Lisa Armstrong

Lisa Armstrong, Founder & CEO of Ugogo Africa, is a dynamic force in tech innovation and a passionate advocate for racial equality. Drawing from a rich blend of personal and professional experiences, Lisa uses her voice and platform to challenge systemic bias and promote inclusivity. Her lived experiences as a Black woman in the tech and entrepreneurial space fuel her commitment to creating accessible opportunities, particularly across the African continent and its diaspora. As a sought-after speaker, Lisa covers a diverse range of topics including tech innovation and business transformation, women in tech, remote and distributed team structures, ecommerce (with a focus on Africa), African fashion, financial inclusion, and retail financial inclusion.

Lisa’s career began in marketing and brand management, starting as a Trainee Brand Manager at Central African Distribution before taking on the role of Account Manager at Worldwide Business Research. With an early flair for strategic thinking, she took the bold step to pursue further education, graduating in Business Law and Marketing from London Metropolitan University. Her academic journey culminated in a scholarship to the London School of Economics, where she completed the Executive Course in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in an Age of Change. She went on to build an impressive marketing career, serving as Marketing Manager at Eligo and later working in Global Marketing for Publicis Sapient, where she helped drive large-scale, strategic initiatives across digital platforms.

Her journey has since been marked by a series of remarkable achievements. Lisa co-founded Fiestaweekend, founded Le Spa Du Petit in Clerkenwell, and serves as Principal Director of ChewingRice, demonstrating her versatility across sectors. In 2022, she was awarded an OBE for services to business and racial equality, and she previously received the WACL Future Leaders Award, recognising her as one of the most influential women in marketing and commercial media. Her flagship company, Ugogo Africa, earned the prestigious Publicis 90 Award for its innovation in e-commerce and social enterprise, solidifying her position as a leader in Africa-focused digital commerce.

Lisa’s speaking engagements are compelling because they blend expert insight with deeply personal purpose. Whether discussing the challenges women face in tech, the realities of building remote and distributed teams, or the need for retail financial inclusion in underserved markets, Lisa centres her message on racial equity and inclusive innovation. Her work and voice offer practical, forward-thinking solutions rooted in a genuine commitment to transformation. That’s why organisations hire her — not only for her subject matter expertise but because she inspires audiences to reimagine what inclusive leadership and impact truly look like.