It Takes A Village Collective’s Chloë Davies on learning from her mother’s legacy

Ad Age is marking Black History Month 2025 with our fifth-annual Honoring Creative Excellence package. (Read the introduction and all the essays here.) Today, guest editor Lucien Etori turns the spotlight to Chloë Davies, founder and CEO of It Takes A Village Collective (ITAV), who writes about a family bond that shaped who she is today. I am my mother’s child. Growing up in the ’80s, surrounded by comic books, cartoons and creativity, I didn’t fully understand my origin story until my late 20s, and even more so when I became a mother myself. While many in my family—including my grandad Arthur, both my grandmothers named Elizabeth and my dad Donald—shaped who I am, my true beginning starts with my mother, Olutoyin. Her professional journey, though never publicly shared, deserves to be heard and honored, for her flowers to be given—and I dedicate this essay to her legacy. In 1962, my mother moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to the U.K. at just 5 years old, leaving her family behind. She lived with her uncle’s family in London, later earning a textiles degree from Eastbourne College. In 1977, she began working at Peter Jones (part of the John Lewis Partnership) in London as a Saturday worker in the dress fabrics department, and from there her career in fashion and retail took off. My mother has an unforgettable personality—effervescent, easy to like and with a laugh you hear before you see her. She always knew what she wanted professionally and was determined to become a department manager. She worked tirelessly, climbing the ranks until she nearly reached her goal in 1994 as deputy manager of children’s wear. But despite her efforts and experience, for years she was repeatedly told she wasn’t “ready” or “needed more time.” Consciously from the age of 11, I watched her struggle with these setbacks, her confidence repeatedly knocked down by a system and environment that was not designed in her favor even though she knew and regularly proved she had the ability. But my mother is not a fan of the word no. When she puts her mind to something, she is determined and will not be wavered from her path. Supported by my dad and dear friends including my godmothers Deborah and Zena, she persevered. Finally, on March 10, 2002, she made herstory, becoming the first Black department manager in John Lewis Partnership’s history. However, it has been 23 years and to date her contribution still remains publicly unacknowledged. She not only shaped what would become the nursery department model, and was often consulted directly by the buying team, but she spent a decade of her leadership developing and mentoring a new generation of managers, some of whom would go on to surpass even her achievements. Her legacy continued when, in 2020, Sharon White, the former CEO of Ofcom, became the first Black chairwoman of the John Lewis Partnership, breaking barriers thanks to the path my mother paved. Witnessing my mother’s resilience taught me invaluable lessons: the importance of grace, staying present and how to balance career and family. When I was broken in the summer of 2023 after leaving a role early, it was my mother’s love, prayers and relentless WhatsApp messages that helped restore me—showing me that I, too, could and would rise again. For all the days we have still to share, Olutoyin Nicola Shadare Davies—Mummy—you are and will always be my inspiration. Because of you, generations of Black women, including myself, have seen that we can take up space and LEAD. I love you, I am grateful to be your daughter and I honor and thank you! At 17, I became the youngest trainee section manager in the John Lewis Partnership’s history. Now, as a chef, cultural strategist, entrepreneur, founder and mother of two, I’ve spent the last 14 years working globally to amplify human stories across all identities. As the founder of It Takes A Village Collective, my mission is to ensure that by 2028, 1 in 5 professionals in adland (advertising, media, marketing and communications) will be Black women. The experiences Black women embody are a dynamic force for change that reshapes industries—rooted in strategy, innovation, creativity and a focused determination of which there is no comparison and through which all things are possible. I should know—I watched my mother build her blueprint. Journey with me as I build mine. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here

It Takes A Village Collective’s Chloë Davies on learning from her mother’s legacy

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