Shola Salako

Shola Salako is an expert in the Information Technology (IT)industry and philanthropist. Having worked on a wide array of customer technology accounts, including the US Army, General Motors, Chrysler, spanning multiple sectors including the banking, federal government, automotive, and application hosting industries, Shola has put his great passion for technology into very productive use and delivered significant value to many businesses and clients. 

Mr. Salako is the Founder and CEO of Optimal Business Systems, an Information Technology solutions provider firm based in Michigan, USA. With a broad specialty in enterprise IT systems management, software development, IT consulting, outsourcing, and IT staffing, Optimal Business Systems has helped many businesses globally save costs and increase profits while improving business processes and operations through technology innovation.  As a serial entrepreneur and President/CEO of The Sholex Group, he has founded and currently manages several technology-based ventures. As a philanthropist, Shola is the founder and executive director of Agents of Hope, a non-profit/charity organization that focuses on financial literacy and personal empowerment (www.hopeagents.org).  

Chaired by Aliko Dangote, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, and President Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, Shola is also collaborating with the Afro Champions Initiative – a set of innovative public-private partnerships and flagship programs designed to galvanize African resources and institutions to support the emergence and success of African private sector multinational champions in the regional and global spheres.  Mr. Salako attained a Master’s degree in Information Systems and Management from the University of Phoenix, where he graduated at the top of his class. He also has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and holds several Information Technology certifications in various systems and applications in the information technology industry.  Shola was born in Buffalo, New York but spent some of his early years in Nigeria, West Africa, where he attended middle/high school. He lives in Southeastern Michigan with his family. He enjoys playing soccer, tennis, and golf.