Meet Tope Awotona.
Tope is the CEO and Founder of Calendly, the modern and transformative scheduling platform for high-performing teams and individuals accelerating business forward.
Launched in 2013, Tope creating Calendly with a mission to merge technology with the simplicity of scheduling, without the cumbersome back-and-forth of email—therefore filling a void many didn’t even know existed.
Ultimately, Calendly’s north-star vision is to make the lives of professionals more productive.
And under Tope’s leadership, Calendly has grown and evolved to over 10 million monthly users, and has also reached a remarkable billion-dollar valuation.
Prior to launching Calendly, Tope spent the majority of his career in enterprise software sales, working for companies such as IBM, Perceptive Software, and Dell Technologies— in addition to launching a series of startups.
It was during his enterprise sales experience, where Tope identified the challenges of scheduling firsthand. These direct experiences became both the impetus and inspiration for creating Calendly.
Tope’s entrepreneurial success traces back to his foundational years in Nigeria. His journey to the U.S. in 1996 for collegiate pursuits, combined with the challenges and insights from his startup ventures, laid the roadmap for his unique path.
Frequently acknowledged for spearheading one of the world’s fastest-growing software companies, Tope has been featured in top publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and VentureBeat.
His accolades include the 2021 Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Award and the 2019 Comparably Best CEOs award.
A proud alumnus of the University of Georgia with a degree in Management Information Systems, Tope resides in the Greater Atlanta Area.
Beyond his numerous professional achievements, Tope is dedicated to adding value and giving back to others by creating opportunities for the next generation, especially for those who might lack resources or guidance to break into tech.
Tope’s journey from his humble and vibrant beginnings in Lagos, Nigeria to becoming a billionaire entrepreneur in the states, is truly an inspirational narrative of scaled passion, persistence, and perseverance.
And with his relentless pursuit of excellence, there’s no doubt that Tope’s global legacy will continue to influence others throughout his 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.
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