An emerging HR thought leader with interest in People Development, Organizational Design and Institutional Change. His focus is on helping organizations design and align long-term strategic aspirations with people-centered initiatives required to drive performance, profitability and growth efficiently bearing in mind the realities of the new world of work.

He is currently the Group Head, Human Resources for Consolidated Hallmark Insurance where he is responsible for providing strategic leadership for all people-related aspirations across the Group including Hallmark HMO, CHI Micro Insurance and GTL.

Gbenga’s professional HR experience spans about 12 years in consulting and practice with different organizations from major sectors of the Nigerian economy, as well as Africa and Europe. He is also a Partner at Alan&Grant – a boutique People Development Company delivering bespoke solutions to organizations in core six (6) practice areas; Advisory, Strategy Design & Execution, Learning & Organization Design, Recruitment & Executive Selection, Outsourcing & Workforce Management, People Analytics & Surveys.

In this episode, here are some of the statements from his words:

On Hiring - “Some CEOs have employees they cannot sack.”

On Staff Contracts - “If you have any staff that has worked for you 3 months on without an offer letter and a proper job description, discussed with the employee, agreed mutually and signed, it is illegal.”

On Japa (Brain Drain) - “Any Nigerian business can leverage the relocation of their expert staff to upgrade their local services while serving the families of the same staff that relocated.”

On Guaranteed Monthly Staff Salaries - “if you have 3 or more staff, and you listen to this episode to the end, there is a FREE INVITATION for you.”

These are some thoughts I shared with Gbenga Totoyi in Episode 10 of HOW I DID IT on #TheOctopusPodcast 

Gbenga is a BIG MASQUERADE in HR. This episode will WoW you.

Take a listen then tell me what you think. Don't forget to share this with that Founder, CEO, MD, HR Manager, GM, and even Parents who are ready to send their wards to tertiary institutions (and those already there). YES! Gbenga has something for them too.

Enjoy!!!

m a k t u b!!!

🐙 

WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY TREE?

Imagine getting on an international flight in the 80's at the age of 12 with your siblings to boarding school in the UK.  😳😳😳

Imagine working with  'The Bulldozer' and being thrown in at the Business deep end and literally resigning every day 😂😂🤣

Imagine losing your soul mate, friend, lover and paddy after 25 memorable years of marriage. 💔 ❤️‍🩹 

Imagine presenting to an International Board of Directors as a green horn, and being bombarded with tough questions in the Board room. 🎯📚💰

There is so much to imagine with Aunty Zee. This episode with Hajia Zainab Mustapha Jaji is easily a masterpiece. Giving this episode a title was a challenge for us because it was a LIFE MASTERCLASS. We scribbled several titles before we concluded on the one we published. 

I promise you, listening to this episode will have you reflecting about life, love, and living. Everything about Aunty Zee and her full family tree (I was privileged to see around 7 generations of family tree in the Legacy Centre ) is LEGACY!!! You will feel it in this episode and you will thank me for bringing it to you.

Enjoy with me … and don’t forget to share with someone in your family. This is another family meeting episode.

Thank you.

m a k t u b!!!

The Octopus

Like her or hate her, she knows her onions. Wendy Ologe 'The Governess' needs no introduction in parenting circles, and soon enough, in policy making and the technocracy of parenting. Leading a fast growing community of over 150,000 tribe members, Wendy connects with her community and invests her life being a life example of what she teaches. You have to give her credit for building distinction in a very saturated market of parenting coaches. Wendy is the President/Founder of The Intentional Parent (TIP) Academy where parents get inner circle coaching, certified strategies and hands-on support from the community to raise 'YARDERS'. In fact, in the community, they say if a parent is giving out their child out in marriage, they would rather marry yarders to outsiders. It makes sense. Doesn't it!!!

Enjoy this episode with me... a little above 45 minutes. Wendy shared her unofficial side, her parents' parenting style, the influence on her, how her 10-year olds are self-sufficient, etc. Wendy came ready and she delivered. If you want more, JUST ASK GOOGLE WHO WENDY OLOGE IS !!!

Remember to share this episode. Thank you. - #TheOctopus

"There are brands you LOVE TO HATE and there are brands you HATE TO LOVE. There are also brands that STRIKE NO CHORD IN YOU. You are INDIFFERENT about them..." - Steve Harris (@IAmSteveHarris) ... 

- Do you love to be loved?

- Do you love to be hated?

- Do you hate to be loved?

- Do you hate to be hated? or

- Are you indifferent about the perception of your brand?

What does this portend for your business and her brand equity?

Let's have a conversation. Will you?

Remember to share... #TheOctopus

This episode is short. I model a few examples to buttress my point. The main conversation simply suggests how you can organise your service to appeal to either the premium (exclusive) buyer or simply embrace the volume market... however, WHAT IF YOU CAN CREATE A COMBINED STRATEGY? Dive in and know more... share your thoughts with me in the end. - The Octopus.

