Winifred Ereyi: Wisdom, Empathy, and the Power of Showing Up

Winifred Ereyi’s story spans continents, industries, and roles—but one thread connects it all: her commitment to leading with empathy. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and now based in the United States, Winifred has lived and worked in four countries and built a career that moves between engineering, education, corporate sales, and advocacy.

“Kindness,” she said, “needs a huge dose of wisdom.” It is not about being endlessly agreeable—it is about discernment. Knowing when to connect with the heart, and when to hold boundaries. This balance has shaped how she leads and how she mentors others.

In our conversation, she spoke candidly about emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and the importance of long-term relationships. Winifred began her professional life in electrical engineering, working in oil and gas before pursuing a master’s degree in telecommunications systems engineering in the UK. From there, she relocated to Canada through work and eventually moved to the United States. Over the years, she also became deeply engaged in supporting and mentoring girls in STEM, work that she continues.

Today, she balances a senior sales engineering role with ongoing community-building. She emphasizes emotional intelligence as a core leadership skill. “People do not leave companies,” she said, “they leave managers.” Her experience across countries has reinforced a simple but powerful idea: while kindness is universal, how it is expressed must be attuned to cultural context.

One of the most compelling parts of Winifred’s story is the all-women friendship network she has maintained since boarding school. What began as adolescent camaraderie at Queen’s College Lagos has become a global sisterhood spanning decades. They show up for each other through every season of life—marriages, divorces, parenthood, loss. Before social media, they held in-person gatherings. With technology, their group grew stronger. “We invest in showing up for each other,” she said. “No one goes through something alone.”

Their story is more than nostalgia—it is an example of sustained community care, built on shared values and mutual respect. Over time, their children have grown close as well. “Our children call everyone in the group ‘auntie,’ whether or not they’re related,” she said. The community she describes is both intimate and expansive—defined not by hierarchy or status, but by kindness.

Winifred sees kindness as a deliberate act—something that must be supported by self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and cross-cultural understanding. Her story reminds us that kindness is not weakness. It is a strength, especially when practiced with clarity and intention.

“I want to invest in kindness with a huge dose of wisdom.”

Winifred Ereyi is a global leader in engineering, advocacy, and corporate sales who believes that lasting impact comes from empathy, discernment, and consistently showing up for others. Keep an eye out for more interviews.