Working at one of the world's leading technology companies while building a career in marketing might appear to be two distinct paths, but for Funmito Makanju-Osho, they are closely intertwined.

Osho is a value-driven marketing professional whose career centres on driving digital innovation and scaling businesses through high-impact strategies. She specialises in brand building, marketing communications, and product leadership across both B2B and B2C sectors.

In just four years at Google, she has progressed from Growth Manager for App Development to Senior Growth Manager and now serves as Regional Product Lead, EMEA — overseeing product initiatives across Google's Europe, Middle East, and Africa markets — while continuing to identify primarily as a marketing professional. Her trajectory reflects a broader trend in big tech where growth and product roles increasingly blur, requiring professionals who can bridge data-driven product decisions with audience-centric storytelling. Osho holds a Certificate in Professional Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, a widely recognised credential in the marketing profession. Beyond her technical skill set, she is known for managing interactions with emotional intelligence and confidence, pursuing both organisational and personal goals.

Outside her professional life, Osho actively volunteers with Success Within International, a social enterprise focused on developing people for global relevance. She is also building a community called The Marketing Professional (TMP), which equips marketing professionals with practical insights, conversations, and mentorship. Her community-building efforts come at a time when Africa's tech ecosystem is expanding rapidly, creating growing demand for skilled product marketers who can position digital products for both local and international audiences. Additionally, she has authored her first book, "The Marketing Professional," inspired by her own transition into the marketing field.

With a deep interest in social impact and personal development, Osho aims to improve lives and drive positive change through mentorship, networking, and teamwork. Her personal mantra — "Nothing short of excellence" — guides her, alongside core values of faith, integrity, leadership mentality, and poise. She is married to Emmanuel Osho.

Her journey serves as a reminder that even in a technology-driven world, great products still need compelling stories, sound strategies, and people who know how to connect them with the right audience.

Gadget setup and productivity

Osho describes her gadget setup as simple and efficient, focusing on devices that help her stay productive, connected, and organised. She prioritises technology that supports her work, creativity, and everyday tasks without unnecessary clutter. Her most-used AI tools include Gemini, Notebook LM, Snippet Machines, Claude, and ChatGPT — a toolkit that mirrors how many marketing and product professionals are increasingly integrating generative AI into their daily workflows for research, content creation, and ideation.

When she needs inspiration, she listens to music, takes long walks, engages in intentional reflection, and prays. She finds that quiet moments help her reset, think creatively, gain fresh perspectives, and refocus. Her favourite app is Google Maps.

Innovation and social impact

When asked about a technology she wishes existed, Osho said she would like a tool that brings ideas to life through simple hand gestures and imagination — enabling users to design, build, and create physical objects instantly.

If given unlimited time and resources, she would tackle Nigeria's deep-rooted corruption challenges by building systems that promote transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership, creating a society where integrity is rewarded and progress benefits everyone. "There will be no need for the japa culture," she said — referencing the widespread Nigerian slang for emigration, which has seen significant numbers of skilled professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

Inspirations and favourite quotes

When asked about a tech leader she finds inspiring, Osho named Odunayo Eweniyi, Co-founder of PiggyVest — one of Nigeria's most prominent savings and investment platforms — and a champion for fintech and women's inclusion in technology.

Two quotes resonate deeply with her:

• "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." — Eleanor Roosevelt. Osho says it reminds her that vision, courage, and persistence are powerful forces for creating meaningful change.
• "For with God nothing shall be impossible." — Luke 1:37. She says this reminds her to dream boldly, trust the process, and believe that purpose-driven ideas can become reality.

She also expressed a desire to read more about Melanie Perkins, whose journey from a simple idea to building Canva into a global technology company she finds incredibly inspiring — particularly Perkins' focus on solving real user problems through innovation and, more recently, her strong integration of AI.

Source: TechNext24