Adejisola Atiba popularly known as Lady ABHA is a TEDx speaker, award-winning author, and digital transformation strategist with over 30 years of experience in banking and leadership. Recently retired from one of Canada’s Big 5 banks after 19 years of service, she is the founder of several impactful organisations, including the Council of Nigerian Professionals and the African Caribbean Council of Halton. Crowned Obaantapaa Nana Akosua Mpontuemaa I (Queen Mother in charge of development) in the Gomoa Ojobi Traditional Area of Ghana, she embodies global heritage, equity, and service. She speaks in this interview on her journey from banking to advocacy.
Inspiration Behind Transitioning From Corporate Life Into Community Engagement
My journey from banking to advocacy wasn’t a pivot, it was an expansion of purpose. With over 30 years in the banking sector, I witnessed how systems can unintentionally exclude newcomers, racialised communities, and women. These experiences sparked my commitment to uplift others. I founded the Council of Nigerian Professionals (CNP) to mentor and empower immigrants like myself. Seeing broader needs, I launched the Council of African Professionals (CAP) and African Caribbean Council of Halton (ACCH) to broaden support. Retirement simply gave me time to do what I love, full-time. Now I build communities, elevate voices, and walk boldly in my God-given purpose. My mantra? ‘Expect everything or nothing,’ because politics found me through community.
Living the Philosophy: “Banking Is My Profession, but Community Is My Passion
Banking gave me structure, but community gave me purpose. My philosophy; ‘Banking is my profession, but community is my passion’, shaped every initiative I’ve led. CNP began from my lived experience as an immigrant needing direction. It evolved into a platform offering mentorship, job readiness, entrepreneurship showcases, and cultural celebration. As needs expanded, I launched ACCH to support African Caribbean youth and families across Halton through scholarships, leadership development, and civic education. Whether supporting seniors or hosting youth summits, my approach is personal. I also served with Rotary, JA Central Ontario, CNOY, and Knights Table to reach those in need. I build people, not just programs, that’s the heartbeat of my leadership.
Why I Am Running for Public Office
I’m running for Ward 1 Councillor because Milton’s rapid growth demands intentional, people-centered leadership. We can no longer welcome families without the infrastructure to support them. As I knock on doors, I hear from parents, youth, seniors, and business owners who feel unseen. My top priorities include advocating for sustainable development, affordable housing, safe roads, accessible parks, and youth and senior-focused programming. I will also push for better commercial spaces and stronger intergovernmental collaboration to bring needed services. I want Milton to be a town where people don’t just live, they thrive, feel safe, and find belonging.
Ensuring Inclusivity and Equity in Milton’s Growth
True inclusion isn’t a checkbox, it’s a commitment. As a Queen Mother, DEI advocate, and community builder, I’ve created inclusive spaces for decades. If elected, I’ll implement multilingual town halls, equity audits, and cultural competence training across departments. But beyond policy, I’ll champion programmes that center lived experiences. I’ll propose an Annual Cultural Week, co-created by community members that brings Miltonian together across backgrounds to share stories, food, and traditions. Inclusion is how we lead, live, and love together, boldly and with intention.
The Birth and Impact of Power of Inclusion
Power of Inclusion (POI) was born from a bold realisation: our communities were doing meaningful work but in isolation. We saw a gap: brilliant individuals and organisations working in silos, with limited connection or collaboration. POI was our answer to that disconnect, a unifying platform designed to bring together professionals, youth, policymakers, artists, and grassroots leaders under a single banner: intentional inclusion. What began as a local celebration of leadership, culture, and excellence quickly evolved into a national movement. From the outset, we reached across communities, starting with Indigenous leaders and extending to every corner of Canada’s multicultural mosaic. POI is more than an event; it’s an ecosystem of belonging. We don’t just talk about inclusion, we model it. With intergenerational dialogue, cross-sector panels, and affirming recognition, POI has become a space for courageous storytelling and strategic impact. It’s reshaping how we celebrate excellence, not in spite of our differences, but because of them.
Leading With Resilience Through Personal Stories
Resilience is the backbone of my leadership. My book, Authenticity: How My Why Me Moments Shaped My Life, chronicles the hardships I’ve endured rejection, loss, cultural isolation and how I transformed those moments into purpose. I’ve learned that pain can be a teacher. Every setback in my life taught me empathy, boldness, and clarity. Rather than letting closed doors define me, I turned them into next opportunities. That mindset is the core of my coaching and community work. I no longer ask for permission to live my life, I own it. That’s the heart of authentic leadership, and it’s what I strive to model for others.
Lessons From Balancing Many Roles
To me, balance isn’t about juggling, it’s about alignment. I am a mother, wife, Queen Mother, leader, coach, and entrepreneur. But I don’t view them as separate roles. They are unified expressions of my purpose: to empower others and build community. My biggest lesson is that you don’t have to shrink to serve. You can lead with softness and strength, and you can say no without guilt. Purpose is what prioritises my time. I’ve learned to delegate, rest, pray, and stay grounded in my faith and family. I don’t compartmentalise. I live aligned and every hat I wear was made for me.
Three Women Who Inspire Me
First, my late mother, Madam Aolat Esuji Atiba, Nee, Oyebanji, a pillar of quiet strength and faith. Denied formal education because she was a girl, she self-taught and made sure her children had what she never did. I am her legacy. Second, Maya Angelou; a voice that made vulnerability powerful. Her poetry and speeches taught me to tell my story boldly and without apology. I found strength in her cadence, truth in her pain, and courage in her example. Third, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; a woman who broke ceilings on global stages without losing her Nigerian heritage. She proves you can lead with grace, intellect, and identity. These women shaped my path and inspire how I rise, serve, and speak.
What Makes Me a Woman of Rubies
A Woman of Rubies radiates purpose, resilience, and unwavering grace. I am one because I live a life rooted in service, vision, and transformation. From immigrant to senior leadership, from community builder to Queen Mother, my journey has always been about turning adversity into action. Proverbs 31:10 says, ‘She is more precious than rubies’ not because of status, but because of substance. Rubies symbolise passion, wisdom, and vitality, and I wear mine not on my fingers, but in my voice, values, and vision. Every step I take uplifts others and reflects the legacy of women before me. That’s why I shine not to dim others, but to light the way forward.
