Leading with heart: Yemi Mobolade
When Yemi Mobolade arrived in the United States as an immigrant at 17, he never imagined leading a city. Now as Mayor of Colorado Springs, he’s disrupting politics in the most positive way, proving he’s exactly what Olympic City USA needed.
Yemi Mobolade wasn’t supposed to win. A political newcomer without any party backing, traditional campaign machine and deep-pocketed donors, he was the ultimate underdog in Colorado Springs’ mayoral race. Yet, on election night in 2023, the Nigerian-American made history by becoming the first Black mayor of the city and the first elected independent to hold the office.
However, his victory wasn’t just a win for him. It was a statement that signaled residents were ready for something different – a leader who wasn’t entrenched in partisan politics but was deeply invested in their city’s future.
"I feel like I’m the product of the American dream."
"To be able to inspire and give hope in the arena of politics in a season and a climate where people are disappointed and done with politics, it’s been an honor to restore trust and to inspire people again," Mobolade tells The CEO Magazine.
"It’s the hardest job I’ve ever done, but it’s also the most rewarding job I’ve ever done."
From immigrant to mayor
Mobolade’s story began in Lagos, Nigeria. The son of a secondary education teacher and a businessman, he grew up in a home where education and perseverance were non-negotiable. At 17, he arrived in the United States, following in the footsteps of his brother, to pursue the American dream through education.
"I came here as an international student, shy and unsure of myself," he recalls. "I couldn’t even give a speech in front of the 20 people in my class."
But he didn’t stay in the background for long. After earning his master’s in business and theology, he moved from Indiana to build a life in Colorado Springs. There, he started a church as part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. After the Great Recession, he was one of the first entrepreneurs to invest in the downtown, co-founding The Wild Goose Meeting House in 2013.
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Over the years, his commitment to the city only deepened as he launched small businesses, led economic development initiatives and worked with faith-based and nonprofit organizations to strengthen the community. By the time he ran for mayor, he had already spent years shaping the city – just not from inside City Hall.
"Now I feel like I’m the product of the American dream," Mobolade says with a smile. "To whom much is given, much is required.
"I raised my hand out of love for my city and out of a desire to disrupt politics in the most positive way. I want to bring good leadership principles into the realm of politics, including transparent communication skills, integrity, empathy and the ability to inspire others, providing a clear vision for future unity, which is desperately needed."
A city on the rise
Colorado Springs is no longer just a quiet mountain town. With its rapid growth, the city known as Olympic City USA – about 40 percent of athletes in the United States that competed in the last Olympics either train or live in the city – is on track to become Colorado’s largest by 2050.
"We’re the 39th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Colorado," Mobolade says. "We’ve been named the most desirable city by US News & World Report, the third-best city to live in and the number one most neighborly city.
"We’re no longer a best-kept secret. The cat’s out of the bag. Colorado Springs is growing and growth isn’t a bad thing; the question is how we ensure we have the right conditions to sustain it."
"Democracy is best served when residents are involved in the decisions that affect their neighborhoods."
It’s not lost on Mobolade that with growth comes both excitement and concern. Residents want economic opportunity, but also fear rising costs and overdevelopment.
"Nimbyism is alive and well, and that’s a negative way of looking at it – the whole ‘not in my backyard’ movement," he explains. "But at its heart, it’s really about whether we’re growing aimlessly or with intention."
For Mobolade, public engagement is key.
"For too long, in many cities, they’ve just grown without involving the public," he points out. "So public engagement is a top priority of mine. We want to engage them in decision-making. After all, democracy is best served when residents are involved in the decisions that affect their neighborhoods."
A ‘radical collaborator’
One of Mobolade’s greatest strengths is his ability to bring people together.
"I’m a radical collaborator," he says.
"My personal mission statement, which I’ve had even before my time as mayor, is that I collaborate for the health, growth and prosperity of Colorado Springs. So intrinsic in my leadership is an understanding that you can’t get anything done without public and private partnerships."
A prime example is how the city is addressing homelessness.
"Homelessness is a tri-sector problem, meaning it affects the private, nonprofit and public sectors," he says.
"Tri-sector problems need tri-sector solutions. That’s paramount. Now, the city isn’t a homeless provider, but we work closely with Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army and Springs Rescue Mission.
"We provide federal funding, and we also engage the business community to support workforce reintegration."
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This approach, he says, is delivering results.
"Colorado Springs has become a national model," Mobolade says. "Other cities are looking to us to mimic some of our successes because, thanks to our partnerships, we’re seeing some of the lowest homelessness numbers since 2015.
"With partnerships, it’s about knowing that each sector does not have the resources on their own to take care of the problem – we all need each other."
Leadership that lasts
Beyond policy, Mobolade’s leadership philosophy is about something deeper: building a legacy of integrity, courage and service. As a father of three young children, he’s mindful of the example he sets – not just for his family, but for the next generation of leaders.
"My job is twofold. I administer excellent city services, and I administer hope," he says. "People of all ages look to me for inspiration and hope. And part of being an inspiring leader is something that just comes with my DNA. I’d like to say that I did something to earn it, but it was just God-given."
His goal for Colorado Springs is for it to be a city of ‘great neighbors and great neighborhoods’.
"My vision from day one is that our city will be safe, economically prosperous, culturally rich, welcoming and vibrant – a world-class city on the hill that shines brightly," he says.
"I want them to be able to look at my story and say, ‘If Yemi Mobolade can do it, I can do it too.’"
But achieving that vision takes more than ambition. It takes leadership.
"My job is to create the right environment and conditions for my team to excel," he says. "I provide the tools and inspiration, then get out of their way."
At the end of the day, Mobolade isn’t just focused on what he accomplishes but on how he leads. For him, that means leading with courage, empathy and humility – values that have guided him since his days as a young immigrant learning to find his voice. Now as mayor, he hopes his journey inspires others.
"I want to inspire others to dare to fail, to be different, to chase the lion, to set God-sized goals, to be purpose-driven and for them to know that they too can fulfill their dreams," he says.
"I want them to be able to look at my story and say, ‘If Yemi Mobolade can do it, I can do it too.’"