In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and business leadership, success isn’t solely about having a great idea or sharp management skills. It’s about fostering a culture of perpetual learning and development. This culture not only fuels personal growth but also propels your business to greater heights. In this comprehensive article, I will deeply explore the significance of continuous learning and development, using relatable examples, including my journey as an entrepreneur with over 19 years of
experience.
Introduction
Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and a constant need to adapt. To navigate this ever-changing landscape successfully, one must embrace a culture of continuous learning and development. This article delves into the profound impact of this culture on me and other business leaders, offering insights, relatable examples, and a deep dive into my transformative journey as an entrepreneur who has embodied this philosophy for nearly two decades.
A Journey Rooted in Continuous Learning
Nineteen years ago, I embarked on a journey into the world of business with a heart full of ambition. From the very beginning, I realized that success would be intrinsically tied to my willingness to learn and adapt. This commitment to knowledge acquisition set the stage for my remarkable entrepreneurial story.
In the early days, it wasn’t just about making a profit; it was about understanding the nuances of the business world. I recognized that the power of knowledge would be my guiding light through the uncharted waters of entrepreneurship and the new world of HR consulting that I was delving into.
Embracing a Multitude of Learning Channels
My journey of continuous learning was marked by diversity. I understood that knowledge could be found in various forms and sources, and I was not afraid to explore them all.
Reading: One of the simplest yet most powerful ways to learn is through reading. I devoured books on managing a business, leadership, and industry-specific topics. I recognized that the insights of successful authors could provide valuable guidance for my own journey.
Google Research: The internet, with Google as its gatekeeper, became a treasure trove of information. My research prowess from my legal background extended beyond books to online resources. Google searches unearthed answers to some specific questions, trends, and emerging technologies.
Conferences, Local and International: The value of face-to-face learning cannot be overstated. Attending conferences locally and internationally allowed me to connect with peers, engage in knowledge-sharing, and stay ahead of industry trends. These various channels of learning enriched my knowledge base and provided a multifaceted perspective on business.
Certainly, let’s delve deeper into my entrepreneurial journey and how I transitioned from a legal background to the role of Managing Director in a HR consulting Firm required a profound commitment to learning and knowledge acquisition from the onset.
The Courage to Venture into Unfamiliar Terrain Leaving the realm of legal practice, where I had spent nearly 7years honing my skills, was not a decision I made lightly. The switch to HR consulting represented a seismic shift in my career, fraught with challenges that tested my resolve in ways I had never anticipated. Rather than painting a rosy picture, let me shed light on the struggles I faced during this daring transition.
The spark that ignited my journey was the realization that my legal expertise could find relevance in the realm of HR. However, this revelation was just the beginning. The daunting gap between the legal world and HR consulting required more than just a leap of faith; it demanded a commitment to self improvement and a willingness to embrace the unfamiliar.
To bridge this gap, I embarked on a gruelling journey of learning and research for several months This wasn’t a matter of casually perusing a few articles or attending a weekend workshop. It was a relentless pursuit to fathom the intricacies, difficulties, and prospects of the HR industry. I became a student once more, dedicating myself to deciphering the HR consulting landscape over a significant period.
My days were consumed by deep dives into industry reports and exhaustive analyses of case studies. Countless hours were spent dissecting the strategies of companies similar to what I aspired to build and developing my own strategy that will work for me. This process of immersion granted me the insights and knowledge necessary to navigate this uncharted territory with some semblance of competence.
One of the most formidable obstacles I encountered early on was pitching my HR consulting services to prospective clients. How could I persuade them to place their trust in my expertise when my credentials in this field were embryonic at best and I had other Companies who I was competing with for the same jobs who had already been in business for over 10 years and more. So, I had so many thoughts in my head;
How do I start? Who will listen to me? What do I know? How can I do the job with so little knowledge and do it well? Am I good enough? Am I not too young for them to take me seriously? These questions and more were always going through my head and I had to find a way to silence the noise and I definitely had the Imposter Syndrome for a very long time during the early days of my business but what kept me going was the fact that I knew that if I could get all the relevant information about what I was going to pitch with a Client then I was good enough to convince them then I would be okay.
