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Chief Development Officer,
Real Estate Developer
Social Entrepreneur,
Speaker
Innovator & Change Agent
Gallup Strengths: Futurist. Visionary. Strategic. Ideation. Relator. Learner
Lanre is a Real estate developer, Chief Development Officer for the United Way of Rhode Island (one of America's most loved non-profits), social entrepreneur, change agent and speaker.
"Lanre is the mind behind some of the largest and most successful community empowerment initiatives and events in not only Rhode Island but New England! He is a leader with a futuristic vision with a knack for bringing people together. 25 bough street (25bough.com) is a shining example of this! He inspires many around him!
That is why organizations say Lanre Ajakaiye helps them grow their businesses bringing universal growth strategies across: Fundraising, Membership, Lead Generation, Xsell, Retention and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and an Omni-channel Marketing guru.
As a Speaker, Lanre is known to inspire and energize diverse crowds as a keynote, panelist and moderator. When you need an unforgettable speaker with a proven track record, I. Lanre Ajakaiye it is.
FEATURED IN...
A social entrepreneur committed to positively impacting communities and inspiring others.
Idrees "Lanre" Ajakaiye, Founder of 25 Bough, follows his passion for building youth, family, and sports with strategy and business savvy as the mind behind events below, such as The New England Family Fun Festival (across 50k sq ft), the brand architect, web and social lead for the R.I.S.E. Women's Leadership Conference with wife, Hilina as operations and Executive Director and now, 25 Bough Street.
Within the Fortune 50, he has been awarded enterprise innovation awards (winning across 35k employees), divisional innovation awards, driven over 1.4MM in leads resulting in 140MM in new premiums with over 1.4B in deposits in domestic and international locations throughout Asia and Latin America.
Before this, Lanre was ranked #2 in for sales nationwide with MetLife Group Auto & Home for sales and multiple conference qualifier. He has been licensed and has knowledge in Property & Casualty and Life Insurance. In NY, NY, Lanre went from a top producing real estate agent in Manhattan to building a sales team of over 200+ agents eventually being Senior Vice President / Director of Sales before earning the level of real estate broker himself.
COMMERCIAL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: REAL ESTATE
25 Bough Street
25 Bough Street located at 25 Bough Street, Providence, RI 02909 in the heart of Olneyville, Providence, Rhode Island is a transformative, mixed use, re-development of an old Mill building which will span 22k sq ft when completed built to positively shape, transform and celebrate the lives of youth, women and underserved communities by providing access to education, self and career awareness needed to thrive now and for the future generations. Lanre Ajakaiye was the first person in New England to be approved by the SEC under Regulation CF to crowd fund real estate quickly acquiring 188 community investors.
Lanre Ajakaiye's mission for the 25 Bough Street Initiative spans education, career awareness, health & wellness and financial empowerment for youth, women and the community at large addressing a myriad of gaps.
The 25 Bough Street development will transform and redevelop a currently blighted property - in what was once a thriving jewlery manufacturing hub in the historic Olneyville section of Providence, Rhode Island - into a multi-purpose community anchored facility. The building spans 22,000 square feet with will support six, integrated use cases to create family and community empowerment.
FAMILY & YOUTH
The New England Family Fun Festival
The New England Family Fun Festival - 2014 -- New+England+Family+Fun+Festival-+Family+Fun+For+Everyone.-HD
Recognizing a gap in affordable, quality family events during April school break, Lanre built The New England Family Fun Festival from ground up. He acquired 15+ sponsors and offered an event that resembled Rocky Point indoors with quality educational offerings, performances, rides, games and entertainment at a low cost for families and the community.
Lanre devised and executed the marketing strategy across radio, tv and print and execution of web, social, digital leading to overwhelming success drawing over 6,232+ people in its first year. The New England Family Fun Festival occurred from 2014-2017 until the vendor providing rides retired and was held across 40k sq ft at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
WOMEN & EMPOWERMENT
Rise Women’s Leadership Conference
Lanre is behind the marketing strategy across digital, radio, tv and print and execution of web, logo, social, digital for the R.I.S.E. (Realizing Inspiration & Sustaining Excellence) Women's Leadership Conference bringing to life the vision for his wife, Hilina Ajakaiye, the Executive Director and leader of day to day operations and the yearly conference.
In its first year of 2018, R.I.S.E sold out overcapacity to 587 attendees at The Rhode Island Convention Center, 5th floor. In its second year occurring on September 19th, 2019, 200+ additional professionals attended R.I.S.E. to another sold out event in the region's biggest venue landing it at 782. In subsequent years, RISE has surpassed 1k+ people
The conference brings discussion, thought leadership and sharing of best practices across: Health & Wellness, Financial Literacy, Women in Leadership, Women in Entrepreneurship and Mentorship & paying it forward at one of New England’s most diverse audiences of leaders, executives and influencers. Attendees and participants leave the event feeling inspired and engaged with new learnings, insights and connections.
Awards and recognition
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2022 - MLK Hall of Fame Inductee (City of Providence)
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2022- Classical High School Hall of Fame Inductee (Official ceremony)
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2022- NPG Visionary Award (Boston, Massachusetts)
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2022 - AAAG Award - part of the team who got "Plantations" removed from the city and state name and commissioner on the Reparations commission.
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2022- Keynote Speaker, Paul Cuffee high school
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2022 - Keynote Speaker, University of Rhode Island - Multi-cultural Student Center
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2021 Who To Watch Recipient - Providence Monthly
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2019-2020 Leadership Rhode Island, Co-Chair
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2020 - Classical High School Hall of Fame Inductee - All State - Track & Field - Hurdles -Classical High School, Record Holder 110 & 25+ year record for Hurdles after breaking a 14 year record at Classical High School.
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All Division Football - Wide Receiver / Safety - Classical High School
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Dean's List & D1 Track athlete, University of Rhode Island
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2018 -2019 - Leadership Rhode Island, Planning Committee
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2017 - Leadership Rhode Island, Alumni, Voted Class Speaker & Speaker of the House (simulation) by classmates, NU II 2017
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2017- B.O.N.D. Community Service Leadership Award
