Who is Temidayo Seriki
I like to think that I am a nice person, I have a lot of love to give and I put effort into making sure that I carry myself in a way that when people interact with me, they leave with something positive; like a smile or laughter. I like to think that I am a funny person, haha; I love fun, I love to laugh and I loveee football, playing and watching. I am a people person, so I enjoy meeting people (sometimes) and building connections. I believe in holding yourself to a high standard and I try to live that out in my daily life as well. In a nutshell, I would say that’s who I am
Your colleagues believe that you are a stand-up guy. In your own words, who do you think a stand-up guy is?
I mean I am honoured to be seen as a stand-up guy. It’s a tough one to define because masculinity is so dynamic and looks different for different people. I believe that a stand-up guy is one who wears his heart on his sleeve, and is respectful, kind, and full of integrity. I believe a stand-up guy is one who understands the value of listening to the opinions of others and considering those opinions. Being teachable is also very important, I think that as a man, the ability to learn and unlearn is highly understated and can change society for the better.
Describe yourself in three words.
Hmmm, I would say kind, understanding & lovable
You’re often called TemiDee or TD, how did you get the nickname, and do you have any other nicknames?
Interestingly, my mum gave me those nicknames when I was a kid. I don’t have much because I think TD and Temi D do the job for the most part.
What drives you? The work you do, the man you’ve become, what would you say is your driving force?
Drive is very important in anything we set out to do. It’s what allows us to finish well and honestly speaking, this is something that I still have ways to go in terms of personal development. What drives me though, is knowing that I am living in my purpose. Understanding that I am doing what I was called to do and where I was called to be drives me more than you can imagine. Obviously, God is at the center of all of that. I am also driven because I want a good life for myself; I want to live a life of impact and leave behind things that will outlive me.
You run an initiative called the Man Up Initiative, tell us more about that?
Man Up is a platform that aims to challenge and change the value system of young men. We do this with programs, courses, social media and content. It’s something that we’ve been doing for 4 years now and honestly, it’s a big part of the man I am today. Running Man Up has forced me to hold myself to a high standard and that has really transformed me into who I am today. It’s also opened a lot of doors for me and allowed me to meet some really cool and interesting people. It’s great honestly.
How long have you been a HH Person and what would you say have been the highlights of your time at HH Group?
I haven’t been here for long actually; it’s just been over 2 months. Though what I can say for sure is that the people within the group, at least those that I have interacted with are amazing. It’s not easy to build such a family-oriented culture within such a large group but I find that it’s done so well here. My highlight so far is the hot seats we have for people on their birthdays, I find them so funny, and it brings out a different side of everyone.
What’s one thing you’d want people to know about you?
I would probably say that it’s that I am more introverted than extroverted. I don’t go out that much and I would definitely say that I am a homebody.
What moment would you say is/was your defining moment as a stand-up guy?
Ah, I don’t know, that’s kind of hard to say. I think it’s something that grew over time and then it became a bit more of an intentional effort.
What do you do in your free time?
I am a simple guy, to be honest, I spend a lot of time at home, I play football a lot, and I also love to eat so restaurant hopping is a good one as well.
What’s your philosophy on life?
Anu these questions! Haha. To put it simply, I would say that I have a very “glass half full” outlook on life and I also believe that “everything happens for a reason”. I think it’s because a lot of ‘horrible things have happened, but things always work out. So now I try to have that mindset on life and people.
What would you like other men to know?
If I was to pick one thing, I would say that manhood is leadership, and that is rooted in service, vulnerability, and accountability. The more we tap into these concepts, the better it would be for us in our personal lives, those around us and society as a whole.
