In Career Gems February 28, 2026 By Esther Ijewere

Dr. Omo Ogbamola Wins the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge

At the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge, exceptional women founders took the stage, but it was Dr. Omo Ogbamola (PhD) who emerged as the winner, capturing the room with a compelling blend of structure, storytelling, and scalable impact.

Building a Manufacturing Brand with Global Potential

Dr. Omo Ogbamola is the Founder and CEO of Tripplemos Food Processing Company, a Canadian-based food manufacturing brand producing premium-quality, authentic African spices locally in Canada. Her products are available on Amazon Canada, Walmart Canada Marketplace, over 20 African retail stores, and multiple e-commerce platforms, with continued expansion into broader retail distribution.

As a Nigerian-born Canadian entrepreneur and banking advisor, she brings expertise in banking, agriculture, food safety, and systems integration to the forefront of immigrant-led manufacturing. Currently pursuing a PhD in Business Administration, Dr. Omo is intentional about combining academic depth with practical execution to scale sustainably.

Her mission is clear: preserve African culinary heritage, increase representation for Black-owned brands in mainstream retail, and build long-term economic impact through local production.

Championing Immigrant-Led Businesses and African Culinary Heritage

Dr. Omo Ogbamola is more than an entrepreneur; she is a trailblazer for immigrant-led businesses in Canada. Through Tripplemos Food Processing Company, she is preserving and promoting authentic African culinary traditions while creating economic opportunities for other Black and immigrant founders.

Her work bridges culture and commerce: producing high-quality African spices locally, making them accessible on major retail platforms like Walmart Canada and Amazon, and expanding into over 20 African stores and e-commerce outlets. Beyond sales, Dr. Omo is building representation for Black-owned brands, demonstrating that immigrant-led manufacturing can thrive in mainstream markets while maintaining cultural authenticity.

By combining her professional expertise in banking, food safety, and systems integration with entrepreneurial vision, Dr. Omo continues to scale her business responsibly, creating long-term impact locally and globally.

A Pitch Rooted in Positioning

The Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge was designed to go beyond visibility — focusing on clarity, narrative strength, and strategic positioning. Dr. Omo’s pitch reflected exactly that.

Her presentation demonstrated:

A clear growth roadmap
Strong retail validation
A scalable manufacturing model
A powerful cultural narrative

It wasn’t just a business pitch. It was a blueprint for expansion.

A Message from Dr. Omo Ogbamola

Following her win, Dr. Omo shared:

Winning the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge is truly an honor. Beyond the recognition, I deeply appreciate the intentional structure, strategic coaching, and clear focus on media positioning. This platform goes beyond visibility, it equips women founders for sustainable growth and impact. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent immigrant-led manufacturing through Tripplemos Food Processing Company and to be part of a community that amplifies women building boldly.

Celebrating Women Who Build Boldly

Dr. Omo’s win represents more than a title. It reflects the power of preparation, strategic storytelling, and strong operational foundations. Her journey highlights what happens when immigrant-led businesses are positioned for mainstream visibility and growth.

At Women of Rubies, we remain committed to amplifying women who are not only building businesses but reshaping industries. Dr. Omo Ogbamola is doing exactly that.

In Career Gems February 15, 2026 By Women of Rubies

Meet the Esteemed Judges of the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge 2026

The Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge brings together an exceptional panel of leaders shaping media, finance, entrepreneurship, and storytelling across Canada and Africa.

This year’s judges are accomplished changemakers whose work spans financial inclusion, broadcast media, brand strategy, podcasting, policy advisory, and global community building. Their collective experience ensures that participants receive expert insight, meaningful feedback, and powerful visibility.

If you are a founder, creative, or changemaker looking to elevate your voice, this is the room you want to be in.

Hosna R. Kadary

National Market Leader, Zero Barriers to Business, BMO

With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Hosna R. Kadary is a nationally respected leader advancing equity and access to capital across Canada.

As National Market Leader for Zero Barriers to Business at BMO, she works at the intersection of financial empowerment, inclusion, and entrepreneurship. A Woman of Merit Award recipient, Hosna is dedicated to removing systemic barriers and expanding access to mentorship, funding, and business opportunities for underrepresented founders.

Her leadership extends to the Advisory Council of the Niffy Wellness Foundation, where she champions financial literacy, economic confidence, and sustainable growth for girls and women.

Hosna brings a critical lens to the Media Pitch Challenge:
How do founders position themselves for funding?
How do they communicate impact with clarity?
How do they build scalable, sustainable businesses?

Sherley Joseph

Founder, Black Canadian Creators | Podcaster | Media Producer

Sherley Joseph has spent more than a decade shaping Black Canadian storytelling through podcasting, publishing, and community-driven media platforms.

As co-host of The Sherley and Clove Podcast, she has built a cultural archive of over 800 episodes centered on identity, lived experience, and creative expression. Through Black Canadian Creators, she has created a national platform dedicated to amplifying Black creatives, independent media, and digital storytelling.

