Faith is the Founder & Executive Director of Bridgewise, a not-for-profit organisation committed to the prevention and eradication of obstetric fistula and the rapid reduction of neonatal mortality in Africa. Prior to starting Bridgewise, she was a programme manager at the World Intellectual Property Organization, a specialised agency of the United Nations in Geneva. She worked in investment banking in Lagos, Nigeria and London early in her career.

 

#1 – What is the best moment you can remember in your career?
I have worn different hats over the course of my career. I started out as a lawyer, then went into banking, followed by 10 years in the world of diplomacy at the United Nations prior to running Bridgewise.
Without a doubt, the best moment in my career was when I worked as Chief of Staff & Strategic Adviser to the Managing Director of a bank in Nigeria. It was a tough job that required all the knowledge and technical expertise I could muster. I was effectively responsible for managing the engine room of the bank- the buck stopped on the desk of the Managing Director. Once I established I was able, competent and accountable, I was given an incredible degree of freedom – it’s the closest I could have gotten to actually running the bank! I was only 29 at the time and my oversight responsibilities included local and fx trading, treasury, compliance, corporate banking, branch expansion, customer service and marketing at a time of real intensity and strategic importance as it was a state-owned bank that had been privatised. It was novel. The stakes were high. We had to succeed. And we did.
The all-encompassing nature of my role helped me develop some of the skills I use today. It was this job that propelled me forward in my career and prepared me for all the roles that followed.

#2 – If you had to give just one piece of advice to a junior starting his/her career, what would it be?
To be successful in your career, you have to be focused. You need to draw on all your resources to really get to grips and learn more about the job. For me, it’s important to strike a balance between gaining a wide range of experience and staying in the post long enough to build in-depth expertise.
Be curious about everything, observe carefully, develop people skills and above all focus on honing your skills and knowledge to become an expert in your field and increase the added value that you can bring to an organisation.
It’s also vital to have a mentor and learn when to call upon them – your strength lies in your network. Your network is your net worth!

#3 – Do you have a Motto/Lucky charm?
I have several, but probably the most important one would be “if your mind can think it, your hands can do it”.

#4 – What do you enjoy the most in your day to day job?
Life has thrown many opportunities my way and I consider myself very fortunate even though I have, had my fair share of adversity. With that background, there’s nothing more important to me than supporting those who have not had even 5% of the good fortune I’ve had. I derive great joy from improving the lives of others whenever I can.
My vocation and the only thing that matters to me is helping others – bridging the gap between those who are best placed to help and those at the greatest disadvantage. It’s really something which is second nature to me. I don’t even consider it work.
I have a friend who teases me by calling me the champion of lost causes. There are worse names one can be called!

#5 – If you had to do it again would you chose the same career path?
I often ask myself this when I return home to Nigeria and see my old friends from university working at top law firms and major banks. I wonder whether I should have stayed a banker, lawyer or diplomat instead…
But I don’t think so. I like the variety and buzz I’ve gotten from my career.
I truly believe that I wouldn’t change a thing. At 50, it feels as though I’ve already lived several different lives!

#6 – What is the biggest challenge for a woman in the trading industry?
Work-life balance. Succeeding in both your career and family life. To achieve this, you have to be completely on top of your time management and have the support of others around you. It’s a real challenge for women and there is no easy solution.

#7 – Where is your favourite place on earth and why?
Nigeria. Unequivocally. I’ve been to some 60 countries around the world and many have left a real impression on me, but my heart, my spirit, my roots are in Nigeria. I come alive in a very special way when I set foot in Nigeria. There really is no place like home for me.

#8 – How could you qualify your relationship with Ampersand World?
We all have those times in our lives where we reach a crossroads and are not sure which path to take. This is where I was 2 years ago when I first came across Ampersand World. I got the clarity I needed from working closely with them to define my objectives and restrategise. I am where I am today thanks in large part to Ampersand World.
Today, we feed off one another and what started out as a professional relationship has turned into a friendship. They are a great team!