Oye Olabode, CEO of My Fair Diamond Limited, spent over a decade in the corporate financial world before switching to entrepreneurship where she combines fashion designing, and storytelling with seeming ease. The first generation Covenant University graduate has just launched her first book entitled ‘After the line. She talks about what inspired her on the book, her experience in the business and corporate worlds, among other themes, in this interview with KOLA MUHAMMED.
Y OU seemed to have had it going well for you in the corporate financial world before you decided to toe the entrepreneurial path. What was the motivation for you to leave a career path you had spent a decade on for uncharted waters?
Well, I guess it was in pursuit of fulfilment, as the job satisfaction that sustained me over the years began to dwindle. I was tired of the mundane routine.
Looking back on the decision you made, do you have any moment of regrets?
I’m glad I ditched the banking ship, though no doubt, entrepreneurship is extremely daunting and challenging in this part of the world.
What then are some of the biggest lessons you have learnt from the challenges you have faced since starting your own outfit, My Fair Diamond Ltd?
I have learnt quite a lot of lessons but the most important one for me would be that as an entrepreneur, you determine the pace and growth of your business. That one has to be determined and pushful if you are going to make headway at all.
In equal fashion, what were some of the biggest lessons you learnt doing paid employment?
The most indelible lesson for me would be to get things right the first time. Yes, mistakes are inevitable sometimes but when you have the mindset that you have to put your best foot forward at all times, then it will be easy for you to soar and excel.
Would you pick one experience over the other?
No, I wouldn’t. The experiences are quite different and incomparable. My banking experience comes in handy every now and then. I am able to channel those experiences into my business as well,especially the aspect of customer satisfaction, meeting deadlines, handling customers’ feedback etc.
How have you been able to balance commitments on many fronts – as a family woman, storyteller, fashion designer and entrepreneur?
I have learnt to pace myself and I allocate time to different tasks such that I don’t get inundated. For example, I try to handle projects promptly in order to deliver even before the deadline set for completion to eliminate unnecessary pressure.My time is also flexible, so I can easily make time out for family and the home front. However, 24 hours seem inadequate sometimes, as I find myself staying up to meet certain deadlines. But in general, I try to pace myself so that nothing suffers.
With the incursion of the COVID-19 affecting many businesses, how has your business been affected and how are you strategising in the new reality?
Well, I had to take my business online, like many other businesses and also had to leverage on the e-commerce platforms available. I have had to focus on diversification, adding other products to the already existing ones that I produce.
For entrepreneurs looking to shake off the effect of the pandemic, what would be your advice to them?
My advice to them would be that challenges are part of an entrepreneur’s journey and the pandemic is just another challenge that we all must meander through and surmount. You just have to step out and be innovative, dynamic and resolute in order to find your way around the current situation.
The month of March is to celebrate women across the globe. Do you think the environment is getting more enabling for women in Nigeria?
I think while the environment is becoming more enabling for women, there is still room for improvement. I won’t say that we have arrived at our destination, in terms of our quest for recognition and empowerment. However,it is a constant journey that we must continue to embark on. Women have been able to prove themselves in so many spheres and walks of life and that’s the reason for the feat we have so far achieved in terms of recognition and a more enabling environment. However, we have to keep pushing and proving ourselves, so that more opportunities will be available to the next generation of women.
You recently launched a book, ‘After the line’, which you said is based on true life events. What events inspired the writing of a book?
‘After the line’ is a bit unconventional, a spectacular and unique novel. There were so many things that inspired me to write it. It’s about life after death, a bond between a mother and her daughter, rapture and I wanted to communicate how fickle and fragile life really is. There is a thin line between life and death; there is life after death, and I want people to put those into perspective. Also, since it portrays true life experiences, I wanted my readers to come to terms with certain realities they shy away from, such as rapture which is the second coming of Christ Jesus.
Should your readers look forward to more publications in the nearest future?
Definitely! I am working on another book, which I know will be as spellbinding as the first. And there will certainly be more books to come by God’s grace.
With your profile and achievements, many will easily say that you are already a successful woman. Would you agree that you are indeed successful and there’s not much left for you to look forward to?
Success is a perpetual journey and one must never get too comfortable with any feat achieved. One’s success will become obsolete if he or she doesn’t strive for more. I’m wired in such a way to strive for more. I am a life-long learner and I am always willing to unlearn and relearn where or when necessary, so as to become a better version of myself. So, there is a whole lot more to look forward to, I am just getting started.
What’s your advice to young girls looking to expand the frontiers for women in the African society?
First, these three words to sum it all up which are‘believe in yourself.’Second, don’t let situations and challenges or even the society define you.
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