Sherley is also the founder of BlkPodNews: Northern Voices and co-organizer of The Soundwave Summit, advancing independent podcasting and media ownership across Canada.

Her lens as a media builder and community connector ensures that pitches are evaluated not just for visibility, but for cultural resonance, authenticity, and long-term narrative power.

Cynthia Mwangi

Brand Manager, Hot 96 | Founder, Cyn Communications | PR & Media Strategist

Cynthia Mwangi is a leading PR, Marketing, and Communications expert with nearly two decades of experience across broadcast journalism, brand management, and digital strategy.

Currently serving as Brand Manager at Hot 96 and Deputy Radio Digital Manager at Royal Media Services Ltd in Kenya, Cynthia operates at the intersection of content, revenue, operations, and digital growth. She understands how modern media integrates storytelling, audience engagement, and measurable business outcomes.

Through her firm, Cyn Communications, she supports organizations and public figures with media relations, political communications, crisis management, and brand positioning.

Cynthia brings strategic insight into what makes a pitch media-ready, compelling, and newsworthy in today’s competitive communications landscape.

Why This Judging Panel Matters

The Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge is more than a pitch competition. It is a visibility platform designed to equip women founders, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers with:

Media positioning skills
Strategic storytelling clarity
Confidence in communicating impact
Access to influential leaders across finance, media, and entrepreneurship

Our judges represent finance, global business, podcasting, communications, policy, and brand strategy. Their feedback goes beyond surface-level advice. It reflects real-world experience in scaling brands, securing funding, building audiences, and shaping narratives.

A Note from Esther Ijewere, Founder of Women of Rubies

At Women of Rubies, we believe visibility is not vanity. It is access. It is opportunity. It is leverage.

The Media Pitch Challenge was created to help women articulate the value of their work with clarity and confidence. Too many brilliant founders are building quietly without the platforms, media exposure, or strategic feedback they need to scale.

Bringing together leaders like Hosna R. Kadary, Dr. Oluwanifemi Fagbohun, Sherley Joseph, and Cynthia Mwangi reflects our commitment to excellence. These are women who understand capital, storytelling, governance, brand positioning, and systems change. Their presence signals that women’s stories deserve serious rooms and serious decision-makers.

This challenge is about more than pitching. It is about helping women own their narrative, refine their voice, and step into greater visibility with intention.

About the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge

The Media Pitch Challenge is an annual initiative by Women of Rubies designed to amplify women’s voices during Black History Month and beyond.

Participants submit a 2-minute video pitch, receive coaching resources, and present live before an expert panel. The initiative provides:

Media visibility and digital spotlight features
A structured pitch coaching session
A Media Pitch Workbook
Access to industry leaders
Post-event exposure across Women of Rubies platforms

The challenge exists for women founders, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers ready to refine their story and expand their reach.

Register for the Media Pitch Challenge

If you are building something meaningful and want your story to be seen, heard, and supported, this platform was created for you. Register here: womenofrubies.com/mediapitch

Join us on February 28 and step into a room designed for clarity, confidence, and visibility.

In Career Gems February 7, 2026 By Women of Rubies

All You Need to Know About the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge

This February, in celebration of Black History Month, Women of Rubies is hosting the Media Pitch Challenge, a Black woman–led visibility and media empowerment initiative designed to amplify the voices, stories, and impact of women founders, creatives, and changemakers.

Building on the success of our Media Visibility Bootcamp, this challenge creates a direct pathway from preparation to exposure. It was designed to address a critical gap: women are doing powerful work, yet many still lack access to the platforms, media opportunities, and decision-makers needed to scale their impact. The Media Pitch Challenge exists to bridge that gap while welcoming more women into a growing ecosystem of visibility, support, and access.

What Is the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge?

The Media Pitch Challenge is a curated visibility opportunity where women are invited to pitch their story, brand, or initiative for media exposure and strategic amplification.

Unlike traditional pitch competitions focused solely on funding, this challenge centers visibility as currency, because being seen creates access to funding, partnerships, credibility, and long-term growth.

Why This Matters, Especially During Black History Month

Black History Month is not only about reflection, but it is also about recognition, representation, and elevation.

This initiative:

Celebrates Black women’s leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship
Highlights underrepresented voices doing meaningful work
Aligns with broader goals of economic empowerment and inclusion
Creates tangible visibility opportunities, not just conversations

The Media Pitch Challenge positions Black History Month as a moment of action and amplification, not symbolism alone.

How the Media Pitch Challenge Works

The process is intentionally structured to be accessible, fair, and impactful.

Step 1: Registration
Participants register to secure their spot in the challenge.

Step 2: Video Pitch Submission
Each participant submits a 2-minute video pitch sharing:

Who they are
What they do
Why their story or work deserves visibility

Step 3: Review & Shortlisting
All video pitches are reviewed in advance by a panel of media and industry experts.

Step 4: Live Pitch Event
A select group of shortlisted participants pitches live during the virtual event on February 28, 2026 and receives feedback.

Step 5: Winner Selection
One standout pitch is selected to receive a premium media visibility package.

