Name: Ibukunoluwa Onasanya

Title: STORE ASSISTANT/WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR

Organisation: SUJIMOTO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

I am an Administrative Personnel, Business Development, and Operations Expert and a Management Prospective Specialist with Proven Experience in the Consumer Goods, construction, and Services Industries, I am A graduate with a degree in Public Administration, with a creative thought process that can bring thorough organization to the management of office and organizational management, sales and service through excellent 1st– 4th tier task prioritization method.

Highly adaptable, impeccable management acumen, strong empathy & social skills, good time management with the ability to identify customer needs, and client requirements, and positive projection of the company’s brand - image, products, and services.

Keen to make a significant contribution to my work environment as a dependable and efficient employee being resourceful to the organization and affable towards my colleagues. Confident of an increase in organizational growth and development.

Furthermore, my business development execution experience cuts across administrations, project management, and health and safety experts with hands-on experience across different economic sectors including accounting and audit, print press media, education, beauty, investment management, agriculture, and real estate development.

At present, I serve as a Store/Inventory executive with one of Africa's most luxurious real estate & hospitality companies and I also serve as an Investment consultant with one of Africa's fastest-growing capital venture conglomerates.

I am skilled at shaping strategies for new and well-established businesses.

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

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

Cheers,

Jonno White

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

I discovered that effective communication and strong decision-making are serious challenges managers face on a daily basis.

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

I work in the store/warehouse department of a construction company in Banana Island, Ikoyi, we have 2 warehouses and one operational store where the store manager supervises. when I joined in October 2021, I was employed as an intern.

I worked very hard and smart and in 12 months was promoted to store assistant. the promotion came with a 100% increased pay and I was highly motivated to do more for the project. I went out of my comfort zone many times to push the work. we opened a new warehouse in Banana Island in September 2022 and by now, 2 new employees joined the store team as warehouse supervisors and assistants.

After 7 months, the 2 new staff resigned and the company management agreed best to promote me as warehouse supervisor in March 2023. I have since been functioning as a store assistant and warehouse supervisor till the present.

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

Morning: wake up, praise The Most High, pray to Him, prepare for work, exercise, meditate on my way to work, and eat breakfast sometimes. Afternoon: launch break-eat brunch other times, focused, creative, strategic work continues, collaborations and meetings. Evening: review my day's accomplishments, wind down, me/family time, sleep (4-6 hours)

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

1. being able to adapt to new modes of operations fast and how to ensure the entire team working with me falls in line also.

2. confirming information thoroughly before informing the boss.

3. never shift blame, but rather own up to it, learn the lessons from it, and strive to make sure it never happens again.

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?

1. realizing mental resilience. by Tunde Ekpelurede. has taught me how to maintain mental balance in this fast-changing world that requires an ability to act from a position of mental strength as much as possible.

2. how to sell to Nigerians. by Akin Alabi. has taught me many secrets on how to make money in Nigeria and from Nigerians.

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

Be ready to learn (personal development) new ideas and strategies that will make your work (wealth creation) easy and exceptional. commit your plans to God Almighty and you will never fail.

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

I almost got queried for forgetting or refusing to adapt to new modes of operation. it is a very boring story I do not want to remember. I was able to quickly go back to my drawing board and get my priorities straight.