Dr. Olufunke Owolabi joined Freddie Mac in 2010, with a background in business communications and staff development. She started her career at Freddie Mac in corporate communications, where she provided internal communications planning and tactical support for broad and targeted audiences throughout the company on a variety of topics, including diversity and inclusion, benefits, and the Multifamily business. In 2015, she accepted an expanded role in Multifamily as a business management project manager. If you ask her about her job today, she’ll tell you that it just doesn’t get any better than this. In this role, she is responsible for internal communications, learning and development programs, and diversity and inclusion plan strategy.
Prior to Freddie Mac, Olufunke spent seven years coordinating Virginia Fire Service communications at the state and local level. Appointed in 2007 by Governor Tim M. Kaine to work with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs as a policy and communications analyst, she gained experience in marketing programs, media relations, and grant and speech writing. She also served as the Virginia Fire Corps Coordinator where she was responsible for promoting and increasing participation across the Commonwealth in Fire Corps, a national volunteerism-based program.
Before her gubernatorial appointment, Olufunke enjoyed four years of service with Prince William County Government. There she started her public service career as a management intern and was hired shortly thereafter as a civilian public information officer for the county’s Department of Fire and Rescue (PWCDFR). While employed with Prince William County Government she served as a change agent during the county’s first-ever organizational survey process, facilitated employee focus groups, and wrote a weekly fire and life safety column for the local newspaper.
Olufunke recently earned a PhD in industrial organizational psychology from Capella University. She also holds a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.