A Visionary and innovator who combines passion and purpose with social impact is the best way to describe Idrees Lanre Ajakaiye. “Lanre” as he is called by family and
friends has been innovating for decades. As early as the 4th grade, Lanre led a team
who would win a statewide driving safety, ad campaign competition featured on
highways across his state. A man of many talents, he has had success across a non-
linear path throughout the Fortune 50 with responsibility for as many as 2,500
associates in international locations of: Costa Rica, El Salvador, the Philippines and five domestic locations, startups in NY, NY and non -profits while never forgetting his
immigrant roots.
Today, Lanre continues as a leader, brand architect and change marker throughout
New England in both career and personal pursuits. Within his career, Lanre is the Chief Development Officer of the United Way of Rhode Island, one of America’s most loved non-profits, he leads a team of 31+ people across donor & corporate relations, Data & CRM operations, Marketing & Communications as well as volunteer engagement. He is responsible for United Way of Rhode Island’s growth and innovation as they embark on the Centennial goal of providing community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all. Under his leadership, the company is reinvigorating the brand, bringing in technologies of automation, ushering in dashboards and visualizations and embarking on omni-channel engagement strategies to for scaled, community impact.
Personally, Lanre is the first person in New England to be approved by the SEC under Regulation CF (Crowdfunding) allowing individuals to raise up to $5M for his real estate development, 25 bough street (25bough.com). 25 Bough Street is a vision of Lanre’s to convert a mixed use, mill space commercial development of 15,794 and align to community gaps for empowerment. He has secured commitments from major bank and foundations for the $7.5M development which has been featured in the Boston Globe, Afro Tech, Yahoo Finance and a host of local publications.
Along with his wife, Lanre is the person behind the logo, marketing, social media and
sponsorship strategy acquiring over 34 corporate sponsors for the RISE Women’s
Leadership Conference with his wife, Executive Director, Hilina Ajakaiye and the RISE advisory board. Now, in its sixth year, Lanre has helped create a platform enjoyed by thousands of women over the years.
As a father of two boys, Lanre has always been keen to various needs of local youth,
community and family. There are several initiatives he has started to fill gaps for youth. He is the mind behind mega events such as: The New England Family Fun Festival drawing over as many as 6,232 + people across 40,000 sq ft at the state’s largest venue. When Lanre realized his city did not have a youth basketball team, he created Team Providence Travel which has now gone on to win two New England championships and 4 state championships.
Across many spectrums, Lanre’s trailblazing has been recognized with his induction into not one but two Halls of Fame including: the City of Providence for community
leadership as well as the Hall of Fame induction for Classical High School for Track & Field and Football where he is still a record holder in 2022. Additionally, Lanre was a Leadership Rhode Island Alumni of 2017 where he was voted Class Speaker before serving on the planning committee and co-chair the following year and a ‘2021 Who to Watch’ recipient by Providence Monthly. Lanre is also proud to be an alumnus of the University of Rhode Island. As a student he was part of driving social change that
resulted in the multi-cultural center being on the middle of campus and African- American studies being a major. This was recently covered in a PBS documentary in 2023. He holds an MBA from Boston University. His most current honor is being a semi-finalist in the Pharrell Williams, BA competition, with the grand prize announcement in September 2023.