As a part of the series on “How Diversity Can Increase a Company’s Bottom Line”, I had the pleasure of discussing with the team at Authority Magazine. Keep reading to catch up on that conversation!
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive into the main part of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit more. Can you share a bit of your “backstory” with us?
More like backstories! I’ve actually had quite a journey through life, experiencing different phases that almost feel like separate stories. My father was an Ambassador, which led me to live in five countries across three continents from the moment I was born until I turned fifteen. You can call that a diverse upbringing!
Secondary school was a brief three-year adventure for me before I started university at fifteen years old. It was quite an exciting time, and my career has been nothing short of interesting ever since. Currently, I have the privilege of leading a dynamic team at AWS, which keeps me on my toes.
I’ve been happily married for twenty-two years to an amazing partner, and we’re proud parents of the most adorable twins. And you know what’s incredible? I’ve been fortunate enough to have the same three dear friends by my side for thirty years. It’s like they’re family.
I also have five incredible siblings who are not just my brothers and sisters, but also my best friends. We share an unbreakable bond.
All in all, life has been quite a ride for me, filled with diverse experiences, cherished relationships, and blessings. I truly can’t complain!
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us the lesson or take away, you took out of that story?
This story wasn’t exactly hilarious when it happened, but looking back, it taught me some valuable life lessons. Picture this: it was my very first time leading a team in different countries, and I had an account manager based in Ghana while I was overseeing the West African team from Nigeria. We had sent a proposal to a client and based on the feedback from the account manager the deal was as good as done. However, every quarter, the deal would get pushed forward and I started getting a funny feeling about it.
I decided to dig deep into the details and hopped on a plane to Ghana to meet the customer face-to-face. The meeting went pretty well, but deep down, something still felt off. So, I reached out to one of my connections in Ghana, and over drinks, I found out that not only had our competition won the deal but implementation was almost complete. Note that this client’s information on certain projects was not publicly available.
The next morning, I sat down with the account manager and had a heart-to-heart conversation, giving them some much needed feedback and together we crafted a new value proposition for the client. I had several difficult conversations with my own manager and eventually, we closed a deal with this client six months later.
It isn’t a funny story by any means but you know what? It taught me some priceless lessons in leadership. I learned the importance of getting down to the nitty-gritty details, handling difficult conversations, and leading from the front.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you tell us a story about how that was relevant in your own life?
My own personal life lesson quote is: “Build the life you want from what you already have.” It has had such a profound impact on me, and I’ll share a personal story to show you just how relevant it is in my own life.
Back in November 2022, I found myself completely burnt out. I was constantly chasing after more—more money, more projects, more promotions—and it was draining me. That’s when I had a moment of realization. I needed to take a step back and reevaluate what is most important for me in my life.
So, for the next three months, I embarked on a journey of self-reflection. I focused on what truly mattered to me—my amazing family and friends, my faith, and the opportunities that were already within my grasp.
During that time, my mantra became “build the life I want from what I already have.” It became my guiding light. And you know what? It was life-changing. I discovered the power of appreciating the present moment and embracing the abundance that already surrounds me.
Instead of constantly chasing after more, I started tapping into the potential of my current circumstances and the resources available to me. It was a shift in perspective that brought about incredible changes. I found myself happier, calmer, and more content than ever before.
I learned to truly cherish the blessings that God had already bestowed upon me. And with that gratitude, I was able to build upon what I had, continuing to grow and add value to my life and the lives of others.
That’s why this quote holds such a special place in my heart. It reminds me to appreciate what I already have and make the most of the opportunities that are right in front of me. It’s all about finding contentment in the present moment and using it as a foundation to build a life of impact.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
My journey has been shaped by incredible influences, especially my father. He believed that ‘gender’ shouldn’t limit my dreams and those of my sisters. His unwavering support and encouragement ignited a fire within us. We were inspired by his belief in us and this made us pursue excellence in everything we did. Today, my two sisters are doctors and I am an engineer, thanks to the culture my father created at home.
I also come from a long line of strong women. My mother was an entrepreneur from as far back as I remember. She traded diamonds when we lived in the UK and built a printing press company from scratch. She challenged her children to always dare to dream just like her mother told her while growing up.
My mum is still here with us but it’s been ten years since my father went to be with the Lord and I still miss him. I actually picked up the phone to call him a few weeks ago to ask for some advice. I hope he is looking down from heaven and he is proud of all his children are doing.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
The name of my company is 3Las. We’re a developer studio that takes ideas and turns them into Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) within 6-8 weeks. We don’t just focus on our own projects. We also help non-tech founders bring their ideas to life.
