Growing up, Oyibo, a Chicago native, thought about pursuing journalism. But, at age 16, while visiting her father—a finance executive turned operator—in New York City, she landed a summer job handling clerical duties in an office on Wall Street.
She was captivated by the “hustle and bustle” and complexity of the financial world. “I realized that I didn’t want to be a trader or an investment banker because I was more drawn to business and operations,” Oyibo said. She was especially interested in how finance tells the story of a business.
“I’ve always been drawn to consumer-centric companies,” Oyibo told me. At Whirlpool, she found a balance between manufacturing complexity and brand-driven consumer focus, gaining hands-on experience with complex financial reporting and multinational operations. The move to Ulta Beauty in 2019 was a continuation of her focus on the consumer and a perfect fit for her personal passion, she said.
“I am a beauty enthusiast,” Oyibo said. “I was in Ulta Beauty stores personally all the time before I actually sat in the CFO seat.” Influenced by her mom and aunts, she learned at an early age that beauty isn’t just about outward appearances—it’s about what’s on the inside. “Ulta Beauty really embodies that,” she explained.
As a CFO who understands the significance of marketing and partnerships, Oyibo saw Ulta Beauty’s recent partnership with superstar Beyoncé’s Cécred hair care line as a natural fit. Cécred, which launched at Ulta Beauty in April, is now available in over 1,400 stores and online, marking the retailer’s largest haircare launch ever.
“I believe this is such a powerful partnership and a demonstration of how cultural relevance and financial impact can go hand in hand,” Oyibo said. She mentioned that she uses the product herself and on her six-year-old daughter.
Ulta Beauty is also collaborating with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, hosting in-store events tied to tour stops and offering customers the chance to shop tour-inspired looks. “As we focus on driving our business for the long term, this is just one example of how we are innovating and evolving,” Oyibo said.
When asked for career advice about reaching the CFO seat, she emphasized the importance of embracing new opportunities and stretch assignments, even when they’re uncomfortable. “The depth and breadth of my experience, and a willingness to be flexible about my career path, were vital to reaching the C-suite,” she said.
Another key factor: mentors. “Building and maintaining relationships, and having mentors who challenged and supported me, made all the difference,” Oyibo said.
Join us on June 12 from 11 a.m. to noon ET for our next Emerging CFO webinar. AI agents are transforming the workplace and reshaping the boundaries of innovation, driving a new era of efficiency and providing finance leaders with essential tools to innovate and create value across their organizations. In this session, we’ll explore what CFOs need to know about this technology, the opportunity costs involved, and how to effectively use agentic AI to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and augment human productivity at scale. Featured speakers include Jamie Miller, chief financial officer and operating officer of PayPal; Matt Castonguay, CFO of Team Car Care; and Silvio Savarese, EVP and chief scientist at Salesforce AI Research.
