About Bolanle
Bolanle Williams-Olley is a true multi-hyphenate: a dynamic CFO and business executive, author, social impact leader, and educator shaping bold, emerging & evolving leaders in career, finance, and leadership.
With nearly two decades in finance and operations across design and mission-driven industries, Bolanle brings strategic clarity, operational discipline, and cultural empathy to every space she leads. Most recently, as Chief Financial Officer and Partner at Mancini Duffy, a 100-year-old architecture and design firm in New York City, she steered transformative growth, corporate restructuring, and acquisitions that positioned the firm for long-term scale.
Bolanle is known for translating numbers into narrative and vision into execution, equipping leaders to make decisions with both clarity and conviction. She bridges financial rigor with human insight, ensuring organizations don’t just grow, but grow well.
She leads two impact organizations:
SheBuildsLives: A nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of education and addressing the needs of children in low-income schools and communities in Nigeria. The organization focuses on renovating schools, providing educational materials, and offering scholarships to underserved students.
REACHNigeria: A connector hub that raises awareness about NGOs and volunteer opportunities across Nigeria, fostering collaboration between local communities and organizations to maximize social impact and drive positive change.
Bolanle’s career began with significant roles in financial management, including five years as a Senior Project Accountant at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and five years as a Project Accountant at HLW. She holds a Master’s in Education and Social Policy from New York University, as well as a Master’s in Applied Mathematics and a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Hunter College, City University of New York.
Bolanle is the author of the bestselling book, Build Boldly: Chart Your Unique Career Path and Lead with Courage—a practical playbook designed to inspire individuals and leaders to take bold action and craft their own paths to success.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Bolanle has delivered keynote addresses at industry events such as Monograph’s Section Cut Conference, the American Institute of Architects’ Women's Leadership Summit, the National Organization of Minority Architects’ Conference, the Mother Honestly Summit, and the Zweig Group ElevateAEC Conference & Awards Gala. Through her speeches, she inspires professionals to embrace bold leadership and create meaningful impact in their careers and organizations.
A passionate advocate for service, Bolanle lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and their dog. She is known for her creativity and love of hosting unforgettable themed parties.
A Few Of My Favourites!
TheTWOs
Coffee Ice Cream
Themed Parties
Podcasts
Bolanle’s Offerings
Bolanle enjoys sharing her expertise and experience when the right opportunity arises. She is passionate about increasing and improving literacy particularly around business finance, business leadership, career development, women’s empowerment and educational equity for children in low-income communities.
Currently, She sits on the boards of the following organizations:
Please reach out below if you are interested in connecting with Bolanle and leveraging her rich expertise for:
Interviews
Speaking + Advisory Engagements
Board Involvement