Nigerian investor, Tony Elumelu CFR, believes “Leadership is a mindset not a title”.
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| Nigerian investor, Tony Elumelu CFR. Photo: @TonyOElumelu |
According to Elumelu: “Leadership is a mindset not a title. I learnt this very early on in my career and today, before we get engulfed in the day’s activities, I thought to share the principles of leadership that have guided me thus far.
“I often get asked about leadership – How do I learn leadership? Do I take a course, read a book or get a mentor? Are leaders born or are leaders made? My answer remains that regardless of what path you decide to take, your personal leadership style must be cultivated by your values and driven by your vision.
“At the start of my career, I was fortunate to work with King Ebitimi Banigo who at the time was the Chairman and CEO of AllStates Trust Bank. My leadership philosophy was built working with him. I observed and emulated him, internalizing his core leadership principles, which I practice till this very day.
“Leaders must demand excellence: We should never settle for mediocrity. Only by striving for excellence and going the extra mile can we truly reach our full potential and achieve our goals. This principle earned me the title of youngest bank manager in the industry at the time, at the tender age of 27.
“Good leaders find in people what people did not know they possess: A good leader recognizes the talent in their team and pushes to unlock it. This focus on nurturing talent and fostering personal transformation is the foundation of our growth at Heirs Holdings Group. It is why I am an investor in businesses, but also entrepreneurs across Africa.
“Leaders must walk their talk: A leader must be consistent. People want to trust a leader that they believe has integrity. Leadership is not just about telling people what to do, it’s also about setting an example. A good leader must lead by example and practice what they preach, this demonstrates integrity, it builds trust and respect.
“Finally, leaders must impart knowledge: I benefitted from the mentorship of King Banigo at Allstates Trust Bank. He helped me to develop my strategic thinking, my frames of reference and to channel my ideas into concrete actions, so that when the moment of opportunity arrived, at the age of thirty-four, I had the self-belief to gather a small group together to take over and revive a failing bank – take that enormous step, that is still shaping an industry and a continent today.
“Today, when I am faced with an impossible situation, I ask myself, ‘What Would King Banigo Do?’. I worked with King Banigo from 1988 – 1995, till this day, he is the one I turn to, when I need advice. I hope you have been inspired by his leadership principles just as I have.”
