Dr. Tewa Onasanya is a multifaceted entrepreneur, a Mindset Stylist and Philanthropist with over 23 years’ experience. A Publisher, Women Empowerment Advocate, Cervical Cancer Prevention Advocate, Author and Mindset Stylist holds a BSc in Pharmacology from the University of Portsmouth, UK and a Diploma in Fashion Journalism from the College of Media and Publishing, UK, a certificate in Mindfulness from Udemy and a Certified Law of Attraction practitioner. She is the Founder of Exquisite Magazine a Wellness, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Lifestyle Magazine for the unlimited woman. Exquisite Magazine started an only female awards ceremony called the Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) Awards and Conference, aimed at sustaining women empowerment by celebrating and empowering women of excellence in different fields. The ELOY Foundation was created to sustain women empowerment through access to mentors, affordable finance, training, grants and more to help build and sustain their businesses. In this interview, she speaks on her passion for empowerment and driving mindset shift for women.

You’ve built a multi-dimensional career across media, wellness, and advocacy. What were the defining inflection points that shaped your trajectory into the woman you are today?
There have been a few defining moments. The first was recognising that I have the power to become whomever I wanted to be, I knew I didn’t want to live a life that was dictated by limitations, whether societal, financial, or internal. That awareness led me to entrepreneurship very early unintentionally.

Another key inflection point was launching Exquisite Magazine at a time when many women, especially African women, were doing incredible work but were largely unseen. I realised visibility was power and that changed everything for me.

More recently, stepping fully into my role as a mindset stylist has been transformational. It required me to confront my own fears around visibility and fully own my voice. That shift from doing the work to embodying the message has shaped the woman I am today.

How did your academic background in pharmacology evolve into publishing, mindset styling, and entrepreneurship? Was that transition strategic or organic?
It was both organic and intuitive. Pharmacology trained me to understand systems, structure, and the science of how things work. My degree taught me transferable skills that cuts across every sector. Also, very early on, I realised that my desire to be able to support people to heal (I initially wanted to become a medical doctor), inspire people, making an impact, extended beyond working in the pharmaceutical industry, it’s still extending as we speak and I am discovering more every time.

I was always drawn to people, their stories, their potential, their transformation. Publishing became a natural extension of that curiosity, showing that you could study one thing at University but evolve as you grow older. Over time, I began to see a deeper pattern: the real limitation for many people wasn’t opportunity, it was mindset. So, what may look like a pivot was actually an evolution for me.

All I do is beautifully woven into one another. Every step has built on the other, leading me to where I am now, helping people rewire how they think, so they can expand how they live and this is done through everyone of my platform, Exquisite Magazine, ELOY Awards Foundation, EMAC Foundation for Cervical Cancer Prevention and being a Mindset Stylist.

Exquisite Magazine is positioned as a “visibility platform for the unlimited woman.” What gap did you identify in the media ecosystem when you launched it?
Over the past 23 years, as Exquisite Magazine grew, we saw that there was a clear gap. Many platforms were either inaccessible, expensive, or narrowly defined in how women were portrayed. I wanted to create a space where women could be seen in their fullness, not just for aesthetics, but for their impact, their intellect, their journeys. A platform that said: you don’t have to shrink to be featured. Exquisite became that bridge between visibility and credibility, where women are not just showcased, but positioned.

In today’s saturated media landscape, how do you sustain relevance and authority, particularly for women-focused narratives?
Relevance today is not about noise, it’s about clarity and consistency. We stay grounded in our core mission: visibility with value. We don’t chase trends; we amplify stories that matter. Authority comes from being intentional about the narratives we put out and ensuring they are both aspirational and authentic. Also, we evolve. Media is dynamic, and we’ve embraced digital transformation to remain accessible and impactful while staying true to our essence. I always say one innovates or stay stagnant and stagnation leads to a natural death.

What does “visibility” truly mean for African women in 2026, beyond aesthetics and social media presence?
Visibility in 2026 is about positioning, power, and ownership. It’s not just being seen, it’s being recognised, respected, and rewarded. It’s about having a voice in rooms where decisions are made. It’s about monetising your expertise and owning your narrative. For African women, true visibility means shifting from being overlooked to being undeniable and doing it without burnout.

Through the ELOY Foundation, you’ve created access to funding, mentorship, and training. What systemic barriers are Nigerian women still facing in scaling their businesses?
Access remains a major challenge, access to funding, networks, and the right information. There’s also a confidence gap that is often overlooked. Many women are doing the work but are hesitant to position themselves boldly for larger opportunities.

Structurally, there are still limitations within financial systems and policy frameworks that make scaling more difficult for women-led businesses. That’s why our work goes beyond access to funding, we focus on equipping women with the mindset, structure, and visibility required to scale sustainably.

As a Mindset Stylist, you work with high achievers, navigating success and wellbeing. What are the most common internal barriers women face at the top?
At the top, the barriers become more internal than external. The most common ones are self-doubt, the fear of being fully seen, and the pressure to maintain a certain image. Many high-achieving women are successful but not fully expressed. There’s also the challenge of alignment; you know building success that looks good on the outside but doesn’t always feel fulfilling internally. My work as a Mindset Stylist is about helping them align success with peace, clarity, and authenticity.

Your book Rule Your Mind emphasises intentional living. In practical terms, what daily disciplines separate high-performing women from the rest?
High-performing women are intentional about three key things: their thoughts, their energy, and their actions. We don’t leave our mindset to chance. We are deliberate about what we consume, this includes what we read, eat, listen to even smell, yes. We are intentional about what we say and affirm, because our words have power, and also intentional about what we focus on daily.

We also prioritise self-audit and self-regulation, understanding oneself and creating space for clarity, not just constant activity. And importantly, we act. Consistency in aligned action is what separates intention from results.

If you had to give one non-negotiable principle to the next generation of women leaders, what would it be?
Convince yourself first. Before the world validates you, you must validate yourself. Your belief in your vision, your worth, and your capacity is the foundation of everything you will build. Once that is solid, everything else aligns. I say if you don’t believe in yourself, no one will.

Beyond the accolades and platforms, who is Tewa Onasanya when the work stops?
When work stops, I am a woman who values peace, presence, and connection. I love love. I love to eat, I enjoy the quiet moments, being present in the moment, the simplicity of being myself. I am deeply committed to growth, not just in what I do, but in who I am evolving into. Beyond work, I am someone who is constantly choosing to live intentionally, love deeply, and expand fully.