Just finished a team meeting that made me reflect on something Warren Buffet said in his 2002 annual report on peer pressure & corporate boards.

He admitted that even he the Oracle of Omaha, the Oga at the very top, at one point the richest man in the world, boss of bosses...
Sometimes couldn't talk on board when bad decisions were being made because he didn't want to rock the boat.

So he chose politeness and liability over potential animosity.
He people to like him. He didn't want to be seen as disagreeable despite the fact that everyone would have respected his opinion because of his stature and achievements.
These highlighted three main issues in my which I will treat one by one

1. Crucial conversations
2. Corporate Governance
3. Women and wealth
One of my favorite books is called Crucial conversations by Joseph Grenny et al.

His research shows how an ability to have emotionally taxing & difficult discussions without causing offence is a skill that nearly all super successful executives have. Almost like a prerequisite.
Luckily it's a skill that can be learned...like almost anything else.
Talented communicators are able to speak honestly without offending people.

To be totally frank,but do it without causing upset.

Thats what effective crucial conversations are about:
That was actually my point about crucial conversations. Now onto corporate governance. I have had to speak up at board meetings when I disagree.

I have also had to develop a lot of confidence to do that. I analyse numbers, trends and spreadsheets very quickly..
I just see the way statistics fit together in a way that perhaps others don't. And I am able to keep numbers in my head for a long period of time. Reading and interpreting data is like a hobby for me. So it's easy for me to justify my assertions with hard data on a whim.
But many people work on their "gut". How do those people make their points in a boardroom without feeling like they are being contrarian?

We all get into situations where we have to make decisions with less data than we would like to have.
How many board members actually feel confident enough to speak up on behalf of shareholders?? Especially in the light of almighty Warren Buffet saying that sometimes he choose peace instead of violence. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
The third point is about likeability and women. Power and money makes men more likeable and eligible for marriage. But women less likeable and eligible for marriage.
Even Warren Buffet with all his power still wanted people to like him. Its a fundamental human need. Do we women sometimes make financial decisions that would make us more likeable instead of wealthier?
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More from @NaijaFlyingDr

21 Sep
I'd like to share a quote from Adam Smith written about 1740, so over 200 years ago.

He wrote that an entrepreneur..."by pursuing his own interest, he frequently promotes that of society more effectively that he intends".
"Even if a businessman intends only his own gain, he is led by an invisible hand to promote an end to which is not his intention"

-Adam Smith.
I don't 100% agree with Adam Smith. But I find his perspectives interesting because simply because they have so much money, Samad and Aliko give more money to charity than anyone else in Africa.
Read 6 tweets
20 Sep
A lot of women's groups I join focus on helping girls in schools, mentoring young graduates, giving our palliative.

And they tell themselves "let's help each other the way men do".

But that's not the way men help each other.🤣🤣🤣
Guy how far, I get one deal, let's run it and split the profit. Is very different from let's spend our Saturday doing soap making lessons in Ikorodu and giving out food in Mushin.
These are laudable activities, but it's not the typical way that men help each other. Let's not be confused.

Men typically help each other in a way that is mutually financially or politically beneficial based on personal interest not altruism.
Read 4 tweets
2 Sep
A lot of the rhetoric around success in Nigeria leaves us all hoping for a lucky break.

"Divine favour"
"Unmerited promotion"
"The only alert in your life this year will credit alert"

These things happen. But not for most people.
But there are things that you can do everyday that can increase your chances without having to rely on that one lucky break...and even increase your chances of having a lucky break.
1. Read as much as you can in your field/intended field

2. Try to spot statistical trends around what industries are currently or going to be "hot"

3. Take post graduate qualifications e.g an MBA/MSc/CFA/post grad diploma

4. Have an intentional networking schedule
Read 8 tweets
1 Sep
I have often found mentorship relationships with people that have a lot more money/success than me extremely difficult to maintain. Mentorship relationships nearly always have to be pro quid quo.
When you have nothing significant to give the other person, it sometimes gets awkward. If its a man, especially an older Nigerian man, he may start pestering you for sex.

And don't be deceived by the urban myths of rich men buying cars & houses for female "mentees"
What's far more common is the rich guy will pester you & harass you under the guise of "mentorship". You will get absolutely nothing in return except for a few aspire/perspire motivational speeches.

If its a woman, she may simply stop picking your calls after a while.
Read 8 tweets
1 Sep
If you are interested also have my own project finance/infrastructure finance and PPP recorded on YouTube.

Watch it here.

Part 1: Introduction

Case studies e.g Lekki Toll Gate and NLNG
Legal agreements in Infrastructure finance/PPP and project finance
Read 5 tweets
31 Aug
At the beginning of the year we expanded our in house personnel development program to include sponsoring team members to do their MBA, CFA, mini-MBA & FMI qualifications.
But recently we added the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® Certification for the following reasons;
1. It's super practical
2. It's completely online
3. The tutors have practical industry experience
4. Many financial courses miss out power point training for pitch books etc. FMVA includes this in their course
Read 6 tweets

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