Olanrewaju Alaka Reveals Brand Strategy Behind TWN Circle’s Exclusive ‘Beyond Talent’ Event
Brand strategist Olanrewaju Alaka has shared how every major decision behind Talented Women Network (TWN) Circle’s Beyond Talent event was carefully crafted to strengthen the platform’s identity and reputation rather than simply deliver another networking conference.
Serving as Brand Director for TWN Circle, Alaka said the event was designed to create meaningful conversations among accomplished women through an intentionally exclusive experience.
According to him, the strategy extended far beyond event planning, covering branding, guest selection, speaker curation, media visibility, programme structure and post-event engagement.
Exclusive Guest List Designed to Build Prestige
Rather than opening registration to the public, organisers intentionally limited attendance to 30 invited guests.
Invitations were distributed through a carefully curated WhatsApp broadcast list, ensuring the audience reflected the event’s vision of bringing together influential women for deeper conversations.
Explaining the decision, Alaka said limiting attendance was never about venue capacity.
“Capping the room at thirty was not about the venue. It was a decision about credibility. A room that lets everyone in has no signal value. A room people cannot easily get into is the one people talk about.”
The event took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, selected for its premium reputation and advanced audio-visual facilities, matching the calibre of invited guests and speakers.
Programme Built Around Three Core Themes
The day’s conversations were organised around three central themes:
- At Home
- At Work
- In Your Community
Alaka said every speaker was selected because their real-life experiences aligned with one of those themes, rather than their professional titles alone.
Each participant reportedly received detailed briefing materials weeks before the event, outlining audience expectations, speaking objectives and presentation timelines.
Speaking on the selection process, he explained:
“I did not select speakers for their titles. I selected women whose lived experience already answered the themes we built the day around—at home, at work, and in community. Credibility on stage has to be earned, not appointed.”
Notable Speakers and Panelists
The event featured a lineup of respected professionals across different industries.
The speakers included:
- Dr. Amarachi Chinweoke Okuwobi (Convener and Keynote Speaker)
- Biola Flow (Abiola Adediran)
- Dr. Bolaji Mogaji
- Princess Oghene
- Toyin Bakare
The panel discussion featured:
- Mojisola Oladapo, Chief Marketing Officer of Filmhouse Group
- Minister Anny
Behind-the-Scenes Production Focused on Experience
Alaka supervised the entire production process from guest arrivals to the closing ceremony while deliberately remaining behind the scenes instead of taking a speaking role.
The production team included:
- Peace Eze as host
- Olivia as co-host and red carpet coordinator
- Obinna overseeing production, photography and audio-visual operations
The programme featured:
- Red carpet reception
- Guest introductions
- Keynote presentation
- Interactive networking sessions
- Speaker presentations
- Panel discussion
- Group photographs
- Closing ceremony
Media Coverage Extended Event Reach
Although attendance was intentionally limited, the event attracted significant media attention.
Television stations and lifestyle publications covered the programme, allowing discussions from the private gathering to reach a much wider audience beyond those physically present.
Alaka noted that the production approach mirrors the strategy he applies to other executive networking initiatives.
“This was not my first time producing a room like this. I convene Apex Network on the same principle: quarterly gatherings for founders and executives built to stay curated rather than filled by open registration. Beyond Talent was that same discipline applied to a new room.”
Momentum Continued After the Event
Following the programme, TWN Circle launched a coordinated post-event campaign that included:
- Distribution of press materials
- Publication of professional event photography
- Speaker highlight videos across social platforms
- Membership conversion efforts targeting attendees
According to Alaka, demand for participation eventually exceeded the original attendance limit.
“We built for thirty, and the room outgrew the plan. That is not an accident. That is what happens when positioning is done properly before the first invite goes out.”
Reputation Positioned as the Foundation of Brand Growth
Reflecting on the event, Alaka described Beyond Talent as evidence that strong brand positioning begins long before guests arrive.
He maintained that reputation remains one of the most valuable assets for founders, executives and premium brands seeking long-term influence.
As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Laerryblue Media, Alaka said the same philosophy guides his agency’s work across Africa and the United Kingdom, where it focuses on public relations, reputation management and authority positioning.
The successful execution of Beyond Talent, he said, demonstrates how intentional branding can transform a networking event into a lasting platform for influence and community building.