About The Octopus:

Popularly called ‘The Octopus’, Sam Obafemi is an unconventional thinker. He is called The Octopus because his primary preoccupation is to solve problems, and in fact, where possible, help people avoid them. He is an unrepentant believer in communities, tribes and membership especially how to leverage these vehicles to make wealth for members. He is a trained computer scientist turned Behavioural Change Therapist and Business Community and Membership Specialist.

With more than 2 decades’ experience developed via working in several industries: Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, ICT, and Payment Card infrastructure, Samuel has a huge repertoire of resources that forms the bedrock of solutions. Samuel Obafemi holds several certifications for several areas of expertise. He is a CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), and CompTIA Certified Security Expert (S+).

Having practised as a Neuroscientist with niches in Stress Management, Emotional Intelligence, Anger Mastery and Peak Performance Coaching for well over a decade, he now consults for businesses into core Strategy & Operations Advising with focus on Business Processes, Change Management, Culture & Business Model Development. He has consulted (and provided training) extensively for corporate organizations, individuals and groups on Business Process Engineering and Strategy. Principally, Samuel develops content for capacity building, training and development, life coaching and business systems enhancement. He was also a YouWiN Monitor and Consultant to YouWiN SMEs in the North-Central Region.

A graduate from the prestigious Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (formerly Federal University of Technology) Bauchi (North-East Nigeria) with a B.Tech (Hons) in Computer Science, Samuel proceeded to acquire professional qualifications in Human Systems. He is the FIRST Nigerian Certified Anger Mastery Coach and Therapist from Century Anger Management Institute (USA), and a Certified Peak Performance, Business and Life Coach (NCFE, UK). Sam is a Certified Master NLP Practitioner and a certified practitioner of Positive Psychiatry with Mental Health from Sydney University Australia as well as trained in Certified Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) from Flourishing Centre, Pennsylvania USA. He is also Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) advocate.

Sam holds an MBA from University of Business & International Studies (UBIS), Geneva – Switzerland, an MSc in Management from Ascencia Business School (College De Paris), Paris. France and is currently studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). He is the former Vice President (Empowerment) of Life Coaches Association of Nigeria (LCAN) and also a member of the LCAN Advisory Board. He is on the Advisory Board of Civitas Tunisia, Rehoboth Center for Elderly Care (RCEC) Nigeria and School Resource Centre (SRC) Nigeria.

Samuel is a versatile Teacher, Public Speaker, Writer and Business Advisor. He is the Author of some Books including ‘Fans Don’t Pay’, ‘Based on Logistics’, ‘But What Do I Know?’, ‘Fearless Seed’, ‘Rebellion is a Need’, ‘The Vexed God’, ‘My Valleys’, and others.

Othman Abdulrasheed is the King of the North and a fast rising Business Coach. He is a Forbes Council Coach and also the forerunner of the Arewa Coaching Network. I met Othman around 4 years ago and ever since, we have gone over 15 training gigs under our belt. I call him my #GigTwin. He calls us #FireAndIce. Hahahahahahaahaha... because I am the cool version of our training combo while he is the energy god of the combo. Recently, someone nicknamed him "The Check Guy" because Othman's signature chant in trainings is #CHECK!!!!! In this episode, we return to our beginning as Leader-Follower then we delve into our signature combo relationship. We then discuss some misconceptions that training merchants should take note of. We did not forget to drop a hint to coaches too who need to it up and up their game with customer experience. Ultimately, we talked about his flagship platform #BIZAC. Othman is a jolly good fellow and you will enjoy this conversation. Don't forget to leave a comment. Check Othman out on IG as @IAmTheOthman. Don't just listen please. Tell someone also. Have a good listen. Cheers. - The Octopus.

Most people at the workplace say that they would rather die with their problems if telling anyone about it is the only way forward. Telling anyone about deep personal issues or relying on anyone to provide succour, or backing or depending on anyone is now a risk, a deadly one. What is the way forward? The Headliner, as she is popularly known, is a sample of many people at the workplace and in business. Omolola Oladimeji spent around 20 years working with Silverbird Communications. She rose from the rank of Protocol Officer to the Business Manager after 20 years. In these years, she faced different challenges managing her superiors and subordinates. She was opposed, betrayed, snitched on, victimised, ambushed and severally suspended while her name was being cleared. Like a cat with 9 lives, she bounced back many times. The Headliner, as she is popularly known, is a sample of many people at the workplace and in business. This is how we all thread around. As a Life Coach and someone who has run his businesses for more than a decade now, I can tell you that the business and workplace is a slippery banana. I have been betrayed by associates, partners, and mentors. I recall opening up to a mentor (or maybe just to say 'Senior') but till date, I have been accosted by at least 3 people who asked me 'what did you do to XXX? Why does 'they' talk about you in the manner they do?'. In this episode of HOW I DID IT, Lola goes vulnerable with me, sharing with humour and candour, how her journey through career has been full of blood and sweat. This episode will make you laugh, sigh, ponder and maybe, cry. Whichever way, enjoy. I would be very humbled if you share this episode. This is a special episode with THE HEADLINER, OMOLOLA OLADIMEJI. I await your feedback. - #TheOctopus