Success Story: Maolo Obaya, empowering the entrepreneurs of tomorrow

From global business development at Forza Football to advocating for diversity and inclusion in boardrooms, Manolo’s journey is inspiring. With roots in Mexico and a career spanning international brands like Nike, Adidas, and Mastercard, Manolo has now joined the board of Drivhuset Stockholm. Their mission? To ensure that every aspiring entrepreneur, regardless of background, gets the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

In this success story Manolo shares how deb. became a catalyst in the process and what he aims to contribute with in his new role.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I’m originally from Mexico and moved to Sweden for love. Today, I help entrepreneurs and investors embrace diversity and inclusion by advising successful startups and breaking down barriers to accessing private capital. I also mentor at Techstartups, Founder Institute Sweden, +impact Accelerator, 500 Global, and VC Loyal.

Before that, I led global business development at Forza Football, the world’s second-largest football app, working with brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Heineken, Mastercard, and PepsiCo.

Diversity is proven to drive better results, yet boardrooms remain largely homogenous. I want to change that by building high-trust, diverse, and inclusive business cultures, that’s what drew me to board work and, ultimately, to deb.

Q: Which board have you joined, and what attracted you to this opportunity?
I’ve joined the board of Drivhuset Stockholm, a non-profit that believes everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, no matter their background or financial situation.

The mission resonated deeply with me, both as an immigrant and as someone passionate about supporting entrepreneurs. It felt like the perfect match.


Q: How was the recruitment process?
Surprisingly smooth! The meetings went really well, which showed the strong fit. Having worked with Drivhuset in Gothenburg before also gave me some valuable insights into the organization.

Q: Did you use any insights from deb. in the process?
Absolutely. deb. taught me the importance of investing time to find the right position. They gave us the tools, but it was up to me to do the work, from refining my CV and collecting feedback to tailoring applications for each role.

The interview workshop was also key. It helped me frame my strengths from a strategic perspective, which made a big difference in the process.


Q: What will be your main contribution to the board?
I’ll bring my unique blend of entrepreneurship and global business development experience to provide speed in decision-making, a customer-first mindset, and a willingness to try new things while learning from failures.


Q: What are your expectations for being on a board in this specific industry?
I expect to contribute to the organization’s long-term success by sharpening strategy and continuously testing assumptions, so we remain flexible and aligned with the market’s needs.


Q: What is your favorite professional tip?
Show up, be consistent, and lead with integrity.


Q: What is the most valuable thing you’ve taken from the deb. program?
The network, without a doubt. Being surrounded by accomplished and inspiring people is incredibly uplifting. On top of that, I carry with me a wealth of knowledge and practical insights that I can apply directly in my board work.