International Women's Day: Reflections from a senior female leader with Yetunde Hofmann

Yetunde Hofmann

BA (Hons), MBA, ChCCIPD, FRSA

Yetunde Hofmann is a dynamic Portfolio Career Leader who chooses to dedicate her time and energy only where she can create meaningful impact and genuinely enjoy the experience.

With a successful corporate career spanning senior leadership and global roles across multiple industries, Yetunde transitioned to a portfolio career over 12 years ago pursuing her passions across board leadership, entrepreneurship, and advocacy for purposeful leadership.

She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Cranswick Plc, a FTSE 250 leading UK food producer, where she is the designated Board Director for Workforce Engagement. Her previous board roles include Treatt Plc, a global ingredients manufacturer with operations in the UK, USA, and China, where she chaired the Remuneration Committee.

She also served for six years on the Board of the CIPD, where she chaired the RemCo and acted as Board Champion for the Middle East. Yetunde is the Founder of Solaris, a pioneering global executive leadership academy focused on empowering Black professional and executive women in organisations. She is also the Managing Director of Synchrony Development Consulting, an international leadership and change consultancy, and the Founder of The Enjoyable Life Series CIC, a non-profit that helps individuals from all walks of life live more empowered and joyful lives.

A published author and advocate for Love-Based Leadership, Yetunde was recognised as HR’s 12th Most Influential Thinker by HR Magazine. She has been named among Cranfield University’s Top 100 Women to Watch in the UK FTSE and, in 2024, was recognised by the African Business Chamber UK as one of the Top 100 African Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in the UK.

In 2021, she was appointed a Chartered Companion of the CIPD, the highest honour awarded by the professional body, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the HR profession.

A classically trained pianist, Yetunde is currently researching her second book, which will focus on the future of the HR profession. Her TEDx talk, “Why Not Have Love in Business?” is available on YouTube

Laura Ryan

Founder & Global Chair, Meat Business Women

Laura is a globally recognised expert in building networks and driving transformational change across the agri-food sector. Until 2019, she was Director of the Beef & Lamb Board at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). In 2023, she was named in The Grocer’s Power List for her influence in the industry.

Through her consultancy, Lavenpark, Laura empowers businesses to achieve greater success by enhancing industry insight, connectivity, business development, marketing, and communications. She also delivers executive coaching, equipping leaders with the strategies to navigate change and maximise their impact.

Laura is the founder and Global Chair of Meat Business Women, the global professional network for women in the meat industry, which is recognised by the United Nations as a solution to the global Sustainable Development Goals.