Idara Otu is an Olympian, senior finance executive, entrepreneur, author, and social impact leader whose career spans pro athletics, global finance, and social impact. Ms. Otu was a standout track and field athlete before she began her career as a research analyst and commodities trader at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan respectively. Driven by a renewed commitment to sport, she returned to competitive running and, went on to represent Nigeria in the 4×400m relay at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

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Ms. Otu is currently Chief Operating Officer of Financial Institutions Group (FIG) and Strategy at Apollo Global Management, where she plays a senior leadership role overseeing strategic, operational, and growth initiatives within one of the firm’s core investment platforms. Outside of work, Idara has focused her broader life on empowering the next generation of girls through education, athletics, and entrepreneurship. In 2017, she founded Let Girls Read, Run, Grow (LGRRG), a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing educational access and leadership development for girls across Africa. Under her leadership, the organization has delivered academic resources, sport and STEAM programming to over 700 students in Africa and is actively developing a girls’ primary school in Nigeria.

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In addition to her nonprofit work, she is the founder of NŌK CHOC, a premium vegan hot cocoa brand rooted in Nigerian culture and committed to reinvesting in education initiatives. She is also the author of The Miraculous Masquerade, a children’s book celebrating cultural identity and imagination. 

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Ms. Otu earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Stanford University and continues to serve as a speaker and advisor on women’s leadership, global empowerment, and social impact initiatives.