Nigeria’s Babaeko, Okosi, Osagiede, 41 Others Make 2025 DARE List Of Next-Gen Black Leaders In Creativity

Five Nigerians – Steve Babaeko, Alex Okosi, Esosa Osagiede, Sinmi Hughes-Obisesan, and Omawumi Ogbe have made the 2025 DARE (Dream, Act, Reimagine, Empower) list of Next-Gen Black Leaders in Creativity. In all, there are 44 creative eggheads on the 2025 DARE list, from different parts of the world including, the US, South Africa, the UK, and other parts of the world.

The list which was released by ‘Black At’, spotlights a new wave of Black executives, agencies, and creatives who are leading the charge in reshaping the creative industry globally. X3M Ideas of Nigeria and Twotone of South Africa were the only two African agencies that made the Agencies of Note list for 2025.

These trailblazers are breaking boundaries across advertising, media, entertainment, and technology, driving business growth, fostering inclusive storytelling, and setting new standards for innovation and cultural influence. From bold campaigns to redefining brand narratives, these leaders are shifting the industry towards models rooted in authenticity, representation, and cultural relevance.

Speaking on the programme, Peter Ukhurebor, CEO of Black At said “The future of creativity lies in diverse voices leading the conversation, Black executives are not just participating in this shift they’re leading it, creating space for new ideas, new perspectives, and game-changing innovation.”

Full List Of 2025 Next-Gen Black Leaders In Creativity

Marketing leaders

1.        Kimberly Paige – chief marketing officer, BET/Paramount (US)

2.        Sbusiso Kumalo – chief marketing officer, African Bank (South Africa)

3.        Vuyokazi Henda – chief marketing officer, Spur (South Africa)

4.        Richard McLeod – chief marketing officer, Merrell (US)

5.        Andrea Quaye – chief marketing officer, Heineken (South Africa)

6.        Gugu Mthembu – chief marketing officer, Telkom (South Africa)

7.        Robert Thompson – head of marketing, Sanlam Investment (South Africa)

8.        Damon Jones – chief communications officer, Procter & Gamble (US)

9.        Linda Kachingwe-Sisya – executive head of marketing and communications (Africa & International), First Rand Bank (South Africa)

10.      Tyrona (Ty) Heath – director, The B2B Institute, LinkedIn (US)

11.      Dominic Carter – executive vice president (publisher), The Sun (UK)

12.      Ann Gitao – vice president, Vivo Energy (Kenya)

13.      Malcolm Ellis – head of diverse investments, Diageo (US)

14.      Alex Okosi – managing director, Google (Nigeria)

15.      Reggie Saunders – vice president, entertainment marketing, Nike (Jordan) (US)

16.      Alex Frias – executive vice president, Steve Madden (US)

17.      Helena Bertho – global director of diversity and inclusion, Nubank (Brazil)

Creative and advertising leaders

18.      Tseliso Rangaka – chief creative officer (Africa creative lead), Studio X (WPP/Coca-Cola) (South Africa)

19.      Dora Osinde – chief creative officer, Ogilvy (Germany)

20.      Loyiso Twala – chief creative officer, McCann (South Africa)

21.      Kaleeta McDade – global chief experience design officer, VML (US)

22.      Joana Mendes – executive creative director, Brazilian Creative Club (Brazil)

23.      Ete Davies – EVP, Dentsu Creative (Europe, Middle East & Africa) (UK)

24.      Gabriela Rodrigues – chief impact officer, Droga5 São Paulo (Brazil)

25.      Juan Woodbury – North America creative & entertainment lead, Ogilvy (US)

26.      Andre Gray – chief creative officer, Annex88 (US)

27.      Carlo Murison – group CEO & chief creative officer, Two Tone Global (South Africa)

28.      Steve Babaeko – chief creative officer, X3M Ideas (Nigeria)

29.      Heloísa Renata de Santana – president, AMPRO (Brazil)

30.      Yaa Boateng – chief creative officer, The Storyteller Co. (Ghana)

31.      Scott Pinkney – chief creative officer, Publicis Hawkeye (Canada)

32.      Walter Geer – chief creative officer, Innovation North America Agency: VML (US)

33.      Simni Hughes – Obisesan : executive creative director, Publicis (Nigeria)

Young creatives

34.      Ricardo Silvestre (Brazil) – CEO of Black Influence, a leading agency focused on Black creators and anti-racist communication.

35.      Zanele “Zee” Kabane (South Africa) – associate creative director at M&C Saatchi Abel.

36.      David Mesfin (US) – creative director at Innocean.

37.      Esosa Osagiede (Nigeria) – creative director at Insight Publicis, also known as “The Zag,” with extensive experience in digital advertising.

38.      Larry Gordon (US) – group creative director at Laundry Service, with a strong background in brand storytelling and advertising.

39.      Melody Henderson (US) – group creative director at VaynerMedia and co-founder of Curly Girl Collective.

40.      Tim Austin (US) – creative director at draftLine, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s in-house creative agency.

41.      Omawumi Ogbe (Nigeria) – managing partner at GLG Communications, a leading PR and reputation management firm.

42.      Rahmon Agbaje (UK) – co-founder of Loud Parade, an agency creating music-driven brand campaigns.

43.      Breanna King (US) – manager, brand moments at YouTube at Google.

44.      Sandra Amachree (Nigeria) – head of marketing at Nigerian Breweries.

Agencies of note

•          Twotone (South Africa)

•          Hero Media (US)

•          X3M (Nigeria)

•          Valerie (US)

•          Black Influence (Brazil)

•          Ten35 (US)

•          Black Girl Digital (US)