My journey to the corporate boardroom was not easy. I came to the US from Nigeria as a young woman, with a dream of pursuing a better education and a brighter future. I faced many obstacles along the way, such as culture shock, racism, sexism, and discrimination. But I didn’t let them stop me. I worked hard, learned fast, and adapted well. I earned my degrees, built my network, and climbed the corporate ladder.
I became one of the few women, and even fewer black women, to hold a senior executive position in a Fortune 500 company.
I didn’t do it alone. I had mentors, sponsors, and allies who supported me, guided me, and challenged me. I also had peers, colleagues, and friends who inspired me, encouraged me, and celebrated me. And I had family, especially my husband, who loved, respected, and supported me.
I want to share 3 leadership lessons (A.A.E) I learned from the corporate boardroom, and offer some advice for aspiring leaders who want to succeed in their careers. These are not the only lessons, nor the most important ones, but they are the ones that resonated with me the most, and helped me grow as a leader and as a person.
Being Authentic: One of the most important leadership lessons I learned is to be authentic, being true to myself, my values, and my purpose. It means not pretending to be someone you’re not, or hiding your identity, embracing your uniqueness, strengths, and your weaknesses.
This helped me in my career and in my life in many ways. It helped me build trust, respect, and rapport with my colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. It also helped me communicate effectively, persuasively, and confidently.
Being Adaptable: I learnt to adjust to changing situations, expectations, and demands, by learning new skills, acquiring new knowledge, and embracing new opportunities. It’s not always easy to be adaptable, especially in a corporate environment where there is resistance to change, inertia, and complacency. But, by being adaptable in Corporate America, It enabled me to stay relevant, competitive, and successful.
Being Empowering: Lastly, I learned to motivate, engage, and enable others to achieve their goals, fulfil their potential, and realise their dreams. By being empowering, I was able to delegate, collaborate, and partner with others to create value, and impact. It means being able to lead by example, by vision, and by values.
You are a leader, and you have what it takes to succeed.
If you need personal mentoring and guidance regarding leadership, business and career, please book a strategy session with me here:https://buff.ly/3vFSu5U
