Business Women Awards 2025
OUTSTANDING MENTOR:
Hilina D. Ajakaiye, R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadersip Conference founder and executive director
WHEN IT COMES to being a guiding light for others, Hilina D. Ajakaiye walks the walk.
Born in Ethiopia, Ajakaiye – whose professional experience includes marketing, management, human resources and finance – once worked for an international grocery retail company where she oversaw an operating budget of more than $800 million in annual revenue. Over the last 20 years, she’s learned much about business and became eager to pass on that knowledge.
She wanted to fill a void with a conference that would focus on women, especially underserved and young women.
“I decided to start with something small. I had been to many conferences over the years where I didn’t see a lot of women that looked like me,” Ajakaiye said.
In 2018, she founded the R.I.S.E. (Realizing Inspiration & Sustaining Excellence) Women’s Leadership Conference in Providence. The nonprofit’s mission is to inspire, connect, recognize and help women and girls navigate the workplace and entrepreneurial landscape.
Ajakaiye – also executive vice president for Meet Boston – tapped her circle of more than a dozen influential women, shared her vision and they were game to help her make the conference happen, becoming her advisory council. She also received financial support from her husband to help launch the conference.
“I bootstrapped and walked into the [R.I.] Convention Center even though I didn’t have all my plans together,” Ajakaiye said. “I said here’s a downpayment for a conference and I need a date.”
The goal was to have 200 women attend the R.I.S.E. conference that first year and more than 500 arrived. Today, the annual event attracts more than 1,600 people and 30 high school students have received scholarships between $1,500 and $2,500.
R.I.S.E. speakers include leaders from various industries on an array of topics. Discussion points range from strategies for career development at all stages to financial empowerment, education, health and wellness, mentorship, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, among others.
“The conference has made such an impact. The energy in the convention center, all the encouragement, inspiration, good information – anyone who attends leaves different from when they walked in, and walks away with something that stays with them,” said Yahaira Placencia, a senior vice president at Bank of America Corp. who was mentored by Ajakaiye.
Placencia says Ajakaiye created a platform that uplifts and inspires women to reach new heights in their personal and professional lives. Ajakaiye’s unwavering commitment to mentorship goes beyond formal programs, Placencia says.
“She is always willing to share her time, wisdom and network to help others grow. If you just met her and spent 20 minutes with her, she’ll want to help you,” Placencia said.
Ajakaiye has served organizations such as The Network of Executive Women, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, Progreso Latino, Woodward School for Girls and Destination International. Big Brothers Big Sisters honored her by inducting her into its People We Admire program that lauds those who have shown a strong commitment to supporting and empowering youths through mentorship, volunteerism and leadership.
Ajakaiye is also proud of how she has raised money to get major corporate sponsors and offer scholarships. The conference, she says, is a vehicle for mentorship.
“I believe in mentoring and being mentored. I will be 48 and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I still have imposter syndrome,” Ajakaiye said.
She recalls how her first mentor, a vice president of human resources at Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., fueled her. The mentor was confident Ajakaiye could run a store of 175 people, Ajakaiye says.
Ajakaiye continues to give her time to mentees. She views mentoring as a critical aspect of a professional career, from access to learning to writing a résumé to how to think.
“I share my ideas, tell them about what I did right, what I did wrong. But I also learn from my mentees,” Ajakaiye said. “When you share knowledge, you can change a life.”
