Dr. Hidiat Simbo Popoola is an accomplished and versatile serial entrepreneur, widely recognized for her transformative leadership. Presently, she holds the position of Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, Competence & Capacity Development at Intelligence Era Group of Companies in Dakar, Senegal. Her career is marked by an unwavering dedication to service, customer-centricity, and the cultivation of value-based business relationships, bolstered by her extensive 18 years of project management experience.

Dr. Popoola has cultivated a distinctive perspective on propelling businesses toward innovation and growth. With credentials as a certified Les Brown Motivational Speaker, she holds a Master’s in Business Administration, an Executive MBA in Finance, and a focus on Business Innovation and Growth. Her expertise extends to various domains, as she is a trained Self Mastery Coach, Leadership Coach & Mentor, DISC Consultant and Trainer, Keynote Speaker, Youth Coach & Facilitator, a professional Chef, and a Health Enthusiast.

In her capacity as the founder of Excellent Impact Academy, she spearheads a value-based Leadership Coaching organization. Here, both youth and executive leaders undergo training in authentic leadership, aligning their unique strengths with their purpose, fortifying their resilience against limiting beliefs, fostering confidence to nurture positive relationships, and developing value-based skills to achieve peak performance. Her personal mantra aptly describes her role as “the magic wand in leadership limbo, and the queen for others.” Employing her “Vision Into Result (VIR)” and the JMT DISC Assessment approach, Dr. Popoola empowers her clients to become the best versions of themselves. She teaches them to forge outstanding connections in their personal and professional lives, underscoring her belief that connection is the contemporary currency for nurturing and sustaining positive relationships.​

Beyond her corporate endeavors, Dr. Popoola also dedicates herself to various charitable and artistic pursuits. As an online Gospel Minister, a drama minister, and a philanthropist, she contributes significantly to her community and beyond. Her commitment extends to serving as the Chairperson of her Local Counsel Church, Aponnaor, and as a Facilitator of the Global Youth Initiative under the Maxwell Certified Leadership Team in 2021, leveraging the iLead Youth Development initiative Curriculum by Dr. John C. Maxwell. Inspired by the profound words of Dr. John C. Maxwell, “The measure of a leader is not the number of people who serve him but the number of people he serves,” Dr. Popoola established the HIDIAT SIMBO POPOOLA Foundation and SHERO impact. These empowerment agencies aim to reach underprivileged African individuals, whose struggles with poverty, lack of access to quality healthcare, gender-based challenges, and illnesses have left them disheartened. Through articles, seminars, and mini-trainings, the foundations impart value-based skills that revitalize their confidence for self-development, entrepreneurship, and success. Dr. Popoola supports these youth physically, emotionally, and mentally through donations, spirituality, and talent development, skill acquisition, and subsidized training.​

Dr. Popoola’s personal journey, particularly her battle with Hepatitis C type 4, has provided her with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. She shares her remarkable story to inspire others to identify their strengths, confront their fears with courage and confidence, and rise above adversity. As Winston Churchill famously said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Driven by her passion to make a meaningful impact, Dr. Popoola aspires to empower 3000 disadvantaged African teenagers to realize their full potential by 2025. She recognizes that one in three Africans lives below the global poverty line, constituting 70% of the global poor. In response, she has undertaken the noble endeavor of enrolling two uneducated teenagers in vocational training every three months. This initiative aims to eradicate poverty by reshaping their mindset and providing them with the tools to create a fulfilling life, make a lasting impact, and achieve success.
Apart from her business pursuits, Dr. Popoola remains deeply committed to inspiring and motivating African youth towards excellence, impact, and success. Through mini-course training and award programs, she empowers them to perpetuate kindness, grow, and contribute to the betterment of their communities.


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She firmly believes that reaching out to these youth one by one can help combat social and moral decay, fostering safer and stronger communities for all.

Moreover, Dr. Popoola serves as the Head of Creativity at Africanabilty Cakes & Catering, overseeing a production line encompassing bread, pastries, hand-made jewelry, hand-made greeting cards, as well as event planning and decoration services. She also leverages her expertise as a Health and Beauty Consultant with affiliations to Oriflame Beauty Cosmetics, Forever Living, and LiveGood.

Dr. Popoola’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. She received the “Pitch-like-A-King” award from Informa Technology in the UK for her outstanding business idea. She also earned a Doctorate (Ph.D. h.c) in Leadership and Christian Studies from Cornerstone Christian University in Georgia, USA, in recognition of her significant contributions to human development.

Notably, Dr. Popoola was nominated for the position of Deputy Governor in her home state in 2022, underscoring her potential to lead at the highest levels of government. She is a multifaceted individual, proficient in preaching the gospel, script writing, speech writing, storytelling, journaling, teaching, and baking. Her diverse skill set makes her a compelling choice for roles such as MC, Event Planner, Keynote Speaker, TV Host, Executive Speech Writer, Concept Creator for Special Occasions, Seminars, Conferences, and more.

Family plays an integral role in Dr. Popoola’s life, and she is fortunate to have the support of her loving husband, Ayoola Martins Popoola, and their four remarkable children: Jordan, Paddy, Esther, and Elizabeth.

For those interested in connecting with Dr. Popoola, her official Facebook page, “Simbo Popoola Official,” provides a platform for engagement. You can also reach her via email at excellentimpact4phs@gmail.com or by phone/WhatsApp at +221762566786.

Dr. Popoola’s influence extends to her appearances on esteemed platforms, including CCLC House of Mercy in the UK, Women of Power Voice TV, and Stirring September by Women of Impact Network, among others. She actively facilitates and sponsors programs through Excellent Impact Academy, such as Transformation Tables by John Maxwell in 2021 and the iLead Training for community kids in the same year

Her dedication to humanitarian causes is evident through various projects, including the sponsorship of bead training for 20 youths in Lagos State in 2014, the rehabilitation of 10 differently-abled individuals at “The Friend of Disable” in Lagos, Nigeria, and generous material gifts donated to “The Lid Orphanage” in Dakar, Senegal. Dr. Popoola also engages in sharing the teachings of the word of God and actively participates in outreaches within and beyond Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Popoola has been recognized for her contributions in various capacities. She was named the “Best Supportive Female Corps Member” during her service year with NYSC in Nigeria in 2001. She has received the “Women of Impact Award” from Intelligence Era, the “Pitch-Like-A-King Award” from Informa Academy in the UK, and the title of “Best Student Overall” from Word of Faith Bible Institute in LCC in 2016. Additionally, she was nominated for the position of Deputy Governor in Ekiti State, Nigeria in 2022.

As an accomplished author, Dr. Popoola has co-authored books including “Women of the Power Voice” and “Queen Esther Royal Code.”

Dr. Popoola maintains affiliations with notable organizations such as Power Voice Academy in the USA and The Nid Orphanage in Senegal.