In an industry often driven by noise and virality, Hermena Akoso Founder of GOLDLOOP LIMITED stands as a quiet force — powerful, deliberate, and remarkably effective. A seasoned media and brand strategist, she is redefining what it means to operate behind the scenes in Africa’s luxury and lifestyle ecosystem.

With a refined focus on high-end hospitality and premium lifestyle spaces, Hermena has carved out a niche where excellence isn’t just an aspiration — it’s the baseline. She is not the face of the brands she works with, but she’s the reason they show up with precision, elegance, and intention.

One of her most recognized roles was as the exclusive media lead for Tokyo Nightlife Abuja, a flagship experience in Nigeria’s hospitality scene. While most saw the lights and luxury, Hermena was at the helm of strategy — guiding how the brand appeared, communicated, and sustained its prestige.

But her portfolio goes far deeper than nightlife. From curating influencer marketing for Davido’s Timeless Concert, to directing media strategy for Ivory Kids and Mayfair Hotel. Hermena’s work cuts across generations and verticals. Each campaign she touches is marked by premium storytelling, strategic execution, and an unwavering attention to brand alignment.

Her journey is grounded in credibility and structure:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication
• NYSC at Naval Headquarters Abuja (Information Department)
• Media, PR & influencer roles across hospitality and lifestyle sectors
• Founder of GOLDLOOP LIMITED — the media agency powering her vision

Now embarking on a strategic rebrand, Hermena is choosing elevation over exposure. She partners only with brands that respect the power of thoughtful positioning, clarity of purpose, and long-term impact. Her new narrative is not one of reinvention — but of revelation: showing the full depth of what she’s always been capable of.

At Ranks Africa, we recognize Hermena Akoso as one of the Top Founders of the Year 2025 — a woman whose excellence isn’t loud, but impossible to ignore.

Read our exclusive interview below to discover how she’s shaping Africa’s high-end brand landscape.

1. You’ve been called the architect behind some of the most resonant media campaigns in recent years. How do you begin building a brand from scratch that doesn’t just exist, but echoes in culture?

For me, it always starts with intention. I’m not interested in helping brands just “show up.” I’m focused on helping them show up with meaning. Whether it’s a startup or a legacy brand, the first thing I look for is their essence, what they stand for beyond their products or services.

From there, it’s about translating that essence into strategy: How do we tell your story? Who do we want it to reach? What should it feel like when someone interacts with your brand?

When all those elements are aligned,  story, identity, purpose.  A brand doesn’t just enter the conversation, it shapes it. That’s where cultural relevance begins.

2. In a continent overflowing with stories, visuals, and viral moments, what’s your secret to helping a brand cut through the noise and stay unforgettable?

There’s so much beauty and brilliance on this continent but yes, it also means the digital space is loud. The brands that stay unforgettable are the ones that stop trying to be everything and focus on being authentically themselves.

I always say: clarity over chaos. We focus on what makes the brand different, not just what makes it “popular.” We create moments that feel intentional, visuals that are striking but aligned, and messaging that truly connects.

People don’t remember noise,  they remember how something made them feel. That’s the magic. That’s the work.

3. You wear multiple hats, media strategist, brand whisperer, marketing consultant. Which role challenges you the most, and which one feels closest to your authentic self?

The strategist role challenges me the most.  It demands vision, precision, and the ability to connect the dots before they even appear. It’s where the pressure lives, but also where the magic starts.

But the role that feels most  me? The brand whisperer. That’s where my instinct shines.  Listening beyond the brief, sensing what a brand truly needs, and translating that into identity and influence. It’s intuitive, deeply personal, and where I feel the most at home.

4. Africa’s media and branding landscape is shifting fast, more digital, more daring. What trends excite you the most, and which ones do you believe are just hype?

I love the boldness we’re seeing now  especially in storytelling and aesthetics. African brands are no longer diluting their identity to fit into global standards. They’re leading with authenticity and showing that luxury, innovation, and cultural richness can all coexist. That excites me.

As for the trends I see as hype? The obsession with going viral without depth. I believe in visibility  but what’s the point if people don’t remember why you showed up in the first place? I’m here for intentional presence, not momentary noise.

5. You’ve helped shape how others are seen. But who is Hermena Akoso when the spotlight turns inward? What drives your creative engine, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?

At my core, I’m a builder. I see potential whether in people or brands  and my instinct is to nurture it, shape it, and amplify it with intention.

What drives me is purpose. Not just the thrill of media or branding, but the power they hold when used right  to shift perception, elevate voices, and create legacy.

I want my work to outlive trends. I don’t chase moments. I help create movements. For me, luxury is clarity, not confusion. And in a noisy world, intentionality is the loudest flex.

Beyond brand consulting, I’m deeply passionate about mentoring the next generation of women in media, helping them lead from a place of strategy, not struggle.

That’s the legacy I’m building: clarity, excellence, and culture… done with heart.