What is Your Grander Vision? | Ibukun Awosika

At the 2016 GLS, we featured the story of Ibukun Awosika, chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria and CEO of The Chair Centre. Were you inspired by her Grander Vision story? We were!

We asked Mrs. Awosika to answer some quick questions for our blog to help us get to know a little bit more of her backstory.

WCA: When did you first know you were a leader?

Ibukun: As a youngster, I had the impression that I needed to be president of my country in order to implement the positive changes I envisaged. I grew up, however, to understand that I can impact my society wherever I am and in whatever capacity I find myself. It was intriguing to realize that leadership is beyond fancy titles; leadership is a calling or a mission that you must heed from your corner—small or big—if you want to leave the world as good as your stretch of imagination can take you.

WCA: Whose leadership has had the most impact on your life?

Ibukun: My life has been influenced by a beautiful bouquet of leadership icons. But the Holy Bible stands out as my guiding light in all aspects of my life. I have also learnt immeasurably from studying great leaders through their autobiographies. Besides, a life of meaning was ingrained in my upbringing by my loving parents. In that sense, I typify the Proverbs 22 verse 6 child.

WCA: What leaders do you admire and why?

Ibukun: I admire leaders who do things right, leading by example and having the right value systems. I admire diligent individuals, who are ready to give back to the society and are not afraid to be different or truthful, and show love and care to others.

WCA: What was the best leadership advice you received as a young leader?

Ibukun: I read a book, Business by the Book by Larry Burkett, which opened my eyes to the fact that one could succeed doing business with integrity and according to biblical principles. This gave me the confidence to step out to build my business the same way.

WCA: What part of leadership gives you the most satisfaction?

Ibukun: There is a sense of fulfillment in seeing the transformational trends arising from one’s modest contributions to raising purposeful leaders who have become respectable leaders themselves, extending the chain of transformational leadership across various strata of society. I am equally gratified by the sheer number of people who testify to me in person, by letters and emails, about modeling their personal and business lives after my principles and values. Indeed, I am inspired to work even harder to reach more people. This is one reason I am devoting more effort to writing books, which can reach a much wider audience.

WCA: In which aspect of leadership are you growing the most right now?

Ibukun: I am the youngest and first female Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier financial institution, in its 122 years. This is no easy feat. I am learning to manage the different interests, challenge the status quo, whilst ensuring that I stand by my principles of doing things right, giving back and building the next generation of leaders for my country.

WCA: How do people around you respond to your openness about your faith?

Ibukun: My faith is everything to me and I have no apologies whatsoever for my openness about it. It is who I am and all that I am. Frankly, I don’t care what the others think, but I have enough wisdom to handle issues without being offensive.

WCA: What have been the biggest challenges to integrating faith in your leadership?

Ibukun: There is occasionally a conflict between what seems expedient and what is righteous; and making others, like a Board of Directors, understand the need to sometimes make sacrifices at whatever level for what is right and more sustainable.

WCA:  What would you say to encourage other leaders to take the risk and to live out their faith in their leadership?

Ibukun: At the end of your days on earth, you will face God and account for your life. Will you rather please man and miss heaven? I won’t.

Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria; Founder and CEO, The Chair Centre Group; ordained pastor; and founder of the Christian Missionary Fund