Google Me!!
When you try to make connection with a new partner, apply for new funding, or propose business to a new client, what is the first thing they will do?
Several years ago I tried 'googling myself' and the Google search engine had an epileptic fit trying to find me and after it finally found me it's result was 'Did you mean?...suggesting someone else. Can you imagine the look on my face!!!This Google doesn't have respect!!
Right there I knew there was a problem. How can you be a connector when you are not connected? Don't you know the world is too globally connected for you to be in isolation?
I got to work. I changed my title from Nigerian Strategist to Africa Strategist and the scope of requests, contact and work grew to other African countries. When I changed my name, I changed the game. Abram became Abraham!!
I have not said you should profile your favourite meal or designer shoes but if that is what you want, that is ok but you can separate your personal from your professional profile. The question is what are you known for or want to be known for???
Recently, I tried googling my name again and before I finished typing my first name, Google completed my surname. Okay, this Google now has respect!
Book me to speak at your events!! Happy new month my people. Follow me on LinkedIn @Dr Akanimo Odon
Wahala dey!!!
So I told a story about getting offered 500 pounds a day salary for my first proper job and since then I have been bombarded by lots of request. Some have asked me to share the money and others have told me they are my newly found brother 🤣🤣
The funny thing is that I got that job in 2008. Since then I have progressed to start my own consulting firm and have been blessed to work with incredible people and institutions globally.
Today I was blessed to give a key note address to global universities from Asia, America, Australia and Africa at the Association of Commonwealth Universities summit - https://www.acu.ac.uk/acu-events/acu-ambassadors-summit-developing-research-partnerships-for-the-sdgs/
To remember they gave me the full scholarship that brought me to the UK in 2003 in the first place was surrreal.
If you want to learn more about scholarship opportunities and affordable international MBA, join me on Saturday at 4.30pm UK time (GMT) using:
https://zoom.us/j/95277857839?pwd=MEtCU1llcVhKYzlyeGZNNEY2OFhwZz09
Then at 6.00pm UK Time same day using:
https://zoom.us/j/91869467645?pwd=S1hBUmIwWXNzS2JiM0ZuVTM3OWQ0UT09
I have also agreed to give a talk to the Junior Chamber International (JCI) at 11am Nigerian time on Saturday. See flyers for all the details you need.
We will pay you 500 pounds a day, and I nearly collapsed!!
My first ever proper job was as the Local Content Adviser for BG Group (Nigerian Asset).
I was writing up my PhD Thesis when my supervisor met a VP at BG Group. He asked me to drop the VP an email, which I did. He replied inviting me to a meeting in Reading UK.
The meeting became an interview and I was offered a job immediately even though I had not completed my PhD. When the call came later to tell me my first ever salary, and the lady said '500 pounds a day’- I think I collapsed especially cos I converted it to Naira🤣
I had been a student all my life up till then and so why would an international company offer a student with no ‘work experience’ such a big job. That's the thing!! Even though a student, my CV then was 7 pages. I did so many non-paid work that my experience and value was that of a consultant but I didn't know it until someone placed a value on my capacity.
In every professional is a student wanting to learn and in every student is a professional waiting to earn. The most successful graduates were students who behaved like professionals and the most successful professionals are those who behave like students - learning every day.
I cover this in my book - The Graduate Code. To buy the e-book - See details below:
1. Click link https://study.flexylearn.com/course-summary/superuserb7b3e6e7bfba16615d6303a8a17b9bb2
2. Click Sign-up, register and buy and pay
3. Go back to link and log in.
3. Click Start Course, view e-book.
4. You can log in to read anytime you want.
How about networking???
I flew into Nigeria with a colleague for a meeting with a top Director General (DG) of an agency. Afterwards, I went to look for the driver of the DG to exchange numbers and this shocked my colleague. Who knows why I did that?
Yesterday, I had an amazing time moderating an international webinar for US Emory University's Advancing Healthcare Innovation in Africa (AHIA) Program on the 'Power of Networking'. I shared some thoughts from my experiences navigating Africa.
'Organic networking' is great but ‘Intentional networking' is better. Before an international event I will be attending, I would write to the organisers asking them to give me a sense of attendees. From the names of expected organisations, I will decide my 'Priority list' and most times navigate to make sure I sit close to them in the event.
You leave me sat with someone who has what I need for two hours? I will get what I need but then I will give them what they need too. Everyone needs something. Find it!!- ‘Sustainable networking’.
Few months later, I tried reaching the DG desperately to no avail because there was an opportunity he couldn't miss. Then I remembered I had 'a very important person’ number. I rang the driver 'where is Oga' I asked. He said 'Oga is behind me. 'Hand him the phone'. 😊