I remember meeting a client who had been trying to build an e-commerce store for two years. He had hired a developer, but things weren’t going well. As a matter of fact, he didn’t have access to the platforms used to build his own product! Unbelievable right? He was basically at the mercy of the developer, and it was a frustrating situation, to say the least.
That’s when he found us – 3Las. Our philosophy is all about speed, getting that MVP out there quickly so you can start gathering customer feedback and finding that sweet spot of product-market fit. But we don’t stop there. We believe in giving our clients full control over their projects.
So, we worked closely with this client, and created a plan that would not only help him launch his e-commerce store fast but also ensure that he has 100% access and ownership of his product. It was all about empowering him as a non-tech founder.
And you know what? It worked! We developed the MVP for his e-commerce store in no time, allowing him to finally launch his business and start getting real feedback from customers. Having that control and ownership over his own product gave him a huge confidence boost too.
That’s what sets 3Las apart – our dedication to building our own ideas and helping non-tech founders bring their dreams to life. We believe in quick development, gathering feedback, and giving our clients the power to take charge of their projects.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that might help people?
We actually have an exciting project in the pipeline that will be launching in just a few weeks. It is called Contestify and it is a platform designed to revolutionize the way competitions are hosted and managed. Our users can say goodbye to the hassle of searching through multiple platforms to find the right competition. Our website offers a seamless experience, allowing you to easily search for competitions, register, and even submit your pieces – all in one place.
But here’s the best part – Contestify isn’t just for participants. If you’re passionate about hosting competitions and bringing people together to engage on any topic or theme, Contestify provides the tools to make it happen. No more manual busy work! You can set up and manage your competitions effortlessly, creating an engaging and inclusive experience for all.
We believe that Contestify will empower creators, giving them a platform to showcase their skills and connect with like-minded individuals. It’s all about fostering a supportive community and taking your passion to new heights.
We can’t wait to see the incredible talent and creativity that will flourish through this platform.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I am the founder of The Jeremiah Foundation, where I serve as the executive director. It’s been an incredibly fulfilling journey, and we’ve made a tangible impact in the lives of at-risk youth.
One of the ways we make a difference is by providing scholarships for secondary school education. To date, we’ve awarded 450 scholarships. Witnessing these remarkable young individuals receiving the opportunities they deserve and building a brighter future fills me with immense joy.
But our efforts extend beyond scholarships. We also offer no-interest business loans to the mothers of our scholarship recipients who may face challenging circumstances as widows, single mothers, or in difficult situations with their partners. Empowering these strong women to forge their own paths and secure better futures for themselves and their families is a cause close to my heart.
Let me share a heartwarming story that highlights the impact we strive to create. I remember one of the children we supported shared her journey with The Jeremiah Foundation. She told us how ashamed she was when asked to read in class because she didnt have any textbooks. Our Foundation stepped in to assist her and according to her, receiving her textbooks, writing material and school uniforms marked a turning point in her life. She became an active participant in class, and her dedication paid off as she eventually became the class prefect and graduated top of her class. Now, she’s thriving in her first year in the University, and our pride in her accomplishments cannot be quantified.
In addition to The Jeremiah Foundation, I also host a quarterly virtual coaching program called Built for Balance (B4B). It’s all about equipping individuals with effective strategies and tools to enhance productivity, forward-thinking abilities, and overall efficiency.
We cover various topics like career acceleration, productivity, self-esteem, and accelerating business sales. But what truly excites me is the opportunity to offer a ‘Growth Lab’ within B4B, where members of our community can access one-on-one mentoring. We also have another initiative called ‘Cafe Napa’, a free one-on-one coaching session to help people address personal or business issues. It’s about creating a supportive and empowering space where individuals can grow and thrive.
Bringing goodness to the world and creating opportunities for others to flourish is at the core of my purpose. It’s an honor to make a positive impact in people’s lives.
Ok. Thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main part of our interview. This may be obvious to you, but it is not intuitive to many people. Can you articulate to our readers five ways that increased diversity can help a company’s bottom line? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Absolutely! Diversity has a profound impact on a company’s bottom line, and I’d be happy to delve into five ways it can make a difference.
Diversity enhances innovation and problem-solving: When you bring together a diverse group of people, you create a melting pot of ideas. Different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences fuel creativity and lead to better problem-solving. Take the Boston Consulting Group study, for instance. It found that companies with diverse management teams generated 19% higher revenue through innovation. That’s like having a whole treasure trove of fresh ideas and unique approaches at your disposal.
