Very few people set out on the first day at their jobs with a clearly defined blueprint to the top. At best, underneath their simmering anxiety at the new role, is a firm resolve to work hard and rise through the ranks. But career progression is never simple or straightforward. It takes grit, years of dedicated service and a merit-driven system that rewards performance.
In this no-holds-barred interview, we chat with Valentine Ozigbo and Owen Omogiafo, both of whom take up new roles with the Transcorp Conglomerate. While Val steps in as President/CEO of Transcorp Plc, Owen assumes office as MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc. Read excerpts of their conversation below as we peeled away the layers of their early career days and revealed their inspiration, challenges, victories and unique growth journey.
Enjoy!
On the First Job
Owen:
I got my first job in a stockbroking firm. I was 20 years old and fresh out of school at that time and started out as an intern. Within 3 weeks of my resumption, I was made a full staff. From there, I moved to begin a career in the banking industry, after which, I moved to consulting before returning to the banking sector.
Val:
I started my career in the banking industry where I spent 17 years and later crossed over to hospitality industry where I have spent over 7 years. I’d like to say that I had the best career start because right from my final year at the University of Nigeria, I was given the opportunity to do my NYSC in the oldest Merchant Bank in Nigeria – for being the best student in Financial Management. Upon completing my NYSC, I joined the services of another bank and remained in the banking industry working with a few other banks culminating in my rise to the rank of General Manager.
On Joining the Group
Owen:
I joined the group on October 2nd, 2008. Surprisingly, I started with mixed feelings. I had only accepted the offer to work with the Group because two people, whose views I hold with high regard, my husband and my mentor at that time, thought it was a great career move. A day to my resumption, I lost my dear Father-in-law, and my beliefs were reinforced that this job wasn’t for me… so I planned to work for just a year at UBA and move on. However, upon resumption, and attending the induction, I saw the amazing people TOE had attracted from far and wide and this started to change my beliefs about the job.
Val:
My first day on the job was like a whirlwind. I was resuming as the ED, Financial Services of Transcorp and was offered another role as the MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, then known as Transnational Hotel and Tourism Services. I had very high expectations. I had worked with people across the Group and TOE had been my boss at Standard Trust Bank and UBA, so I knew it wasn’t going to be a resting place but a place that would be demanding, and justifiably so. Suffice to say that I was quite mentally prepared and ready to seize the opportunity and prove myself.
On choosing a career path
Owen:
My educational journey is very interesting. After being a pure science student, I decided to switch to Social Science in the University, much to my dad’s dismay as he wanted me to read medicine (I HATE blood!). I read Sociology and Anthropology without having a clear path of where I was headed. I did know though that I couldn’t graduate with less than a second class upper! I have always been a people person, so I suppose the foundation of where I am today was laid ages ago.
Val:
I thought I would end up as the MD/CEO of a bank and retire from there or become a partner in a firm of chartered accountants. Being in the hospitality space was never in the plan. However, it got to a point where I thought I knew everything there was to know in banking, so, when the opportunity to change career paths came, I welcomed it without hesitating. I saw it as a platform to renew my thought pattern, expand my knowledge and grow my network. I saw hospitality as a natural fit with my personality as it is all about service and being warm, which is right down the alley with who I am. I am also glad I am leaving the position of CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc on a high note hoping that my achievements in banking and hospitality industries will be replicated and even surpassed at the conglomerate level.
On the first promotion
Owen:
My first promotion happened when I was 20. I got promoted from an intern to a full staff within 3 weeks of joining the company. It was such an amazing experience especially as my peers were still idle and awaiting NYSC at home.
Val:
My first promotion came less than a year in my banking career and was one of the most exciting experiences I had at that time. I was transferred from Lagos to Warri and I tried my very best to reverse the transfer but did not succeed. Unknown to me, that was a blessing in disguise. Six months after my relocation to Warri, I was voted the best staff of Warri Branch. The branch was also voted the best Bank branch nationwide. This ultimately meant that I was the best staff in the bank. That came with a lot of recognition and eventually a promotion from a Management trainee to a banking executive.
