Fred Olayele

Biography

Professor Fred Olayele’s expertise covers trade policy, innovation, FDI, urban policy, political economy, and inclusive development. 

A seasoned economist, public policy leader, and senior strategic advisor to public sector and corporate executives, he has published and shared best practices in these areas at numerous conferences and institutions around the world. With a diverse career spanning academia, government, finance, and international development, he has consulted widely and advised several public, private, and development institutions globally.  

Professor Olayele has held academic positions and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in economics, strategic management, and public policy across four Canadian universities: University of Regina, Mount Allison University, Carleton University, and Crandall University. He has served as a visiting professor and guest speaker across universities and academic institutions abroad. He was a Visiting Scholar at the World Trade Institute in Bern, Switzerland, and a Visiting Professor of Trade and Development at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.  

He most recently served as Chief Economist and Senior Vice President with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where he oversaw a wide range of economic research and policy initiatives. Prior to that, he advised the Canadian provincial governments of British Columbia and Saskatchewan across the FDI, economic development, and energy policy domains. Earlier in his career, he was a global trade finance specialist with Citigroup. 

He serves on various boards and supports many social causes. Among others, he is a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Emerging Markets Institute, Cornell University, New York, and chairs the Advisory Board of the Futures Institute for Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development in Canada. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Government of Canada’s industry-led initiative – Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. Professor Olayele lectures internationally and writes on global development and related subjects. He holds a PhD in Economics. 

For more information, visit his personal website: https://fredolayele.com/

Recent Teaching 

Graduate 

• STGY 5900D – Corporate and Business Strategy (Winter 2018) 
• IBUS 5715A – Foreign Markets: Selection, Assessment and Entry Strategies (Winter 2018) 
• BUSI 5803 – Managerial Economics (Fall 2017) 
• IBUS 5701D – International Business (Summer 2017) 
• IBUS5721 – Regional and Global Business Strategies Concentration Integration (Fall 2016) 

Undergraduate 

• BUSI4505A – Global Financial Markets and Institutions (Winter 2018)