You know those people who just get it? The ones who don’t wait for the perfect moment or a fancy title, they just show up and give their best from day one?
That’s Mofiyinfoluwa Faniyi. She got her start not in some big corporate role, but helping out someone close to home.
Her sister’s boss, someone she deeply admired, needed help managing social media for her business. Mofiyinfoluwa had no formal training at the time, just a few small pages under her belt, but she poured everything into it like it was her own brand.
And that small start sparked something major. Fast-forward a few years and she’s not just in marketing, she’s leading growth, shaping strategy, and building real impact across startups and nonprofits alike.
But what makes her story even more special is the heart behind it all. She’s not just about scaling businesses, she’s about empowering people.
In this interview, she shares how it all unfolded, every bold step, every challenge, and the purpose that keeps her going.
CA: Mofiyinfoluwa, your journey in business development and marketing is truly inspiring. Can you take us back to how it all began?
Mofiyinfoluwa: Thank you for this thoughtful question. It all started when a respected professional I’ve always looked up to, who was my sister’s boss at the time, gave me a chance to manage the social media pages for her business.
I didn’t have much formal training then and had only managed a few social media pages, but I treated it like it was my own and gave it everything. It went well, and I started getting referrals for even more complex projects. That experience sparked something in me.
I started taking online courses and learning everything I could, not just about social media, but also traditional marketing, digital strategy, and eventually sales and business development. Things really came full circle when I took on a role at a tech startup in Nigeria, where I got to work hands-on in business development and contribute to real growth.
CA: That’s such a powerful start. Building a career in business growth and marketing strategy takes clarity and commitment. What was your journey like, and were there any key mentors or experiences that shaped your path?
Mofiyinfoluwa: The journey hasn’t been a straight line, it has been full of learning, experimenting, and a lot of personal growth. Getting referrals gave me the confidence to take it seriously and start building a career out of it.
I said yes to opportunities that scared me, took on roles I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready for, and took countless courses to keep learning on the go. There were days I felt overwhelmed but pushing myself outside my comfort zone made all the difference. Regarding mentors, I have been lucky to cross paths with some incredible people, especially women who lead with strength, clarity, and a strong sense of purpose.
One person who stands out is Ms. Omobola Lana, she’s someone I truly admire. Her focus and dedication to excellence in everything she does really shaped how I approach my own work.
CA: That’s incredible. The world of marketing is evolving rapidly. What major obstacles have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Mofiyinfoluwa: One of the biggest challenges has been navigating the constant pace of change, as everything is changing these days, audience behaviours, new tools, platforms and trends.
As someone working at the intersection of tech marketing, growth strategy, and product development, I’ve had to stay agile and continuously adapt.
In the early days, it felt like there was always something new to learn, especially when leading go-to-market efforts or growth campaigns for tech products. I think I just leaned into continuous learning, either through hands-on experimentation or upskilling through courses.
CA: That level of adaptability is admirable. Your success is rooted in both strategy and heart. What kept you motivated during the early days of building your agency?
Mofiyinfoluwa: Honestly, it was the results and the people. Seeing how much value I could bring to someone’s business, even something as simple as growing their online presence or refining their go-to-market plan, reminded me that I was doing work that mattered.
The trust people placed in me early on, often without a big title or agency behind me, really motivated me to prove myself and deliver with excellence. I also kept thinking about the bigger picture: building something meaningful.
CA: Powerful. How has your academic background and experience influenced the way you approach business development today?
Mofiyinfoluwa: I studied Economics at undergraduate level, so I learnt how to think analytically and understand market dynamics and then during my master’s in international business management, I was able to dive deeper into how businesses grow, learning about everything from global strategy and operations to the startup lifecycle and innovation management.
That mix of theory and real-world insight shaped how I approach business development today. I don’t just think about sales or marketing in isolation, I look at the full picture, so that’s the product-market fit, customer behaviour, partnership strategy, and long-term growth. My education helped me build structure around my instincts, and my experience in the field has helped me apply that knowledge in meaningful, practical ways.
CA: Love that holistic view. You’ve impacted many entrepreneurs and small business owners. How does it feel knowing your work is empowering others to build and grow?
Mofiyinfoluwa: It’s incredibly humbling. There’s nothing more fulfilling than hearing someone say, “You helped me believe this idea could actually work,” or seeing someone take a step they were once afraid of.
I know how lonely and uncertain the journey can be when you’re starting out, so being able to support others, even in small ways, feels like a privilege. I never take it for granted.
CA: That’s beautiful. You’ve grown a strong presence by combining business with purpose. What inspired you to also focus on mentoring and nonprofit work?
Mofiyinfoluwa: As a Christian, purpose has always been at the core of what I do. I started the Equitable Education Initiative (EEI) because I genuinely believe that access to education and life skills should never be a privilege, it should be a right.
Mentoring came naturally from that mindset. As someone who’s benefited from people who believed in me, I feel a responsibility to pay it forward. Whether I’m helping a young founder refine their pitch or supporting a student’s learning journey, I know I’m contributing to something bigger than myself.
CA: What’s next for you in your professional journey? Any exciting projects or goals on the horizon for your agency or nonprofit work?
Mofiyinfoluwa: I’m currently building something in the tech space that’s close to my heart, a solution that reimagines how things move from one place to another.
It’s still in development, but the goal is to address a real-world problem with simplicity, speed, and user-first design. Let’s just say it has the potential to shift how we think about convenience and logistics in the UK.
I will also continue to support early-stage startups and other businesses through consulting, and expanding the reach of my nonprofit, the Equitable Education Initiative.
CA: That sounds exciting! What’s one common misconception about business development or marketing that you’d like to correct?
Mofiyinfoluwa: A big one is that marketing is just about social media or surface-level visibility. Marketing, especially in the tech and startup space, is deeply strategic.
It’s about understanding people, behaviour, timing, and market gaps. Similarly, business development isn’t just about making sales, it’s about building the right relationships, aligning with customer needs, and creating long-term value.
CA: Such a golden insight. Finally, if you could give just one piece of advice to anyone hoping to build a business with both impact and profit, what would it be?
Mofiyinfoluwa: Consistency and perseverance will take you far. There will be moments when things move slowly or feel uncertain, but staying the course makes all the difference.
Also, don’t get distracted by vanity metrics like follower counts or viral moments as they don’t always reflect real impact or revenue. Focus on the quality of your work, the value you’re delivering, and the community you’re building. That’s what creates a lasting business with purpose and profit.
