Folasade (Sade) A. Olanipekun-Lewis is the Regional Director for Government and Airport Affairs with American Airlines. In this role she is responsible for directing and coordinating all political, governmental, and community strategies to support the company's business goals on a state and local basis including developing and implementing the organization's political engagement strategy.Prior her current role, Ms. Olanipekun-Lewis served as Chief Administrative Officer for the Philadelphia International Airport where she was responsible for planning, organizing, leading and directing administrative functions, which include Marketing & Public Affairs, Business Diversity, Strategy, Community Engagement, and Government Affairs.

Previously, she served as the Chief Financial Officer for City of Philadelphia, City Council President, Darrell L. Clarke and was responsible for providing a wide variety of financial and programmatic support to the Council President and members of the legislative body, including facilitating the councilmanic annual review of the City of Philadelphia operating and capital budgets and five-year plan.

Ms. Olanipekun-Lewis also served as Deputy Commerce Director for Finance and Administration for the City of Philadelphia where she was responsible for managing daily operations including finance, contract and program monitoring, human resources, and information technology services; and developing and implementing a project management system for the city’s economic development agencies and commissions, which reported to the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development.

Prior experiences included serving as the Chief Financial Officer for the School District of Philadelphia where she oversaw a $1.9 billion budget. Prior to this, she was Director of Finance for the City of Birmingham, Alabama where she administered the City’s combined $580 million operating and capital budgets. Ms. Olanipekun-Lewis also was the City Treasurer for the City of Philadelphia where she was responsible for managing and investing about $2 billion of city cash reserves; and issuing bonds and other various financial instruments. Ms. Olanipekun-Lewis also served as Director of Finance for the Philadelphia Parking Authority where she managed a $100 million operating budget.

Ms. Olanipekun-Lewis completed secondary school in Nigeria, West Africa; obtained an undergraduate degree in Economics from the Graduate Center, City University of New York, CUNY BA Program; a Juris Doctor degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law; and a Master degree in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Fels School of Government.

Ms. Olanipekun-Lewis lives in the Northwest section of Philadelphia with her daughter, Adeyemi.

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Time: 4:30 pm
Cost: Free
Where: Virtual, see below for link to meeting
Click here to join the meeting
+1 267-358-6543,,422995085# United States, Philadelphia
Phone Conference ID: 422 995 085#