Steve Babaeko, Alex Okosi, Esosa Osagiede, Sinmi Hughes-Obisesan, and Omawumi Ogbe are five Nigerians who have been selected as Next-Gen Black Leaders in Creativity for the 2025 DARE (Dream, Act, Reimagine, Empower) list.
The 2025 DARE list includes 44 innovative individuals from throughout the globe, including the US, South Africa, the UK, and other countries. The list, published by “Black At,” highlights a new generation of Black executives, agencies, and creatives who are spearheading the global transformation of the creative business. Only two African organisations, Twotone of South Africa and X3M Ideas of Nigeria, were included in the 2025 Agencies of Note list.
By pushing the limits of advertising, media, entertainment, and technology, these trailblazers are promoting inclusive storytelling, expanding businesses, and establishing new benchmarks for creativity and cultural impact. These executives are changing the industry towards models based on authenticity, representation, and cultural relevance through daring campaigns and reshaping brand narratives.
Peter Ukhurebor, CEO of Black At, spoke on the show, saying: “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.”
BrandSpur digital news platform reports the complete List Of 2025’s Up-And-Coming Black Creative Leaders
Agencies of Note
• Twotone (South Africa)
• Hero Media (US)
• X3M (Nigeria)
• Valerie (US)
• Black Influence (Brazil)
• Ten35 (US)
• Black Girl Digital (US)
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.
