Name: Adedapo Adesokan

Title: Director

Organisation: Precisemed

A Medic cum Pharmacologist with special interests in Therapeutics. I and my team go through novel drug discovery projects from conceptualization to formulation to preclinical studies to human trials up to Phase 2/3

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Adedapo's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

When plans fail to fall through despite being quite painstaking. It frustrates me but at the same time it forces me to think outside the box to overcome that

particular challenge

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

From age 13 I knew I want to be involved in Drug Discovery, so studied hard from pre-med to medical school to Masters in Clinical

Pharmacology to PhD Therapeutics, all the steps were careful planned toward the big picture . As I grew older after completing my studies, my vision continue to crystallize into reality and slowly I continue to put the jigsaws of my vision for Drug Discovery together through Precisemed Limited

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Exercise first

Then News on my phone and emails catchup

Read at least 3 Pharmacology and Therapeutics journal articles a day

Write protocols for next studies both preclinical and clinical

Reply emails to collaborating Pharma companies

Days I visit the Laboratory, troubleshoot on experiments going on

Analyze data from completed experiments

Evenings largely to watch Netflix and football whilst on.

Last activity of the day is to hike for 5 miles

I tend to go bed at 11pm and wake up at 7am

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

To take on too much at once.

I have learned baby steps towards achieving goals is the best policy, no point taking on too much at once. Between 2017 when I founded Precisemed and 2022, we had 9 drug discovery projects going on, did all half and never completed any. So 2023, I took a step back and now we developing one at time, even though others would follow closely behind but the policy now is one day at time.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It taught me how to stratify and prioritize goals. I would say reading the book in 2023 made me more insightful as a leader of my team

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Be painstaking, it is worth it in the end, make sure all boxes are ticked meticulously. One excellent innovation enough to make all your dreams come true, so be thorough with it.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Curveballs I have a lot in my journey, paid for services I did not need running into several thousands. As a leader you will pay the price of being a novice when you start, those mistakes( curveballs ) are necessary to teach you all the lessons you need to stay successful when initial success comes