The Evolution of Leadership: Advice from Seasoned Leaders

At 25, I got my first shot at leadership when I was tasked with launching a real estate classified portal in Accra. It was a thrilling yet nerve-wracking opportunity—I had to build a team from scratch and attempt to navigate the complexities of monetization. Fast forward a few years, and I found myself in Nigeria taking over an existing team and platform. With no prior experience, I approached the challenge with an open mind, experimenting with different strategies until I found 'what worked.' Today, as a full-time leadership advisor, I've had the privilege of supporting leaders and their teams on their own journeys of growth and development. One thing remains crystal clear: the success of any business hinges on the people and their leaders.

This month's #PeopleBeforeStrategy Roundtable is dedicated to the unique experiences of young executives and founders. As I prepared for this discussion, I reached out to previous guests from my podcast to glean their insights on leadership advice they'd give their younger selves. Here's what two of them had to say:

“Dreams that big can never be achieved by working alone. To make them happen, we need to attract, motivate, and manage people.” - JR Kanu

JR Kanu , Founder & CEO of REACH: JR emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving ambitious goals. His article, Things You Really Should Not Be Doing as a Boss , resonates just as strongly today as it did six years ago. Among his timeless advice:

1. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities: Ambiguity breeds confusion. Define clear expectations for your team members.
2. Delegate Effectively: Trust your team to execute tasks without micromanagement.
3. Empower with Authority: Once you've delegated, resist the urge to undercut your team's authority.

For more insights from JR, read his entire article (here ) and check out our podcast conversation (here ), where we delve into the power of retrospectives and financial literacy.

“Too many unhealthy things happen in organizations because people either don't dare to challenge [the] status quo or don't care enough. The world would be better if less people tolerated suboptimal ways of working together.” - Joris Merks-Benjaminsen

Joris Merks-Benjaminsen , Leadership Trainer & Author: Joris reflected on the importance of challenging the status quo and advocating for change—even in the face of resistance. He shared three invaluable lessons:

1. Question the Norm: Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn't mean it's the best way.
2. Embrace Dissent: Pushing for change might invite pushback, but it doesn't mean your ideas are invalid.
3. Reflect on Alignment: If your values and vision clash with your organization's culture, it may be time to reassess your ‘fit.’

To hear more of Joris' insights on building high-performing teams, tune into our podcast episode (here ) where we explore trust and empathy in leadership.

Now, I'm curious—what advice would you give to a young leader in 2024? Join us for our upcoming Roundtable (register here ) to share your perspective or pose a question. Let's learn from each other and pave the way for the next generation of leaders.