Wakefern safety chief Deborah Akinbowale spotlighted by Influential Women

Influential Women featured Deborah Akinbowale, MBA, CSP, the Head of Safety at Wakefern Food Corporation, for her work leading enterprise safety strategy across stores, distribution centers and corporate offices. The profile highlights her focus on employee well-being, leadership development and the future of workplace safety.

Why it matters: - Deborah Akinbowale leads safety strategy at Wakefern Food Corporation across retail stores, distribution centers and corporate offices. - Her work centers on compliance, risk reduction and employee well-being in a role that affects daily operations across the company. - The profile also points to broader workplace issues, including psychological safety, emotional intelligence and artificial intelligence.

What happened: - Influential Women published a profile of Deborah Akinbowale, MBA, CSP, on Aug. 6, 2026. - Akinbowale serves as Head of Safety at Wakefern Food Corporation in Elizabeth, New Jersey. - The profile says she has more than 13 years of occupational health and safety experience. - Before Wakefern, Akinbowale worked at Amazon, Apple and The Estée Lauder Companies. - Akinbowale also founded D.GraphiKs, a photography and graphic design business. - More information is available through Deborah Akinbowale's profile.

The details: - At Wakefern, Akinbowale oversees safety programs designed to promote operational consistency and accountability. - She views safety as a core business value built through collaboration, trust, open communication and employee engagement. - Her career has included safety initiatives during periods of organizational growth and transformation. - Those efforts focused on risk management, safety system modernization and operational performance. - The profile says her leadership style is shaped by responsibility, resilience, perseverance and accountability. - Akinbowale says professionals should make their accomplishments visible as they move into leadership roles. - She encourages women to lead with confidence, authenticity and courage in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Between the lines: - The profile frames safety leadership as both operational and cultural, not just regulatory. - The emphasis on visibility and self-advocacy suggests career advancement remains tied to how leaders communicate impact. - Highlighting psychological safety and AI signals that workplace safety is expanding beyond physical hazards. - The article also positions creative work and technical leadership as complementary strengths rather than separate paths.

What's next: - Akinbowale is expected to keep focusing on safer, more empowered workplaces through her role at Wakefern. - The profile suggests she will continue advocating for leadership development, women in safety and broader discussions about the future of the field. - Influential Women says it aims to amplify voices that inspire change through storytelling and thought leadership.