Diversity helps with expanded market reach. When a company’s employees reflect the diversity of its customer base, it’s a recipe for success! Why? Because a diverse workforce better understands and connects with a wide range of customers. Starbucks provides an interesting example here. They launched the “Race Together” campaign to tackle racial inequality. Although it faced some controversy, it showcased their commitment to diversity and inclusivity. By reaching out to customers and igniting conversations, they attracted new customers and strengthened loyalty among existing ones.
Diversity increases employee engagement and retention. Creating an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued is crucial. Embracing diversity boosts employee engagement and reduces turnover rates. In fact, Glassdoor reports that 67% of job seekers consider diversity an important factor when choosing an employer. Salesforce is an excellent example of a company that made strides in this area. Through their comprehensive diversity and inclusion program, they witnessed a significant increase in employee satisfaction and a decrease in turnover rates.
Diversity promotes better decision-making. Diverse teams bring a broader range of perspectives to the table, which leads to better decision-making. Cloverpop conducted research showing that gender-diverse teams make decisions that are 73% more financially successful. Fascinating, right? One standout example is Procter & Gamble (P&G). Their commitment to diversity and inclusion allows them to assemble diverse teams for decision-making, resulting in innovative products and market success.
Diversity enhances reputation and brand image. Embracing diversity positively impacts a company’s reputation and brand image. When an organization is known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, it attracts top talent and earns the respect of customers and the community. A shining example is Amazon. In recent years, Amazon has recognized the importance of diversity and inclusion, and they have implemented initiatives to showcase their commitment. One such example is their “Amazon Amplify” program, which focuses on increasing the representation of underrepresented groups within the company. They have set goals to improve gender and ethnic diversity at all levels of the organization, and they regularly publish diversity and inclusion metrics to hold themselves accountable.
What advice would you give to other business leaders to help their employees to thrive?
To help employees thrive, my advice to business leaders would be to create an inclusive and supportive culture where everyone feels valued and empowered. Offer growth and development opportunities like training, mentorship, and resources for their career advancement. Encourage work-life balance and provide flexibility to promote well-being. Foster a feedback culture that promotes continuous improvement and growth. Recognize and appreciate employees’ contributions regularly to boost morale and motivation.
And, most importantly, lead by example by demonstrating integrity, empathy, and a strong work ethic. By following these principles, business leaders can create an environment where employees feel supported and motivated to thrive in their roles.
What advice would you give to other business leaders about how to manage a large team?
I will touch on the top four things I focus on when I have managed a large team across different geographical locations and time zones.
First, having a strategic view of the business rather than a tactical one is crucial. Prioritization is essential when dealing with the most important metrics of any business so you must also take time to understand necessary details. This approach allows business leaders to maintain a strategic perspective across the organization while delving deeper when required.
Secondly, with a wide span of control, there is a risk of leaning into biases and making decisions that lack data-driven insights. For instance, if you have an introvert on your team, due to time constraints, you might not engage closely with this individual, leading to unintended biases. Therefore, it is vital to be aware of each report’s performance goals and utilize data to assess their progress towards these objectives.
Thirdly, ensure everyone in a large team is heard despite cultural differences and time zones by implementing inclusive communication channels, encouraging diverse perspectives, and scheduling meetings at mutually convenient times.
Finally, delegate correctly. To delegate effectively in a large team, understand each person’s strengths, match tasks to their abilities, and set clear expectations around task objectives, timelines, and guidelines. Encourage autonomy, let team members make decisions within their responsibilities, and avoid micromanaging. Offer ongoing support, regular feedback, and be available for questions to create a positive delegation process.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this 🙂
If I had the opportunity, I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. I greatly admire her intellect, leadership, and the incredible work she has done in various roles, including as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Her dedication to promoting economic development, fighting poverty, and advocating for gender equality is truly inspiring. I would be honored to learn from her experiences and gain insights into her strategic thinking and approach to global challenges. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s impact on the world stage is remarkable, and I believe a conversation with her would be enriching and empowering.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, if you happen to come across this, I am ready and waiting!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can stay connected, access valuable content, and get updated on my latest projects by visiting my website. You can also find me on LinkedIn and other social media platforms with the handle, @napsylalala. I look forward to connecting with you online!
Thank you for these excellent insights. We wish you continued success in your great work.
Thank you too for having this conversation with me. I absolutely enjoyed it!