Lara Odebiyi

CEO - Lydia Hearts Initiative | Founding President, Dabira Woman Global Network

Lara is a social entrepreneur and licensed psychotherapist. She founded the Lydia Hearts Initiative in 2007, a not-for-profit organisation based in Nigeria that equips underserved women with income-generating skills. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Dabira Magazine and the Founding President of the Dabira Woman Global Network, which operates across 12 African countries.

She serves on the board of WS Johnson Limited, a real estate investment advisory firm in Nigeria, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Magazine Training International (USA).

Lara chairs the Women of Influence and Leadership Global Summit and was recognised as one of Nigeria’s Top 100 Career Women in 2022. Her work focuses on advancing women and youth, promoting leadership development, and fostering intergenerational mentorship.

As a licensed psychotherapist, Lara maintains a clinical practice, supporting clients as they navigate life transitions, trauma, and relational challenges.