What the Winner Receives

The selected winner will receive a $2500 worth of Premium Media Visibility Package, including:

Feature spotlight on Women of Rubies and other top media platforms like Guardian, Associated Press, Canada News Journal, Business Insider, podcasts, and strategic visibility amplification across partner platforms.

This package is designed to elevate visibility, credibility, and reach, long after the event ends.

Who Should Apply? This challenge is for:

Women founders and entrepreneurs
Creatives and storytellers
NGO leaders and social impact builders
Women-led brands and initiatives
Changemakers ready to be seen

If visibility, credibility, and access are part of your 2026 goals, this opportunity is for you.

Media & Community Partners

This initiative is delivered in collaboration with visibility and community partners, including Montreal Vendors, WinTECH Community, Leading Ladies Connect, Audaz Magazine, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, and other aligned media and ecosystem platforms committed to advancing women-led stories and impact.

Event Details at a Glance

Event: Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Format: Virtual
Theme: Black History Month, Visibility, Leadership & Impact
Registration: womenofrubies.com/mediapitch

The Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge is more than a pitch event. It is a visibility accelerator. A platform for stories that matter. And a step toward ensuring that women’s work is not just done, but also seen.

Coaches and Judges to be announced soon!!

In Career Gems January 20, 2026 By Women of Rubies

Why So Many Women Doing Impactful Work Are Still Invisible

Too many women doing impactful, community-shaping work are still invisible.

Across industries, women founders, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and advocates are building powerful solutions, driving change, and serving their communities, yet their stories often go unseen and unheard. The issue is rarely a lack of talent, effort, or preparation. More often, it is a lack of access to visibility.

In today’s media-driven world, visibility determines whose work is recognized, funded, and supported. And for many women, especially Black women and women from underrepresented communities, that access remains limited.

Visibility Is the Difference Between Impact and Opportunity

Visibility is often treated as optional, something to pursue later, once the work is “bigger” or “more established.” In reality, visibility is a growth tool. It shapes perception, credibility, and opportunity.

When women doing impactful work gain visibility, they unlock:

Increased trust and legitimacy
Access to partnerships and funding
Opportunities for media coverage and speaking
Broader community reach and influence

Without visibility, even the most meaningful work can remain confined to small circles, limiting its ability to scale and create lasting change.

Why Women Doing Impactful Work Remain Invisible

The visibility gap is not accidental. Many women face systemic barriers that limit their exposure to media platforms, industry gatekeepers, and decision-makers.

Some of the most common challenges include:

Limited access to media and storytelling platforms
Lack of guidance on how to pitch their work effectively
Confidence gaps shaped by exclusion, not capability
Few spaces designed to amplify women’s voices intentionally

As a result, women are often encouraged to “keep building” without being shown how to position their stories in ways that attract attention, support, and opportunity.

Shifting the Narrative Through Visibility

Addressing invisibility requires more than encouragement, it requires structure, access, and intentional platforms. Women need spaces that help them clarify their stories, communicate their impact, and be seen by the right audiences.

This is where visibility initiatives play a critical role. When women are supported to articulate their work clearly and confidently, they are better positioned to claim space, attract support, and expand their reach.

Introducing the Media Pitch Challenge

In celebration of Black History Month, Women of Rubies is hosting the Media Pitch Challenge, a visibility-focused initiative created to spotlight women whose work deserves greater recognition.

The Media Pitch Challenge is designed to help women doing impactful work move from preparation to exposure. It is not about perfection or polished PR language. It is about clarity, confidence, and learning how to communicate your story in a way that resonates with media, audiences, and opportunities.

Participants receive guided support to refine their pitch and share their work within a curated visibility ecosystem.

What Participants Gain

Women who take part in the Media Pitch Challenge receive:

A Media Pitch Workbook to structure and strengthen their story
Access to a live group pitch coaching session led by visibility coaches
The opportunity to pitch before industry and media judges
A certificate of participation from Women of Rubies

One standout participant will receive a $2,500 Media Visibility Package, including featured content, interviews, social amplification, and strategic visibility support.

Who This Is For

The Media Pitch Challenge is open to women who are:

Founders and entrepreneurs
Creatives and storytellers
Nonprofit and NGO leaders
Advocates and community builders
Professionals with meaningful work to share

If you are doing impactful work and feel your story deserves to be seen more widely, this initiative was created with you in mind.

Why This Matters During Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to honor leadership, contribution, and excellence, not only from the past, but in the present. Spotlighting women doing impactful work today is part of continuing that legacy.

Visibility is not about attention for attention’s sake. It is about representation, access, and creating pathways for women’s work to be recognized and supported.

Step Into the Spotlight

The Media Pitch Challenge takes place on February 28, and participation is now open.

If you are ready to:

Clarify your story
Strengthen your visibility
Share your impact with confidence

You are invited to learn more and apply.

👉 Learn more and apply here: womenofrubies.com/mediapitch
📩 Questions: pitch@womenofrubies.com

Because impactful work deserves visibility, and your story deserves to be seen.

Media Pitch Challenge