Dupe Olusola, Chief Executive Officer of DOVA Capital and former CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, has been appointed Professional Advisor to the MIT Kuo-Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship.
The centre, part of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, works with entrepreneurs globally to help ventures scale, attract capital, and build sustainable and inclusive economic systems.
Olusola announced the appointment in a statement on Saturday, describing it as an opportunity to contribute to market-creating innovation and inclusive economic growth.
“I have spent over two decades operating at the intersection of capital, infrastructure, and emerging markets — leading through complexity, building platforms from the ground up, and asking hard questions about where growth comes from and who it reaches,” Olusola said.
“That is the lens I bring to this role.”
Olusola, who is also a 2026 Fellow of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative, said her advisory work at MIT will draw on experience gained across capital deployment, infrastructure development, and emerging energy sectors.
“How capital moves, where it stalls, and how to build the conditions that allow businesses and platforms to scale, particularly across Africa,” she added.
Before founding DOVA Capital, Olusola served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, where she led the hospitality group through the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic while driving a period of operational transformation.
She has also held senior leadership roles at United Bank for Africa as Group Head of Marketing, and at Teragro Commodities Limited, where she led agricultural investments and strategic partnerships.
Earlier in her career, Olusola worked with African Capital Alliance, Bloomberg, and Northern Trust, gaining experience across global finance, investment, and capital markets.
Commenting on Africa’s development trajectory, the economist stressed the importance of strong institutions, governance, and partnerships in shaping the continent’s future.
“Africa’s growth will be written by Africans,” she said.
She added that the MIT centre represents the kind of collaboration needed to drive meaningful progress.
“MIT Kuo-Sharper Centre is one of those partnerships. I am glad to contribute.”
