Name: Evans Olajiga

Title: Founder/CEO

Organisation: Intravent Technologies

I'm a distinguished technocrat and problem solver, stands at the helm of innovation as the founder and CEO of Intravent Technologies. With a passion for leveraging technology to overcome challenges, I have also carved a remarkable path in the tech industry. Armed with a visionary mindset, they have successfully led Intravent Technologies to the forefront of cutting-edge solutions

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

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

Cheers,

Jonno White

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

People management is one of the hardest things I have to deal with as a leader. The best you can get out of those who work with you depends on how you treat them. As a leader, one of the hardest things for me to do has been to manage people. Why? Because there are always people in my life that come from diverse origins and have had different experiences throughout their lives. They thus get to meet new people from various cultures, values, and backgrounds.

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

It wasn't something I had always desired to be a leader. Even when I was still in school, I always found myself in leadership roles—something I had never even considered. When I was elected class captain in school, that's when I first started to feel like a leader. I've found that historically, the most effective leaders haven't always been the smartest or most talented. Being able to influence others is one of a leader's greatest assets since it's essential to effective leadership. A leader's power lies on their influence.

So, before I became the captain of my class I discovered that I had more infleunce than anyone in my class not that I was the most brilliant or most intelligent. But that I had more influence than anybody in the class and gradually I was having more influence across the school till I became the head prefect.

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

I have all my scheduled planned with the use of digital tools. I've had times where I don't sleep for days because of loads of work and there are also days where I take breaks just to relax. I only sleep for 2 hours in 24hours and I have the rest of the day for work. The thoughts of my plans and ideas keeps me awake all the time

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

The most recent leadership lesson I have learnt for the first is not to be too emotional when working with people. I recently employed someone who I brought into the company out of emotions only to find out that she is not competent for the role she was employed for.

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?

Awakening the giant in you. This book was one of the first books that opened me up to discovering potentials that I had inside of me. This book also pushed me to taking bold steps in maximizing my potentials and believing in myself.Aryee

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

I would advice every young leader to be intentional with building relevant relationship (building and expanding their networks).

I would also advice that they should never be afraid to take steps. It is better to try and fail than not to try at all. Failure is an opportunity to learn why it doesn't work not a reason to give up.

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

How I have always been scaling through different heights of leadership positions not even because I am the most intelligent but that I am intentional about building influence.