How Phillip-Hope Ojo became VP of Tech at Starks in just five years

Taiwo Okanlawon

In November 2024, Phillip-Hope Ojo leads the technology team at Starks, one of Africa’s top fintech companies. Stacks provides liquidity and embedded finance APIs for major banks and brands like Afreximbank, Marex, Crown Agents Bank, and Flutterwave. Just five years ago, Phillip-Hope began writing code professionally, building on a lifelong passion for technology that started in childhood. Today, he runs a high-performing tech organization, shaping the future of African finance. His journey offers a clear blueprint for anyone aiming to rise from developer to C-Suite quickly.

From day one, Phillip-Hope focused on mastering the basics. Writing code, building projects end to end, and learning constantly became his routine. He balanced long-term thinking with weekly execution, knowing that technical skill alone is not enough. Reliability, reputation, and delivering results under pressure set him apart and built trust with his peers and leaders.

As he advanced from senior engineer to leadership roles, Phillip-Hope learned to build and manage teams effectively. He believes in creating in-house teams that deeply understand the business while leveraging contractors or low-code platforms for targeted projects. This approach allows agility without losing focus on critical work. He also fosters accountability, encourages experimentation, and ensures clear communication so every team member knows their role and the company’s objectives.

Becoming VP Tech at Stacks required more than coding expertise. Phillip-Hope needed strategic vision and the ability to navigate complex fintech regulations. He led initiatives that improved system reliability, introducing monitoring strategies that cut the time to resolve critical issues by more than seventy percent. He learned to move fast without creating unnecessary risk. Trust, compliance, and operational excellence became core principles of his leadership.

What truly defines his journey is how he combines technical mastery with emotional intelligence. Phillip-Hope understands that leadership is about people as much as it is about systems. He listens to his teams, creates space for innovation, and helps others find confidence in their skills. His leadership style empowers engineers to think like business owners, not just coders, which has become a major strength in building high-performing, mission-driven teams.

Rapid growth also comes from smart learning. Phillip-Hope embraced AI-assisted development to speed coding, testing, and problem-solving. He deliberately chose projects that pushed him to learn quickly while creating measurable impact. Every role became an opportunity to mentor others, take on responsibility, and demonstrate readiness for larger challenges. His approach accelerated his rise to VP Tech in just five years.

His journey offers a playbook for aspiring tech leaders. Focus on decisions that align with business goals. Build strong teams that can move fast and learn together. Choose technology wisely, protect user privacy, and take full responsibility for outcomes. Take calculated risks, experiment, and keep learning continuously. Leadership is not just a title. It is a mindset that combines skill, vision, and the ability to help others grow.

Phillip-Hope Ojo’s story shows that with discipline, focus, and relentless execution, ambitious tech professionals can rise quickly and make a lasting impact in fintech. For those ready to follow this path, the formula is clear: master your craft, lead with purpose, and never stop learning.