’s day-to-day operations, organised

management seminars, coordinated building projects, and facilitated the training and development of women in both urban and rural communities, particularly in hospitality management.

Since 2004, Joan has served as a Director at Patrick Oke & Associates, a media consultancy organisation. Alongside her formal professional career, she has

explored entrepreneurship through affiliate marketing and stockist/distributor networks, including supporting and mentoring younger women to establish themselves as distributors and develop their own income streams.

But perhaps the most significant leadership experience of Joan’s life has happened outside the boardroom. She is a mother of 12 and a grandmother to a large and growing multigenerational family. Over the years, she has navigated the demands of raising children with different personalities and needs, while simultaneously building a career, managing organisations, running businesses and supporting others. Her experience spans generations, from Millennials to Generation Alpha, giving her a unique perspective on family, leadership, responsibility and the changing realities women face across generations.

Today, Joan’s work is increasingly focused on empowering women to discover their identity, build character, develop practical skills and achieve financial independence. She mentors young women and girls, provides counselling and mentorship to families, supports young women navigating postpartum needs, and continues to guide women towards personal growth, independence and lasting impact.

She recently completed her book, The Wealth Within: 125 Skills for an Extraordinary Life, which explores 125 practical skills for personal development and an extraordinary life.

Her work today is rooted in a conviction that women possess enormous capacity to build, nurture, lead and create impact; but that caring for others should not require them to lose themselves in the process.