My name is Ifeoma Okpala Aina, British born and Nigerian raised, living in Denmark. I lead global learning and development for procurement at Maersk, where we design programs and facilitate timely learning interventions that support our procurement colleagues’ professional development. I am a founding member of ProWoc (Professional Women of Colour Denmark), a non-profit organisation committed to empowering and amplifying the voices of women of colour. I currently serve as President and I am responsible for the strategic direction and operational leadership of the organisation. In addition, I am a global Ambassador for the Special Youth Foundation, which focuses on advancing access to education for African children in underserved communities.

I studied communication and leadership, but much of my real education has come from moving across countries and embracing opportunities that pushed me outside my comfort zone.

At my core, I’m a connector. I love bringing people and ideas together, to facilitate impactful encounters, change of perspectives and narratives.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about travel, food and building community. I’m also deeply invested in supporting women of colour through ProWoc, an initiative that has become a home and a movement all at once.

Achievements

One highlight of my career was being selected to lead the Cargo Execution function for our then Intra-Europe shipping line at Maersk HQ in Denmark. It was my first leadership role with direct reports and transitioning from a skilled individual contributor to a people leader was a stepping stone to other roles in the company. The transition was challenging and the personal growth highly rewarding.

A more recent milestone is directing the transformation of Maersk’s procurement development program where the enhanced MIPE program will include refined learner experience, governance and learning approach. This program will develop the next generation of procurement leaders — and knowing that my work is helping elevate global talent is very fulfilling.

In community work, strengthening ProWoc’s visibility, storytelling, and strategic collaborations stands out. ProWoc represents values I believe in: connection, courage, and representation — and playing a part in its growth is a privilege.

Important choices on her journey

The biggest choice on my journey has been to embrace courage: Courage to move countries, to take leadership roles at Maersk that felt bigger than me at times, and to say yes to building ProWoc when I could have stayed in my comfort zone. Another key choice has been to root myself in service because I believe true success is measured not just by personal milestones but by the support we give to others.

I’ve lived in Denmark for seven years now. Initially, my career with Maersk brought me here — the chance to work at our HQ after many years seemed like the right career move at the time. What I didn’t expect was how much Denmark would become part of my story, not just professionally but personally as well. It has become home through meaningful friendships and the ProWoc community, which turned a professional move into a deeply personal journey.

I had been travelling to Denmark a few times a year for work over many years, so my first impressions came a long time ago. What I found interesting was that what I assumed was Maersk company culture, was actually what I would consider as Danish culture. One of the aspects that stood out to me was that Danes appear to be reserved. However, I was prepared to navigate that having lived in the Netherlands, where I learnt that people are reserved at first, but once you build trust, the (few) relationships with Danes run deep and are worth the patience. That’s also why I was drawn to building communities like ProWoc — to help others navigate that cultural adjustment more smoothly.