Meet our Alumni

Azibaolanari Okungbowa

Systems Change Practitioner & Board Member

 Azibaolanari shares how her RGU experience sparked a systems thinking mindset that now drives her wide ranging community and organisational impact. 

PgCert | PgDip | MSc Procurement and Supply Chain Management

From RGU to Systems Change: Applying Procurement Skills for Community Impact

When I completed my MSc in Procurement & Supply Chain Management at RGU in 2022, I left with more than a degree - I left with a systems thinking mindset that continues to shape every part of my career. RGU taught me to see challenges not as isolated problems, but as interconnected systems that need thoughtful, collaborative solutions. 

My RGU Experience 

During my time at Aberdeen Business School, I was proud to receive several awards, including the Half Scarlet Award with Distinction, the Welcome Buddy of the Year Award, and the Innovation Award. I was also recognised as a CIPS Top 6 Global Finalist for my research on reducing carbon emissions in automotive supply chains, which was later published in CIPS Supply Management magazine.

Turning Learning into Impact

Since graduating, I’ve applied procurement and supply chain principles across sectors far beyond traditional industry roles. My journey has included:

  • Serving on the Grampian Credit Union Board as Supervisory Committee Lead 
  • Supporting 4,500+ members as Public Relations Manager for Toastmasters International District 42 
  • Coordinating multi agency work for vulnerable families, using supply chain frameworks to strengthen social impact 
  • Joining the Aberdeen Advisory Team for The Big Plastic Count, the UK’s largest people powered investigation into plastic waste 

These opportunities weren’t the expected outcome of my degree - and that’s what excites me most. Procurement has proven to be a powerful toolkit for driving environmental, social, and organisational change.

What I Carry Forward

Three lessons from RGU continue to guide me: 

  • Systems thinking is a superpower - it helps me connect people, processes, and challenges. 
  • Applied learning matters - the real world focus at RGU gave me the confidence to work across new sectors. 
  • Staying connected is invaluable - remaining engaged with the RGU community has shaped both my career and my ability to give back.