So, knowledge built my courage and capacity to believe in myself and declare to myself that I was good enough and I was wordy of getting the job like everyone else and the more I won businesses my courage grew even more. This is where my dedication to continuous knowledge became an invaluable asset. It was this knowledge that allowed me to secure that pivotal first business deal, even as doubts loomed large.
Sustaining and Thriving
Securing that initial business deal was a significant milestone, but my journey didn’t stop there. In fact, it was just the beginning. The continuous pursuit of knowledge became a cornerstone of my business strategy.
I understood that staying competitive and relevant in the HR consulting industry required ongoing learning. Industry trends evolve, new technologies emerge, and client needs change. To meet these challenges, I made a commitment to stay informed and adapt to the evolving landscape.
Harvard: A Paradigm-Shifting Experience
In 2013, a pivotal moment arrived when I was awarded the Allworld Network Nigeria Fast Growth Award Winner in conjunction with the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Number 1 Female Business Leader. As part of this recognition and award, I had the privilege of visiting Harvard University. Little did I know that this visit would transform
my perspective on business.
At Harvard, I was exposed to a new realm of possibilities, particularly the idea of transitioning my brick-and-mortar business into the digital space. The visit served as a catalyst for a groundbreaking vision: creating the first-of-its-kind HR recruitment platform in Africa. This innovative platform, Gr8jobsng, aimed to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers across the continent.
From Vision to Reality: Building Gr8jobsng
Inspired by their visit to Harvard and driven by my passion for bridging the gap between job seekers and employers in Africa at that time, I embarked on a bold mission. I sought out partnerships, and fate brought me into contact with renowned firms like Ernst & Young, who became my trusted technical partners.
We worked tirelessly on this project for over 2 years from conceptualization to technical platform build from 2014 to 2016 when we finally launched the Platform in July 29th 2016.This visionary collaboration led to the birth of Gr8jobsng, the first-of-its- kind HR recruitment platform in Africa. This platform, born from a fusion of inspiration, knowledge, and strategic alliances, was launched with great enthusiasm at a
memorable event in Lagos, Nigeria.
What’s more, the path to Gr8jobsng’s success wasn’t just paved with dreams. It was solidified through five intensive days of entrepreneurship training at Harvard Business School. This immersive experience honed my skills, refined my vision, changed my mindset ,equipped me with the tools needed to navigate the intricacies of the business world and made me believe that anything was POSSIBLE as long as we can perceive it.
The Lagos Business School Experience
In 2018, I embarked on a six-month training programme through the Owner’s Managers Programme (OMP) Lagos Business School. Despite my initial reservations, I soon discovered that learning never truly stops. This experience revolutionized my perspective on financial management, corporate governance, and cost control.
At this time, I was having major issues in my Business with the state of my books and financial management and really did not know how I was going to resolve the issues. Just like many companies, I found out that we were very busy with work activities and getting paid, but the money was not reflecting in our books. It looked like our Cost and Revenue was exactly the same and we were not making any profits at all.
So going through one of the OMP Module on Financial management was a true eye opener and it broke down the concept of accounting and finance and the basic principle of determining turnover, revenue, profit before task, cost and expenses amongst other things. So, it was very evident that I needed to go back and sit with my Finance team and figure out where the monies being earned was going to within the
Company.
This led to a 360-degree transformation of my finance department, Competent finance teams were employed, management reports became essential, budgets were meticulously crafted, and cost management became proactive. We able to take immediate step to proactively remove all unnecessary cost items and one of which was to stop using International technical solutions where we paid monthly/annually dollar subscriptions and this cost from our review accounted to over 70% of the cost that we were carrying as a Company. Therefore, we decided as a Company to use Local vendors to provide the same solutions and it worked to a very large extent and directly contributed to reducing the cost of my Companies operations. The results were astonishing—a remarkable 30 percent growth in the business in the first year and even more in subsequent years because of the proactive and intentional path I took in ensuring that we reduced cost to the barest minimum.
Corporate governance, a concept introduced during this transformative journey, became a cornerstone of growth. It ensured that the company goals to reduce cost as a major KPI, adhered to ethical standards, transparency, and accountability where monitored and maintained.
