How Startups Win Big Brand Partnerships
This week's guest
Gbolahan Sanni
Gbolahan Sanni is the Marketing Director for Nigeria and West Africa at Danone, leading brand strategy, portfolio growth, and business transformation across multiple markets. With over 18 years’ experience at various companies- Danone, Coca-Cola, Airtel, and Diageo, he has built a strong track record in driving growth, scaling brands, and leading high-performing teams across Africa and global markets.
Outside of work, Gbolahan is deeply interested in consumer psychology, leadership development and mentoring, and entrepreneurship.
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About This episode
In this episode, Lola Masha speaks with Gbolahan Sanni, Marketing Director, West Africa at Danone, about what it really takes for startups to win partnerships with major brands. They explore how corporate partnership decisions are made, what happens behind the scenes after a startup reaches out, and the factors that determine whether an idea gains traction or gets stuck internally.
The conversation also covers partnership readiness, execution capacity, ecosystem support, and what founders in West Africa need to understand before approaching big FMCG companies.
