Oluwatoyin Aralepo is a first-class accounting graduate. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow of the Institute of Information Management of Africa and an alumna of the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), with over 15 years of experience across Banking, Telecoms and Fintech. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, Aralepo who is currently Director, Corporate Excellence and Programme Management at IHS Nigeria talks about building sustainable structure and creating a strategy hub to support SMEs.
How has your background and education influenced your journey?
I always knew I wanted to be an Accountant but being in the arts or commercial class was perceived as a sign of weak academic performance. I’m proudly generation X. I remember that little girl in primary school, so shy, but now bold and confident no matter the situation. Let me share a bit of my story, in my secondary school days, the brilliant ones are usually in the science classes but, I broke that perception. I believe that was the first unconscious bias I had to deal with. I was resolute, determined, and assertive. I may not have understood these words then, but I knew my mind was made up to follow my heart. Fast forward to today, I am a successful professional and strategic finance expert. I feel fulfilled, and I have added so much value to society.
I have spent my whole professional life in finance, from banking to telecoms and fintech. Most of these have been in telecoms. My training and experience as an Accountant are straightforward. I got a BSc degree and afterwards got my professional qualification and several local and international certifications. I have been in the finance industry for over 20 years. Without question, my education and experience have been invaluable in shaping my understanding of business performance and my skills in partnering with various business leaders to achieve their strategic objectives.
However, my personal life experiences also contributed to the person I have become, and, in hindsight, I have come to appreciate how powerfully those experiences have affected my views, values, and relationships with people.
What has been your greatest motivation throughout your journey?
My greatest motivation has been self-mastery and growth; my quest to be more, to get better at what I do. From an extrinsic perspective, I get motivation from feedback that I am making an impact. I’ am also motivated by executive women leaders in various industries who have shattered glass ceilings. My mantra has always been a goldfish does not have a hiding place. I believe I can be the most influential African woman. I firmly believe that I can be my dream person with focus, hard work, and intelligent work. I never settle for less. I succeed or learn from every experience. For me, ‘No means Next Opportunity.’
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #Break the Bias
How far do you think we have come as a nation and what steps do you believe need to be taken to achieve more?
A nation as populous as Nigeria cannot afford the levity of gender inequality, mainly if healthy double-digit growth is to be achieved. Nigeria has the potential to become Africa’s most prosperous nation if hindrances that limit almost half of its population are addressed, as well as the risks they are exposed to. Hence, the problem of gender inequality and safety for women must be addressed. Though improvements have been made, it is still a far cry from expectation.
Considering the work sphere of the country, do you think Nigerian women are given enough opportunities to grow?
This is still an issue in Nigeria and is subject to debate. According to the latest Gender Diversity report conducted by WIMBIZ, laudable steps have been made towards gender balance across companies in corporate Nigeria. However, there is still room for improvement as notable listed companies are yet to achieve gender parity at the senior management level. The various regulatory bodies have taken laudable steps, especially the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which established vital legislation on a gender quota for the management positions of listed companies in Nigeria. There should also be more transparency in disclosing the gender composition of key management positions. Beyond the steps by regulatory bodies, government authorities, international organisations, and corporate bodies in Nigeria need to boost gender equality in corporate Nigeria and encourage women to leverage the power of mentorship and professional membership association for career advancement at an individual level. Women have also begun to take bolder and bigger steps towards advocacy for gender equality.
As a leader, how have you supported the teams you work with?
Leadership is about influencing and enabling the generations coming after you. I have supported my team by allowing them to express themselves. When we go for meetings, I encourage them to make a presentation, that way they learn how to interact with the senior management team. I also celebrate their successes. I used to have a thank you card addressed to them. I build relationships even beyond work to show empathy and yet be assertive. I set standards and lead by example. I help them to develop their skills through coaching and mentorship. I do not hesitate to give honest feedback. I encourage a culture of performance and reward excellent performance.
How do you relax and take your mind off work?
I listen to music and dance. Sometimes I take a trip through gallery lane and just smile and reminiscence over the sweet memories I have gone through.