From engineer to ethical luxury founder, Lola Banjo shares her extraordinary journey of building Silver & Riley, a purpose-driven brand redefining what it means to lead, create, and give back with integrity.
Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents and raised across three continents, Lola’s path has been shaped by audacity, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in possibility. As a child in Lagos, she witnessed the realities of poverty and privilege side by side, vowing early to use her opportunities for impact. An academic father who pushed her to master calculus as a child and an entrepreneurial mother who modeled empathy and grit set the foundation for her global outlook and relentless drive. Those lessons would later inform both her leadership and the ethos behind Silver & Riley.
After earning degrees in engineering, math, and finance, Lola built a stellar career as a global strategy executive at Salesforce, Deloitte, and Accenture. Yet the spark of entrepreneurship never faded. A freezing flight during business school planted the seed for a new kind of travel company — one that would blend functionality, beauty, and purpose. Today, Silver & Riley stands as a global ethical luxury brand known for Italian craftsmanship, timeless design, and its groundbreaking Buy 1, Give 5 initiative, through which Lola aims to award 1,000 grants to women entrepreneurs by 2030.
Lola opens up about scaling a mission-led company without losing its soul — from learning to delegate and lead with trust, to protecting her energy and well-being amid the pressures of entrepreneurship. She shares the daily practices that keep her grounded, from prayer and exercise to reframing mindset and embracing joy as a discipline.
This episode of Ronderings is a powerful reminder that legacy isn’t built overnight — it’s cultivated through character, courage, and consistent generosity. Tune in to hear how Lola Banjo is shaping the future of ethical luxury and inspiring a new generation of leaders to build with heart.
Chapters
👩🏾💼
00:41 Meet Lola Banjo and Her Entrepreneurial Journey
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03:15 Early Life and Inspirations That Shaped Lola Banjo
👜
21:30 The Birth of Silver & Riley
💖
26:49 Living Out Values Through Social Responsibility
✨
35:00 Authenticity in Branding and Leadership
🤝
36:05 Leveraging Relationships and Social Capital for Success
📈
39:41 Scaling a Business with Strategy and Grit
🌿
47:41 Finding Joy and Maintaining Wellness
🔥
50:04 Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Sacrifice
Links
Check out Lola Banjo’s work at Silver & Riley, follow her brand on Instagram, and explore how her Buy 1, Give 5 mission is transforming luxury into lasting impact.
Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com
Episode 63
