From Doctor to CEO for a Day: Dr. Viviane Oke’s Leadership Story. Don't Let the Smile Fool You EP22

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About This EpisodeDr. Viviane Oke is a medical doctor and digital health founder who was CEO of the Day for UNICEF Benin in 2025. In this episode, she shares the hospital moment that almost made her leave medicine, what it was like leading UNICEF’s child survival department for a day, and why she believes the “self-made” myth is holding young women back. We also talk about what she’s building with ELLES, how the CEO of the Day alumni network is showing up in ways neither of us expected, and the chain of introductions — starting with one woman’s decision to be a bridge — that changed her trajectory. This is one of those conversations where I had to remind myself I was talking to someone in her mid-twenties.About the GuestDr. Viviane Oke is a medical doctor and digital health innovator based in Benin. She is the founder of ELLES, a mobile health app providing African women with culturally adapted health information and instant telemedicine across 15 specialist areas. A UNICEF Youth Advocate, she served as CEO of the Day for UNICEF Benin in 2025.About CEO of the DayCEO of the Day is a leadership program that places young women in the CEO seat of participating companies for a full day — making real decisions, attending strategic meetings, and gaining visibility at the highest level. Since launching in 2023, over 60 young women have participated across companies in Benin and Ghana. In 2026, the program is expandingto 100 companies. To learn more or get your organisation involved, contactinfo@ceooftheday.com.Key Moments[02:00] The hospital shift that changed everything[04:00] Redefining health beyond the hospital[06:00] Leading strategic meetings at UNICEF as CEO of the Day[09:00] “You are living as if you have already been here”[15:00] The alumni network, a canoe, and Pink October[18:00] Turning CEO of the Day into a business strategy[20:00] Sent to Ghana at age eight[22:00] The Big Eyes story[27:00] “Self-made is a big, big, big lie”[29:00] “You need infrastructure”[33:00] The introduction that started it allConnect