Oluwatoyosi Onabanjo

INSEAD

“Curious and driven, with a passion for finance, entrepreneurship, and unlocking opportunities across Africa.”

Hometown: Ijebu-Ife, Ogun state, Nigeria

Fun fact about yourself: I once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, and still think the sport teaches leadership best.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Babcock University — Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Seplat Energy – Manager, Integration Management Office (supporting the Seplat-ExxonMobil offshore post-acquisition integration)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? N/A

Where will you be working after graduation? Returning to McKinsey & Company as an Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Member of the Africa Club, Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, and Entrepreneurship Club

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? What I am most proud of during business school is the clarity I have gained around the kinds of communities I want to invest in. I am particularly excited about contributing to the Africa Club, the Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, and the Entrepreneurship Club, because they align closely with my long-term interests in expanding opportunity across Africa through finance and institution building.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One achievement I am most proud of was supporting the implementation and expansion of two nationwide maternal health interventions while working with the Nigerian government. Those interventions helped expand access to care for thousands of vulnerable women facing pregnancy-related complications, many of whom would otherwise have gone untreated because of financial barriers. That experience stayed with me because it showed me what is possible when policy is translated into execution and when systems are designed to reach people who are often excluded.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose INSEAD for its international diversity. I wanted an MBA experience that would stretch the way I think, challenge my assumptions, and prepare me to lead across borders. At INSEAD, learning alongside classmates from more than 80 nationalities has done exactly that. It has deepened my understanding of how culture shapes decision making and leadership. For someone who hopes to build institutions that serve diverse markets across Africa and beyond, there was no better programme than one that felt like the world itself.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Organizational Behavior has been my favorite course. It gave me a language for many of the leadership situations I had experienced professionally, but had never fully unpacked. Through cases, reflection, and classroom exercises, I developed a much stronger appreciation for power, influence, conflict, and human behavior in organizations. It is one of the few courses that not only changed how I think, but also how I want to lead.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of my favorite parts of INSEAD has been the cultural events organized by classmates. Whether it was Holi celebrations, Victoire parties, or spontaneous gatherings led by different national groups, these moments reflected something special about INSEAD: people arrive as strangers from around the world and quickly create a genuine sense of community.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Honestly, very little. If anything, my MBA has reinforced for me the importance of not overindulging the sunk cost fallacy. Once a moment has passed, the more useful question is what it taught you. Nevertheless, I approached INSEAD determined to immerse myself fully in the experience, and I believe I have done that so far. Looking back, I would not change much because both the rewarding moments and the difficult ones shaped the journey.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case study for me was the Sabena Belgian World Airlines case featuring Erik Weytjens. It resonated deeply because it reminded me of the complexity of working within institutions where politics often shape outcomes. The biggest lesson I took from it was the importance of navigating organizational realities with both honesty and strategic awareness. It also made me reflect on moments in my own career where I could have managed stakeholders more effectively.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I loved most about Fontainebleau was the balance it offered. It has a calmness that creates room for reflection, which felt especially valuable coming from Lagos. The forest, the slower rhythm, and the intimacy of the town made the MBA experience feel grounded. At the same time, Paris was close enough to provide a change of pace whenever we wanted energy and movement. Fontainebleau gave me both stillness and access.

What business leader do you admire most? One business leader I admire is Tony Elumelu. What stands out to me is his commitment to solving real economic problems in Africa through entrepreneurship, investment, and institution building. He has shown that business can be a powerful force for expanding economic opportunities when it is focused on the right problems. In addition, I really admire his support for young African entrepreneurs, and the way he has used capital, mentorship, and visibility to help them build and scale their ideas. That resonates deeply with me because I also hope to contribute to Africa’s growth by helping build financial systems and institutions that unlock opportunity for more people.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? INSEAD has integrated AI into learning in practical ways. In the introduction to strategy course, we used an AI-enabled simulation to engage with a beverage business owner in Zanzibar who needed support in deciding whether to expand to a new market, gathered insights through AI based interviews, which ultimately shaped our recommendation. In more analytical courses like Uncertainty, Data & Judgement, AI also helped many students better understand tools such as regression models and their business implications. My biggest takeaway is that AI is most powerful when used as an amplifier of human judgment, not a substitute for it. The best results come when people think critically first, then use AI to accelerate analysis and refine ideas.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? One classmate I admire is Ali Zayour. What I appreciate most about Ali is his authenticity and steadiness. During a year that can easily become intense and overwhelming, he has a way of bringing perspective to conversations and reminding people to focus on what they can control. It has influenced how I have approached parts of my own MBA journey.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I want to build a financial institution that expands access to credit for millions of underserved individuals and businesses across Africa. I believe access to capital can be a powerful unlock for dignity, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility.

Second, I would love to own an international football club. Football was my first dream, and while I did not become a professional player, I still hope to play a role in discovering and elevating talent, especially African talent, on the global stage.

What made Toyosi such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Toyosi Onabanjo has been an outstanding member of the INSEAD MBA Class of 2026, distinguished by a rare combination of intellectual rigor, thoughtful engagement, and genuine leadership within the classroom. In my Strategy course, he consistently demonstrated the ability to move beyond surface-level analysis to grapple with the underlying strategic and stakeholder complexities of each case, often elevating the discussion for peers. What stands out most, however, is his collaborative instinct — contributing not for visibility, but to advance collective learning — and a clear commitment to translating ideas into meaningful impact. Toyosi exemplifies the kind of globally minded, purpose-driven leader that INSEAD seeks to develop, and is fully deserving of recognition as one of the Best & Brightest MBAs.”

Lite J. Nartey
Affiliate Professor of Strategy, INSEAD

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