On handling challenges
Owen:
Early in my banking career, I had resigned from an institution I loved dearly due to the injustice I had faced in a situation. I recall the Head of Human Resources being upset over this treatment and tendering her reservation also, as the system proved to be an unhealthy one. However, the resignation served to be a propeller into accepting a job offer that will come to be the defining moment in my career. It is worthy to note that although I was unhappy with my previous organization, I ensured that no bridges were burned, I worked out my notice diligently and preserved relationships and 8 years later, I bumped into the MD of the organization and he offered his sincere apologies.
Val:
Life is never short of challenges, you solve one and another appears. It is therefore imperative to understand we are here to solve problems and never shy away from doing that. I have been confronted with a lot of challenges, some professional, some personal, some in the community and more. However, the one which is most relevant to this interview is having to deal with the Staff Union issues at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. We were confronted with a staff gratuity challenge that had the potential to close the business. We had to sit down with the team to strategize on how best to handle and manage all key stakeholders involved. We are glad that the Union officials were mature enough to see a reason to settle, as we had to make them understand that it was either we comply with their demands and risk losing the business or compromise and grow a business that will be able to sustain all team members for years to come.
On wanting to quit
Owen:
If I had a naira for each time I’ve thought of quitting, I’d be a millionaire now, LOL. Being a working mum is not easy, not in the slightest. There’s the constant struggle between career and family. Often, one is tempted to throw it all in and focus on the family. But I know that I will be miserable without my career, as it is an integral part of me. Also, I strongly believe in and identify with TOE’s vision for Africa and this, beyond all things motivates me to roll out of bed daily and head to work. Of course, there’s the work-family that make every day at work worth it.
Val:
The only time I thought about quitting was my banking days and I actually quit banking because I began to feel redundant as I knew almost all there was to know in the banking industry and needed a fresh start.
On three career lessons
Owen:
- To be resilient always, never let a difficult situation define whether your goals are achieved.
- Think Strategically, considering all possible angles of a plan such as its risks and how it ties to the overall organisational goal before going ahead to execute.
- Invest wisely: Working within the group, one is exposed to glitz and glamour. It’s very easy to get caught up in this and literally spend your savings on clothes, bags, shoes, etc. Lol. However, I have also learnt the wisdom of investing and being disciplined to do so. You spend what you don’t invest rather than invest what you don’t spend.
Val:
- Nothing is impossible. If you put your mind to it, you can overcome. It follows the saying that small idea, big vision can change the course of history. Thinking back to the time when all we knew in Transcorp was the hotel business, and now, we are leaders in the power sector and deepening our play in the energy sector, validates this lesson.
- Excellence is going the extra mile to deliver beyond expectation. It requires you to have that positive can-do attitude, always striving to execute every task outstandingly. I have learnt to pursue excellence consistently, this sometimes also means realising that I may not always achieve a goal but never relenting in my commitment to attain greater heights.
- Impacting lives and impacting destinies positively is what will make your name indelible in the course of history as an individual and a corporate. In the group, this can be seen in Transcorp’s ‘transforming lives’ mission and the push for entrepreneurship and Africapitalism by the Tony Elumelu Foundation. This motivated me to start applying these values in my local community… as the saying goes, Charity begins at home
On skills for young people
Owen:
Combine resilience with intellectual curiosity, never accept the status quo and constantly look for better ways to do things and of course, the patience to understand that you’ll need to earn your stripes, and this takes time.
Val:
Problem-solving skills. Nigeria is bedevilled with a lot of problems and what we need are problem solvers. It can be qualitative, quantitative, technological, etc. The whole idea is that when you see a problem, don’t leave without finding a solution to it. If you can combine this with emotional intelligence and the culture of continuous improvement, then you are in for a great future.
2019 success projections
Owen:
2019 is a whole new ball game. Career-wise, I’ll be moving to a new industry and assuming a leadership position. I hope to work with the team to deliver on Transcorp Hotels Plc’s hospitality goals and vision. On a personal front, I hope to continue my journey to emotional intelligence and drop 10kg!
Val:
On the corporate level, it is to advance the cause of the group, ensure that a major income line is introduced that can challenge the contribution of the existing lines. And ensure that the existing lines maintain and improve their performances. By the end of 2019, we want to be celebrating results among the 3 major lines, Hospitality, power and energy. On a personal level, I want to see my investments grow, I want to see more lives impacted by me and to serve my community and my church better.
