Next Chapter Loading...

These past two weeks have been an exhilarating journey, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. After five years back on the African continent, three years in my beloved Nigeria, and a year of much-needed rest and renewal, I took the significant step of finally opening my own consulting practice. This may have sounded audacious for someone who once believed self-employment and entrepreneurship were solely her husband's purview, but it all became clearer when I reminisced about a pivotal interview for my first consulting job over two decades ago in Chicago. Back then, I confidently told the firm's general manager that I would open a consulting office for them in Nigeria. And here I am today!

With the decision made and company registration complete, I set out to shape the identity of my new practice. Logo and website—check. LinkedIn company page—double check. Updated virtual business cards—triple check! With these bona fide credentials, I journeyed to Abuja, where the aim was to explore ways to unlock impact investment and scale social innovation in Africa. Thought leadership is at the core of my new practice, with a profound commitment to quality education in its broadest sense. It felt incredibly fitting then that I found myself at LEAP Africa’s Social Innovators Programme and Awards, where the 2023 theme revolved around "Maximizing Africa's Potential through Disruptive Leadership and Innovation." This event, hosted by an organization that places a strong emphasis on both leadership and professionalism, provided a perfect launching pad.

Given the event's theme and my personal passion, I chose to focus on the critical elements of people and performance. Specifically, I delved into why building robust leadership within organizations and social enterprises, while promoting strong corporate governance, is imperative for sustainable performance. Effective leadership not only inspires investor confidence but also ensures ethical behavior and transparency. I highlighted that transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior are vital for attracting and retaining investors. Furthermore, I discussed how companies can align themselves with global ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) trends, while acknowledging that Gen Alpha has just entered their teenage years. Finally, I underscored the importance of collaboration and networking through international organizations--this would open doors for African entrepreneurs to a broader pool of investors, including fellow Africans.

Amidst the two-day conference, I had the privilege of joining Anne Hartslief of Lockstep, a fellow enthusiast of leadership development and a remarkable African woman and career mom. On her regular program, "Lockstep Live," we explored whether CEOs are the new catalysts for performance. During this 60-minute session, we candidly and spontaneously dissected how the landscape of business has evolved and what success truly demands in terms of performance. We quickly realized that there are no one-size-fits-all answers, emphasizing the complexities that not only CEOs but all leaders face in a continually evolving business world.

Several key points from our discussions deeply resonated with our pan-African audience. We explored the intricacies of dealing with competitive market forces that may not align with the goal of building ethical leadership. We also delved into strategies for managing the stress of leadership. A crucial takeaway was that continuous learning is paramount for any leader, and effective leadership, much like any successful relationship, hinges on communication, communication, and more communication!

Speaking of communication, after a too short break to get back home and tidy up my email inbox (I have a personal rule of keeping outstanding emails to less than one page!), I had the privilege of joining pillars of the global impact investment world at the Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) 's annual convening. The previous week, I sat on the opening panel, and this time, I had the honor of closing out the event. This allowed me ample time to soak up the wisdom and energy that surrounded me before jumping on stage to share my insights on three remarkable women-led social enterprises: Nkwo, a sustainable designer combining textile waste reduction with the preservation of traditional life skills; ReelFruit, a company leveraging end-to-end fruit processing to create 100% preservative-free dried fruit snacks that parents adore; and Semicolon, pioneers of the "study now, pay later" concept here in Nigeria, working towards creating a thriving tech community in Africa.

In my second all-women panel within a week, I spent most of my stage time absorbing the captivating backstories of Nkwo Onwuka , Affiong Williams , and Ashley Immanuel , the founders of these three remarkable enterprises. We were joined by Gloria Okorie of Impact Hub Network , a global network of 110+ Impact Hubs accelerating inclusive and sustainable innovation on a global scale.

As those two days drew to a close, I, finally felt the fatigue settling in. Instead of changing as urged into my dancing shoes, I was delighted to head home, follow my children to an early bedtime, and wake up before dawn to workout and reflect on the month ahead. November will mark my first full month as a proud "small business owner." (which seems a more accurate term for me than “entrepreneur”).

I stand now, fully refreshed, and ready to continue. So, if you are a startup, scaleup, or social enterprise, we are here to offer our wealth of global experience and extensive networks to help you build a world-class organization that will bring Africa to the world!

To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn or visit our website.

Quote of the month: "If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough." – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf