Nike Kerstin Akerele-de Souza Cpa

Nike Kerstin Akerele-De Souza CPA, ACA, ACIPM, MA has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning over several decades. Nike Kerstin began their career in 1988 as a Senior Consultant/Auditor at GARDINER, KAMYA & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Following this, they worked as a Senior Consultant/Auditor at Mitchell & Titus, LLP from 1991 to 1992. From 1993 to 2002, they joined Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, where they started as a Senior Consultant and later became the Group Head - Risk Management and Assurance services. During their time at Arthur Andersen, they managed various client projects in sectors like financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, trading, gold mining, professional services, and not-for-profit organizations in Nigeria and Ghana.

In 2002, Nike joined KPMG Nigeria as a Senior Manager and Group Head - Risk Management & Assurance services. After a brief period at KPMG, they founded their own company, PeoplePrime/PeopleTemp Ltd, in 2003. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, they provided strategic direction and executed human resources services to numerous local and international clients, recruiting over 4,000 candidates and managing over 8,000 outsourced staff. Some of their notable clients included Diageo/Guinness Nigeria, Unilever, GSK, Cadbury, and British American Tobacco (BAT).

In 2019, Nike joined Dressler KBO Consulting as the Client Service Director/DEI/Social Impact Advisor. Nike Kerstin currently provides consulting and advisory services to foundations, non-profit organizations, and social enterprises. Their areas of expertise include philanthropic giving, start-up support, strategic planning, capacity development, human resources management, and partnership development.

Additionally, Nike has been actively involved in social initiatives. From 2015 to 2017, they co-founded Teach For Nigeria, a youth leadership initiative focused on addressing education inequity and training young leaders as social entrepreneurs. Nike Kerstin also served as a Member of the Board of Trustees during this time. Currently, they hold the role of Chief Operating Officer at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) since February 2023.

Overall, Nike Kerstin Akerele-De Souza possesses a breadth of experience in various industries, showcasing their expertise in finance, risk management, human resources, and social impact.

Nike Kerstin Akerele-De Souza holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a focus on Accounting and Information Systems from American University, obtained between 1984 and 1987. Nike Kerstin also completed their A Levels at Millfield School in 1984. Nike furthered their education with an Owner Manager Program (OMP) in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, from 2005 to 2006. In 2010, they participated in the Aspen Global Leadership Network/African Leadership Initiative, West Africa (ALIWA), although no specific degree or field of study is mentioned. Nike recently completed a Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Planning, Economics, and International Development from IOE - UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, between 2019 and 2020.

In addition to their formal education, Nike has obtained various certifications. Nike Kerstin is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, attained at an undisclosed time. Nike Kerstin is also an Associate, Chartered Personnel Manager from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM). Nike holds certifications in Certified Assessor from the British Psychological Society, UK, Certified Public Accountant from AICPA, and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner from UK Coaching Academy. Nike Kerstin has also completed several programs from Acumen Academy, including Lean Data Approaches to Measure Social Impact, Non-Profit Fundraising Essentials, and Social Impact Analysis. Nike recently completed the OpenDoors Board Development Program at TheBoardroom Africa in collaboration with the Institute of Directors UK, in 2022.