1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Making everyone happy when making decisions. So you definitely have to balance, but that also brings another challenge whereby each side might think that you're inclined on the other. Very Hectic

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I have been raised in a number of levels, starting with a famous saying, "Charity begins at home" you get the idea.
My parents are in business and my father has been a leader for more than 30 years, running more than 5 organizations and at the same time being a father, and through our growth as children, our parents never had separate conversations in our presence.
So whatever they discussed, say; business, politics, leadership or religion, was our opportunity to actually become information powerhouses. In plain truth, they shared their opinions, and we could seldom disagree because it gave us another thinking that our parents talk about stuff that other children's parents dont. Genuinely, I always wanted to be like my father, and according to all his opinions, I made a decision that I will study engineering, because he believed that Engineers are never part of the problem, but solve them.
However, his constant discussions about politics coupling it with the economy, I had to fodge my way into the government tax body, to learn how taxes are collected, be part of the problem, see the loopholes, create contacts and thereafter venture into my career with solutions.
I did it. And with more than 15years hands on experience as a leader, I must say, I Am ready to share.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
Firstly, I sleep very early and by 8pm, I am in bed. Use my phone for at least 30minutes, then place it in flight mode, and then fly to dreamland.

I must wake up at 4am, do my daily workout, and until 5am. And after prayers at 5:30pm, so that by 6:30am I'm in office. I prefer going to office early before a normal work day starts for the rest of the people, and so I will do responses to all emails that we written a day before, write Instructions to other staff members so that by 8:30am I am free to take a daily call with my business Partner, Ian Parker, sharing about the day yesterday and planning for the day today.

9:15am, I match straight to the our Design Studio to check on the progress of the projects currently running, for only 45minutes, and by 10am I sit with sales team for up to 11:30am. After 12pm, I will sit to check any emails, take and make a few calls regarding the three meetings I have had so far, and if there's nothing to be done, I will definitely use that as an opportunity to have an interrupted cup of coffee. This will run up to 12:30 noon. I believe that, by 12pm, the brain tarts to slow down.

And any meeting which was not done in the morning, then it will be pushed to tomorrow. So, I use the next two hours going through sales reports, financial records, trends, handling walk-ins, and connecting with the sales team in the field up to 2pm. At 3pm every day, I start prospecting for new business, and reaching out to all useful contacts that might need my product as well as having my lunch.

Everyday at 4:30pm, I check our customer complaints and make notes to help my team and I to make decisions. At 5pm, make my report, draft changes that are needed in the product, and send emails to relevant parties with BUKK. At exactly 6pm, I swicth off my business phone, close my laptop, inform my team that I am out, and I immediately step out of office. Head home and become a dad.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?
Never plan so far ahead as if you will never reach there. Whatever you intend to do, place your goals nearer, otherwise any goal put far, is no longer a goal but an excuse. You would rather make many small goals, and should be achievable. You will find motivation and support from your own efforts.
In all this, ensure that you have one priority. Because, if you have more than one priority, then you have no priority.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

William Golding - Lord of the Flies
In this book, we see a plane crush which consisted children, after all the older people had died. These kids have no leader, and any kraal without a shepherd, its always scattered by fear.
Fear is number one hindrance to success, because it brings doubt, uncertainty, takes away courage and therefore you give up. If I could pay any money in my life for anything, it would be HOPE. Without hope, you're dead. These kids had no hope of survival, they start believing that the big blue flies that came from dead pig, could talk. Now that is ignorance.
Fear comes as a result of ignorance. If you have information about something, you cant fear. But that would need any leader to have a teachable spirit. If you reject knowledge eve from your subordinates, or junior staff, you're doomed to failure.
No man is an island.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Open your mind, heart and spirit to learn. Accept correct, and retribution for when you are wrong.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

The time when I wanted to give up on my business, and something spoke to my mind, "What is going to happen if you dont give up?"
Honestly, I'm still looking forward to see what will happen, but the business is growing bigger and bigger.
Well, I learnt never give up unless you're dead or completely incapacitated.