While it's true that companies are looking for salespeople, the real search is for creative, innovative people who can evolve with the changing business landscape and talents. Joining me to discuss companies' needs for a sales team is Michael Ifeanyi, a media and marketing expert with a cumulative seven years of experience in corporate and startup space. He's the co-founder of Builders Tribe, a platform dedicated to supporting startups to scale and succeed. What's influencing companies' need for salespeople? what skills set good salespeople apart from excellent ones? To what extent should a business owner get involved in sales, especially with the presence of a sales team? These and other questions were treated during this chat. Enjoy! Find out more about Builders Tribe on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn Reach Michael Ifeanyi on LinkedIn For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

Today, we focus on what it takes for a high-performing professional to survive in Nigeria. What are the good and bad sides of the hustle culture? Where do professionals draw the line in leadership? And how can women leaders remain successful within a system that appears to always question their competencies? On this episode is Moyinoluwa Joseph, an Operations Executive and Program Manager with over 10 years of public/private-sector experience in policy/governance, innovation/technology, and international development. She is the Country Lead at Optimus Digital Future, a nonprofit organisation with a mission to democratise AI knowledge for Africa's sustainable development. She is also the Host of AI and You, a 13-episode TV program on Channels Television which aims to drive AI awareness for adoption. Her life mission is to help women achieve economic power. For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

Difficult conversations are an unavoidable part of every workplace. Initiating and handling them intelligently is essential for maintaining a healthy and productive environment. These conversations can involve pay and benefits, performance issues, or inappropriate behaviour. Lanre Basamta, a seasoned expert with nearly two decades of experience in Tech, Business, and Marketing discusses how to master having uncomfortable conversations in the workplace. He shares insights on developing the right skills to handle difficult situations and enhancing the level of competence befitting every C-suite executive, people leader, and manager at every level. Lanre is the CEO/Co-founder Optimus AI Labs, a startup specialising in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to design, develop, deploy and support scalable software solutions for varying enterprise, start-up and governmental institutions. He has held key leadership roles at Interswitch, Cellulant Nigeria, Sidmach Technologies, and Systemspecs. Enjoy the conversation! Check out Ziki, an AI-driven e-learning/tutoring platform for pupils and students, powered by Optimus AI Labs. Sign up here. Lanre Basamta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/basamta/ For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

On this episode of Modern Workplace Conversations, Oluwanifemi Kolawole sits with Page Tsewinor, Lead Interior Designer at Spacefinish, to explore the evolution of the modern workspace and what it means for forward-thinking employers in today’s world. Spacefinish is a global design and workspace strategy firm reimagining workspaces and lifestyles across the world. The company has worked with the likes of Twitter, Flutterwave, PwC and several other startups and multinationals. Page draws from his over five years of experience as an Interior Architect to discuss how workplace design has shifted from the traditional office setup to more dynamic, tech-integrated spaces that promote productivity, collaboration, and well-being. We looked into the importance of designing a workspace that meets global standards—not just in terms of aesthetics but functionality, too. From optimising space use to incorporating technology that enhances productivity, we discuss why it’s crucial for employers to invest in work environments that foster creativity and adaptability. With companies now rethinking their Return-to-Office (RTO) policies, Page shares insights on how workspace design plays a key role in balancing these dynamics, helping businesses create environments that are flexible, supportive of hybrid work models, and in tune with the changing needs of today’s workforce. Enjoy! For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

Let's talk about stakeholder management in the workplace Who exactly are the stakeholders in your company? What are the best practices for managing them? How do you categorize stakeholders based on their level of interest and influence? And what are the warning signs telling you it’s time to part ways with a stakeholder? Plus, how do you handle a high-influence but problematic stakeholder? Finally, which models can help you assess a stakeholder's dispensability? Opeyemi Fademi, Head of Operations and Strategic Risk Partnership at Possible EV, an African-based company simplifying and accelerating the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Nigeria. Opeyemi brings a wealth of experience as a business analyst, consultant, transport manager, and logistics and supply chain expert. Dive in for an insightful conversation packed with actionable insights! Opeyemi Fademi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/opeyemifademi/ For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

In this episode, Oluwanifemi Kolawole sits with Yinka Awosanya, Research Lead at Intelpoint, to discuss the Nigerian Workspace Report. They dive into data-driven insights on key questions such as: What does the data say about AI adoption in Nigerian workplaces? Are employees being paid what they truly deserve? What’s the correlation between one’s course of study and their chosen career path? How does pay relate to experience level? How long do experienced professionals typically stay in the job market? And, what metrics really measure employee loyalty? Whether you’re a business leader, HR professional, or simply curious about the state of work in Nigeria, this episode offers valuable perspectives on navigating and optimizing the Nigerian work environment. Be the first to get the Nigerian Workspace Report For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

Patience Asore, a workplace excellence coach and customer service expert joins Kolawole Oluwanifemi on this episode of the Modern Workplace Conversations to discuss errors during employee exit. She shares the best approach to employee offboarding and how to sustain great relationships after an exit while emphasising the importance of exit interviews and her reservations regarding rehiring a former employee. Reach out to Patience LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patience-asore/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patience_asore_/   For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

Management Consultant, Dr Charles Nwishienyi joins us on this episode of the Modern Workplace Conversations to discuss the conventional and unconventional approaches to employee retention. Among others, he explains what companies get wrong with managing multi-generational workforces and how employer brand plays a huge role in employee retention.  If you're curious about how to keep your employees from leaving you and keep your churn rate at bay, this episode is for you. Tune in for an insightful discussion! For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist Reach out to Charles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-nwishienyi/  

