1. What inspires you?
Being the best, I can be and continuously seeking to make a difference. I think we have a responsibility to leave the earth better than we met it. I suppose simply put, making an impact inspires me. Building on that, I really love helping people in whatever way I can. Coaching and mentoring people is second nature to me. It really gives me great pleasure to see people I have worked with excel in their jobs and personal lives. Sometimes all you really need to do is be there for someone. So, I am inspired by the ability to help others and a strong drive for results.
2. How do you unwind?
My family. I play ludo, ayo, cards, etc with my kids. I also looooooove cooking. Sometimes I unwind by watching series on tv – comedy, criminal investigation and food channels are my favourites. Big Bang Theory has to be my all-time favourite comedy; Sheldon’s character, played by Jim Parsons is very engaging. I run or engage in some other form of physical exercise when I am really wound up, but the best relaxation/unwinding for me is the time spent with my family playing board games. Friday night is game night in the Omogiafo household.
3. Best book read?
Tough to say best book read. I have read various books that have made an impact on me at various stages of my life. Richest Man in Babylon helped me to have a financial plan at an early stage in my life; Power of a Praying Wife, when we were navigating the first 2 years of marriage; Power of a Praying Parent, when I was a first-time mum and worrying about everything under the sun regarding my baby. I also have some favourite authors whose books have helped build my view of strategy and doing business from a very early age – Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy and James Clavell are on that list.
4. Best film watched?
I do not really watch films, I am more of a series person as I am quite restless and find it difficult to sit through a movie! That said, Goje insisted that I must have one movie that is my absolute best, so we called my 14-year old son, so he could help me figure out what my best movie was. The call went like this:
Esosa: Hi Mum
Owen: Hi Son. Please what is my best movie
(silence on phone)
Owen: Are you there? What is my best movie? I am being interviewed and they want to know what my best movie is.
Esosa (in a perplexed tone): Do you watch movies? Mum, seriously do you watch movies?
Owen: It’s okay, I have heard I do not watch movies. However, of the ones I have watched, which is my best?
Esosa (in an incredulous tone): But mum you do not watch movies. We beg you to go to the cinemas with us but you do not.
At this point, Goje gave up and said, let’s move on to the next question.
5. Favorite football club or any other sport that strikes your fancy?
Hian! Are they sharing their money with me? Anyway, let it not look as if I am quarrelling. I love football and tennis. My favorite club is CHELSEA! I love football as it is an enigma when you consider it. A game that you need teamwork to succeed, yet the reward system recognizes only individual performances e.g. highest goal scorer, best goal, best goalkeeper, etc. Weird!
6. Most Embarrassing moment ever experienced
I am a mum! Innumerable but we will take mum moments as workplace hazards. LOL. When I was doing my Masters, my aunt gave me a nice pair of wedge shoes. I wore it to school feeling fly like a superstar, Michael Jackson had nothing on me when it came to shakara that day. As I was walking to school from the train station, I noticed I was losing height in one leg, as in getting shorter one kind in one leg. I looked down, lo and behold, the wedge on the right shoe had disintegrated, so I was limping! Gosh, it was so embarrassing, as I had a long trail of disintegrated shoe pieces behind me in one of the high-end streets in London, like Hansel & Gretel’s breadcrumb trail when they were going into the forest! That was the end of my shakara that day.
7. Happiest moment ever experienced
I have lived and continue to live a very full and rich life, so it is actually very tough to say. I have had so many happy moments that to say one is simply my happiest will be doing a disservice to others and to the Almighty, who has been so merciful to me. If I am to pick one, I think one that stands out amongst several, is the birth of my first child, Esosa. He was born on my birthday – May 28. Esosa means God’s gift, and he remains the best birthday present ever!
8. What is family to you?
Family is life, continuity, safe haven. Note that I do not define family as those I am related to by blood only. Family is about relationships, people you care about. It is very important to make time for people you consider family. They truly keep you grounded and love you more or less unconditionally.
9. Turn on’s?
Hard work, Diligence, Execution, Can-do Spirit, High energy, honesty, Ownership, Accountability, engaging work, family time, desire for success
10. Turn off’s?
Lies. Laziness (intellectual and physical), buck-passing, the blame game
