My HH Story: The Journey to 9th Anniversary
There’s a lot to talk about in the book of Kobo (Oro po ninu iwe kobo), the thought that came to mind initially.
It’s interesting that while writing this article, August 4th marks my 9th Anniversary at the Heirs Holdings Group. When I decided to join the Group, I was filled with excitement and determination. I knew that I had the creativity and passion to succeed, but I also knew that I had a lot to learn. It’s hard to share my 9-years of experience working in the group in an article.
I began my journey with Heirs Holdings after receiving an email from Olamide Malik (then HR Generalist). 2-months later, I was introduced as the new Creative and Audio-visual Officer.
I remember vividly after a 2-day intense induction (Group induction previously held for 2-days) the baptism of fire the HH way started. My direct supervisor was already scheduled to be on vacation, the first major project was the announcement of the USD 100 million Entrepreneurship Program along with the TEF team. There were a lot of moving parts, emails (read & unread), never-ending tasks and meetings, and it had only been a few weeks, but the work was intense.
During those first few weeks, I had a lot of deep thoughts and often asked myself, how did I end up in this place, am I cut out for this kind of place, then I remember what Owen Omogiafo (then Director of Resources) told me after an intense 2-hour interview (more like a chat). “You have potential, and I see you. Don’t disappoint me. Yes, welcome on board.”
Besides, you can’t work in such an environment with so many driven, smart people around and not be psyched to show up and push yourself to deliver every day. To survive in the HH work environment you must epitomise the values of Hard work, Empathy, Integrity, Resilience and Synergy (HEIRS), these were the values when I joined the organisation and are still very much the descriptor of an HH Person.
During my early days at Heirs Place, I had a difficult time adjusting to the high-paced work environment. The frequent presence of local and foreign dignitaries, as well as the numerous events that ran late into the night. It was initially quite challenging for me to manage. It’s remarkable how many events the organisation hosts. At times, I found myself questioning if we were in the business of events or investments. During those challenging months, I learned that to succeed and thrive in a fast-paced work environment, it is important to familiarise yourself with your surroundings and work closely with supportive colleagues. Don’t be afraid to seek assistance, as you cannot handle everything on your own.
By understanding these key factors, I was able to identify projects where I could contribute and make a difference. Such an example was working with the HH IT team to design the user interface for the current ERP platform Converge; The TEF Entrepreneurship Forum (2015 – 2018) presented me with a remarkable opportunity to showcase my skills, particularly in addressing the environmental challenges that arose during the design and planning phases. Overcoming these hurdles proved instrumental in propelling my professional development forward. I would never forget the first-ever 1,000 African Entrepreneurs that were to be announced, I stayed up all night in the office to place the selected names in a well-formatted style for proper display, these were interesting times and the only thing that got me through was having a supervisor that had my back and colleagues that valued my contributions and kept motivating me.
My experience with the intense activities at HH helped me transition to Heirs Life Assurance smoothly. However, I must admit that it came with its own set of challenges. As you progress to higher positions, you are encumbered with more responsibilities, which demand putting yourself out there and working even harder.
TOE often speaks about luck. More importantly, you have got to be prepared and ready for opportunities when they present themselves. I firmly believe that for you to achieve those seemingly impossible feats, you need a support system of people who believe in you and have your back when you aren’t at the table with the decision-makers.
Reflecting on my journey thus far, I can confidently say that I am immensely proud to be a HH Person and of all that I have achieved. With my unwavering dedication, I have actively contributed, collaborated, and created exceptional impactful designs that have been prominently featured in various newspapers, social media platforms, and website projects.
Through my experiences, I have come to understand that design is more than just a job; it is a true calling. It allows me to express my creativity, connect with others, and make a positive impact. Every day, I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue my passion and share my knowledge with those around me.
