Founder @ Eleventh Room | Redefining Luxury through Circular Fashion & Financial Empowerment | Ex-PwC & Corporate Tax Consultant | Bridging the Gap Between Style and Fiscal Intelligence

A Contradiction in Silk and Lace

Every entrepreneur has a moment where the status quo ceases to make sense. For Ola Igun, that moment arrived during the meticulous planning of her own wedding. As a professional with a rigorous background in accounting, finance, and corporate tax, Ola was a woman defined by intentionality and financial precision. Yet, she found herself standing at a crossroads that many brides face: the pressure to invest thousands in a gown destined for a storage box.

“What stayed with me wasn’t just the cost, it was the contradiction,” Ola reflects. “I was financially aware and intentional about money, yet still participating in a system that encouraged a one-time, high-cost decision for something with no long-term utility.” This realization that the wedding industry lacked a bridge between high-end aspiration and fiscal intelligence became the bedrock for Eleventh Room. It was not just a business idea; it was a challenge to the traditional “flex” of ownership. Today, as the Founder of Eleventh Room, Ola is transforming the luxury fashion landscape into a circular economy where women can access exceptional quality without the weight of a one-day investment.

Precision and Perspective

Ola’s journey began far from the runways of luxury fashion, rooted instead in the analytical world of Corporate Tax and Finance. With a degree from the University of Buckingham, she built a career within global powerhouses like PwC and AXA XL. These early roles provided more than just a mastery of numbers; they offered a front-row seat to the psychology of spending.

“I saw first-hand how intentional financial planning can create long-term value and how often people make decisions that look good in the moment but don’t always make sense in the long run,” she notes. This period of her life served as a masterclass in risk, compliance, and strategic growth. It instilled in her the belief that true luxury should never come at the cost of financial clarity, a principle that remains the heartbeat of her entrepreneurial ventures today.

Bridging the Gap

Transitioning from corporate consulting to founder required a shift from structured environments to the fluid world of startups. After a career break for full-time parenting, a period of profound personal growth, Ola returned to the professional sphere with a renewed sense of purpose. In January 2024, she launched Eleventh Room as a luxury fashion rental marketplace.

The ascent was not about following a pre-mapped route, but about having the audacity to start. Ola’s leadership philosophy is built on the idea that “the most valuable lessons come while building, not before. Progress teaches faster than perfection.” By securing strategic partnerships and building a lender-first platform, she has successfully created a community where women can monetize their wardrobes, turning dormant assets into tools for financial empowerment. Her transition from Finance Operations at Convex Insurance to full-time founder highlights her ability to balance operational excellence with visionary creativity.

Redefining Modern Luxury

Ola is not just renting dresses; she is shifting cultural narratives. Under her leadership, Eleventh Room has become a symbol of responsible growth, prioritizing purpose and people over mere pace. She is a vocal advocate for the circular economy, believing that sustainability and luxury are naturally aligned through intentionality.

Her impact is best felt in her commitment to the community. By connecting lenders with renters, she has fostered an ecosystem of collaboration. “When we share our resources, we all rise,” she shared during International Women’s Day, underscoring her belief that women’s financial freedom is inextricably linked to how they engage with the luxury market. Ola is proving that a woman can be both deeply stylish and fiercely intelligent with her capital.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Ola Igun envisions a world where the desire to possess is replaced by the desire to experience. Her ten-year goal for Eleventh Room is to normalize the idea that financial wisdom is the ultimate hallmark of success. “Are we building a lifestyle, or are we building a legacy?” she asks, challenging both herself and her peers to look beyond the immediate reward.

As she moves forward, Ola is increasingly focused on the intersection of fashion, finance, and cultural shifts. Whether through building Eleventh Room or contributing to board-level conversations on modern luxury, her mission remains clear: to empower women to choose differently. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that when you align your professional expertise with your personal values, you do not just build a business, you start a movement.

Editorial Note

Ola Igun’s story is a masterclass in identifying a personal pain point and scaling it into a systemic solution. Her journey from the structured world of corporate tax to the vanguard of circular fashion highlights the power of “courage before clarity.” For the modern leader, Ola’s path offers a vital lesson: the most sustainable growth, both financial and personal, comes from the willingness to challenge tradition and lead with intention.