Bio

Ukonwa Ojo is the Founder and CEO of Zaia Ventures, a company committed to building and scaling businesses that serve underrepresented and marginalized communities. Prior to this, she was the Global Chief Marketing Officer and US General Manager for Amazon Prime Video & Studios. She is an experienced global operational P&L leader and marketing executive with a 25-year track record of leading cross functional teams to scale multi-billion dollar brands/businesses. Her achievements demonstrate her ability to consistently deliver operational results across geographies and industries through astute financial management, market leading innovation and product development, and award-winning marketing initiatives that resonate deeply with consumers. During her tenure at Amazon Prime Video, she combined data driven/analytical decision making, cross functional team leadership, and award-winning creativity to deliver the best performance in Prime Video history. She led a significant acceleration in customer acquisitions, which helped Amazon Prime Video replace Netflix as the #1 US Streamer for the first time ever, launched 8 of the top 10 shows in Prime Video History, and improved marketing investment efficiency to its best ever. In addition, she helped the streamer garner 5 Golden Globes, 4 Oscar Nominations and 2 wins, 50 Emmy Nominations and 8 wins and 111 Entertainment Clios. Prior to this role, served as Global Chief Marketing Officer at M.A.C Cosmetics, a multi-billion dollar cultural icon and the world’s #1 Makeup Brand. Prior to that, she served as Global General Manager for an iconic portfolio of brands including COVERGIRL, Clairol, Sally Hansen, Rimmel, and Lifestyle Scenting/Fragrances at Coty. Earlier in her career, she held General Management roles at Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser PLC, General Mills Corporation and MeadWestvaco Corporation. Over the course of her career, she has been recognized with over 60 awards and honors for driving outstanding market leading results and delivering creative campaigns/innovations that motivate people to act including Forbes Most Influential CMOs, Black Enterprise 25 Women Changing the World, Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs, Variety’s Most Influential Women in Entertainment, AdAge 50 and A List, Adweek 50, WWD Brand Builder of the Year, WFA Global Marketer of the Year List and Financial Times Upstanding 100. Member, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, Twitter Influence Council, Executive Leadership Council and Black Executive CMO Alliance, Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute