Deola Art Alade Joins Prestigious Femme It Forward’s #NextGemFemme Mentorship Programmme
…Becomes Part Of Its First Ever African Cohort

Entertainment powerhouse and creative industry trailblazer Deola Art Alade has been welcomed into Femme It Forward’s #NextGemFemme Mentorship Program, where she will serve as a mentor for the initiative’s first ever African cohort. This marks a significant milestone in Femme It Forward’s global expansion and its continued investment in empowering the next generation of women leaders across industries.
Femme It Forward is a groundbreaking female led organization dedicated to celebrating, educating, and empowering women through multi-format content, events, and mentorship programs. Through its flagship initiative, the #NextGemFemme Mentorship Program, the organization connects emerging talent with high impact female leaders across creative, corporate, and entrepreneurial spaces. With the launch of its first African cohort, Femme It Forward signals its commitment to nurturing women-led innovation on the continent.
Deola Art Alade is the Group CEO of Livespot360, Africa’s most innovative creative solutions companies. As a culture shaper and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience, Deola has long been at the forefront of building inclusive ecosystems that elevate women across the creative and business landscape. Her participation in the program is a natural extension of her lifelong mission to break down structural barriers and create pathways for African women to thrive, lead, and influence.
“I’ve always believed that the most transformative leadership is people first, rooted in intention, and measured by how many doors you open for others, especially women who are just getting started. That’s why I’m honoured to be part of Femme It Forward’s Mentorship Program, mentoring a powerful community of emerging female creatives and entrepreneurs across the continent,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post.
As part of the #NextGemFemme Mentorship Program, Deola will be mentoring emerging African female creatives and entrepreneurs, offering not only guidance, but visibility, community, and belief. Her presence in the program highlights the growing influence of African women in reshaping the future of creativity, leadership, and impact on their own terms.
“I’ve been shaped by many incredible women. Women who led with authenticity and impact. Women who challenged norms, built from scratch, carried dreams on their backs, and still made room for others. Women who led with grace, grit, and generosity. To now stand in that gap for someone else and say ‘yes, it’s possible’ is an honour I don’t take lightly. As someone who has built through risk, reinvention, and resilience, I know how powerful mentorship can be. My hope is that these women don’t only start, but stay the course, lead boldly, and build fearlessly,” she added.
Under her leadership, Livespot360 has led transformative cultural projects such as Entertainment Week Africa, Livespot X Festival, LABSPOT, and several high profile productions including The Voice Nigeria, The Real Housewives of Lagos, and Amazon Prime Video’s Last
One Laughing Nigeria. Behind these projects is a clear ethos: tell authentic stories, deliver world class experiences, and ensure women are not only seen but heard, celebrated, and empowered.
Through initiatives like LABSPOT, a platform built to spotlight and scale emerging creative talent, and internal policies that prioritize female leadership, Deola has embedded mentorship into the DNA of her company. Today, Livespot360’s senior leadership team is predominantly female, reflecting her deliberate and long standing commitment to gender equity and structural inclusion.
Her work has also influenced global brands such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Netflix, who have partnered with Livespot360 to craft culturally relevant experiences across the African market.