On today's episode, the host, Oluwanifemi Kolawole is joined by Emmanuel Faith (People and Talent leader)  to debunk common misconceptions about the HR profession and explore the unique challenges HR professionals face today. From navigating the day-to-day responsibilities of an HR leader to understanding the role of HR in different contexts, this conversation explores the crucial importance of HR in fostering a thriving work environment. Emmanuel also sheds light on how HR professionals strike a delicate balance between meeting employee needs and fulfilling management expectations. Emmanuel Faith is the Founder - HR Clinic; HR Manager/Talent Lead, AfriChange; Lead HR (Ex-Cowrywise and Big Cabal media) Enjoy!   For other workplace-related content by Oluwanifemi Kolawole, Click here  Send your comments and feedback to mwc@techpoint.africa   Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist Socials Youtube: Emmanuel Faith YouTube Channel X: https://x.com/themmanuelfaith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-faith/ Book a call with HR Clinic: https://lnkd.in/dA2BBiqz  

This episode explores the crucial topic of tech talent training and upskilling. How long should tech talent spend in training before being considered employable? Who is responsible for upskilling employees? What roles do tech training institutes play in equipping tech talent with soft skills? And how can we measure the success of these initiatives? To answer these pressing questions, we're joined by Blessing Obiyomi, CTO of RegTech, a platform focused on regulatory tech innovation, and co-founder of The Setup Academy, a digital talent development hub.

In this episode of Modern Workplace Conversations, we dive into the complexities of hustle culture and the rising trend of side gigs and side hustles. Our guest, Precious Mogoli, Editorial Operations Lead at Techpoint Africa, shares insights on why people feel the need to take on extra work, the importance of having a solid strategy before starting a side hustle, and who ultimately benefits—or loses—in a hustle-driven environment. We also discuss what the future holds for side hustles in the evolving professional landscape. Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - Idokay on Artlist

Design thinking is often associated with products, but who knew its elements are also fundamental to business growth? Ashley Immanuel's obsession with Design Thinking shines through in this episode as she talks about how it influences workplace culture, employee engagement and overall workplace productivity.

Today, we discuss onboarding from the experiences of an employee who has undergone 5 different kinds of onboarding at various organisations and an HR professional who handles the same for their company. Two esteemed guests contributed to this conversation—Chris Anaele, a tech sales expert and Princess Edopkayi, the co-founder and COO of Spurt! This episode largely explores what companies get wrong with onboarding, the effects of improper onboarding, and how to fix outcomes that end up hurting the company, among other tips to get onboarding right.   00:00 - Intro01:12 - Onboarding experiences07:46 - What companies get wrong with onboarding10:29 - Who should be involved in the onboarding process15:36 - Signs of improper onboarding and how to fix it23:11 - Importance of documentation in onboarding19:44 - Element of a proper onboarding process30:16 - Being a self-starter despite improper onboarding

Abiodun Olusola, General Manager, Custom Products at Soft Alliance, a software solution provider, with products in HR, Payment, and inventory management, joins Oluwanifemi Kolawole on this episode of Modern Workplace Conversations. Abiodun brings his wealth of experience in leading tech teams to break down what it truly means to run an Agile team, explain misconceptions about Agile, and determine if Agile is really worth the hype. This conversation will leave you more knowledgeable about this team operating system and how to get it right.

Academic institutions are not providing what the job market demands, hence, the skills gap that specialised companies and employers must bridge. In this episode of the Modern Workplace Conversations, Nwanne Nwonwu, founder of The Talent Pipeline Company, shares how businesses can mould academic output to meet real-world needs and the strategies that are making a difference, how talent can be prepared, and the power of branding and collaboration.

Welcome to the Modern Workplace Conversations where we explore critical and often under-discussed topics within the professional world. What do you do with a team full of unique people? It requires great skills to bring out the best in them, and your leadership philosophy will play a huge role here. Do you have one? Join Ebi Atawodi, Director of Product, Google (YouTube Studio) on how to balance personal and organisational culture without conflict.

Welcome to the Modern Workplace Conversations where we explore critical and often under-discussed topics within the professional world. This week, Princess Edokpayi, COO/Co-founder, Spurt! gives insights into pay structure strategy and best practices in handling employee benefits.   Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 02:48 - What does it mean to have a pay structure? 07:46 - Less ideal way to approach pay structure 11:19 - Database for salary industry benchmark 16:42 - Challenges with offering competitive salaries/benefits 21:00 - Startups paying excessively high salaries 25:41 - How to find a balance 28:35 - How job seekers demand competitive pay 33:22 - Trends in pay transparency/equity   Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - idokay on Artlist  

Welcome to the Modern Workplace Conversations where we explore critical and often under-discussed topics within the professional world. Today, we address why employers ignore the provisions of the labour laws that are meant to guide the employer-employee contract. Who holds each party responsible for any form of gross disregard to these guidelines, how do employers and employees protect their rights in the workplace, when is it okay to sue, and where does the Industrial court come in? Damilola Mumuni, an employment lawyer who runs the Dream Practice, an employment law firm, answers these questions. Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - idokay on Artlist

Welcome to the Modern Workplace Conversations where we explore critical and often under-discussed topics within the professional world.This week, we're questioning whether or not a startup needs an HR department.My guest is Adewale Adeyemo, Founder, Zacrac, a data analytics and edtech startup that has been running since 2017 with an HR department. Time stamps 00:53: Intro02:05: First shot at entrepreneurship?03:01: Why decide against having an HR department?06:37: HR is not overrated09:53: You can't outsource culture14:06: Ideal time to hire an HR team15:58: Have you experienced any HR crisis on this journey?24:21: Automation supporting HR processes28:21: When will Zacrac hire an HR team?30:00: Tips for early-stage founders:30:00 Background Music: Lifes Journey Begins - idokay on Artlist