Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes is the Founder, Managing Partner, and CEO of Aruwa Capital Management, one of the few women-led growth equity and gender-lens investment funds in Africa. With over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity at firms like Lehman Brothers and J.P. Morgan in London, she later co-founded Syntaxis Capital Africa before launching Aruwa in 2019. Under her leadership, the firm has grown to manage close to $60 million in assets, investing in women-led or women-focused businesses across sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, financial inclusion, and manufacturing.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering role in gender-lens investing, championing inclusive capital access while achieving strong commercial returns. Her work has earned her accolades including 2X Global Woman Fund Manager of the Year, recognition among BWAM’s Top 40 under 40, and a place on Institut Choiseul’s list of Africa’s top 100 young leaders. Through Aruwa, she has helped portfolio companies scale rapidly—some achieving over 20× revenue growth and significant valuation increases—while creating measurable social impact through job creation and increased female representation in leadership.

Adesuwa holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bristol and brings a dual British–Nigerian perspective to her work. She serves on several corporate boards across key industries and continues to influence strategic growth, governance, and sustainability. Outside of her professional life, she is deeply committed to faith and family, and enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and cooking, all while staying rooted in her mission to drive long-term positive change across Africa.