One of the biggest challenges new managers face in professional spaces is figuring out how to turn ideas into execution for real-world impact. As a corporate girl myself, my ears pricked up the moment my guests on the red carpet at the 2024 Global Mentorbridge (GMB) Gala began sharing deeply insightful nuggets on this very topic. I couldn’t wait to bring those conversations back to my readers. A Little Backstory In 2023, when I hosted the second edition of the Global Mentorbridge Gala, I met some truly remarkable individuals – innovators, executives, creatives and culture-shapers. It was an evening woven with powerful ideas, heartfelt storytelling about mentoring and reverse mentoring, vibrant celebration, and a buffet that could win awards of its own. So you can imagine my excitement when I was booked to host the red carpet at the 2024 edition. If you’ve ever attended the gala, you know the atmosphere is a blend of camaraderie, warmth and deep learning. The kind of environment that makes you pause, reflect and – whether consciously or not – recalibrate the way you work. This third edition did not disappoint. On the red carpet, I had the pleasure of speaking with leaders like Abimbola Adebakin, Tochukwu MacFoy, Dr. Clement Obadimu, the convener – Jane Oma, and many others. This edition’s theme, Beyond Ideas, inspired conversations that speak directly to the realities you and I navigate every day – turning concepts into reality, navigating failed projects – and the role of mentoring in unlocking growth. How to Turn Ideas into Execution – From the Red Carpet to the Corporate Stage Beyond the fun of welcoming guests and setting the tone for the evening, I was quietly storing the most thought-provoking nuggets from those conversations. These lessons hit home for every professional, creative or leader who is trying to move from concept to impact. 1. Execute Your Ideas with This: Borrow Experience, Not Just Inspiration One of the biggest insights on how to turn ideas into execution is understanding that you don’t build alone. When asked how he leverages mentoring to execute ideas successfully, Tochukwu MacFoy explained that he leans into his mentors’ journeys. “The wisdom and path to execution is in people’s journey,” he said. Think about your current project, your pitch deck, your creative idea, your strategic plan. You don’t have to guess your way through it. Someone has walked that path already. For MacFoy, that includes learning what not to do by reflecting on mentors’ past failures. He then said something many high-achievers struggle with: “Humility is the courage to rightly estimate yourself.” In any corporate or creative environment, this is gold. The sooner you admit what you don’t know, the sooner you can learn what gets you to the finish line. In other words, be honest about where your skills and knowledge currently stand. Then be humble enough to seek the guidance you need to turn your next idea into execution. 2. When an Idea Fails, Do This: Expand the Question, Not the Shame Let’s face it: sometimes we give our best to an idea we believe will change the world… and it still flops. When I asked Abimbola Adebakin how she moves forward from such moments, her approach to a failed idea is a mindset shift every professional can use: “I ask: ‘what else, who else, when else?’” What an empowering way to pivot from a “failure”. Think about it: According to her, these questions open the door to reflection. They help you decide whether to explore the idea differently, shelve it for a better time, or move on entirely. If you’re going to go Beyond Ideas in the workplace, failed projects can’t be dead ends. They must be detours, redirections or invitations to look again. 3. Beyond Mentoring: The Power of Reverse Mentoring This third lesson wasn’t spoken — it was seen. You see, mentoring is core to what Global Mentorbridge does: driving conversations, building mentorship frameworks for organisations, guiding individuals in business, career and executive presence, and celebrating people shaping the mentoring ecosystem. But beyond traditional mentoring, Global Mentorbridge champions reverse mentoring as well. That’s why at a typical GMB event, you’ll meet people of diverse ages, industries, cultures and backgrounds. The young are eager to learn from the experienced. The experienced are equally eager to learn from fresh perspectives. The tech professional seeks insight from the finance leader and vice versa. Here lies the lesson we often overlook in the workplace: You can be the most experienced person in the room… and still be the least informed about what’s emerging. You can be the youngest in the room… and still be the most insightful about what’s next. No matter where you are in life, there is someone you can learn from — and someone you can guide. There’s someone who can help you turn your ideas into execution — and someone who will benefit from the lessons you’ve learned executing yours. Ultimately, how to turn ideas into execution is less about having perfect ideas and more about asking better questions, learning continuously, and acting with clarity. The red carpet truly buzzed. Hosting it was an honour, and drawing out these insights from the guests was one of the highlights of my year. Now I’m passing the mic to you: How have you pivoted from a failed project in the past? Let me know in the comments below. Planning an Event Soon? Book me as your emcee. [Or Recommend me to your organisation here]. With me as your event host, your speakers will shine, your audience will stay engaged, and your event will run like a well-oiled engine. Book me and schedule a discovery call here. I offer professional hosting services for main events, red carpets and panel moderations. Events are business tools, but they don’t work if the room is flat. As a professional event host, I help brands communicate their message clearly and create the right energy in the room. From conferences, AGMs, gala and
Why Networking Alone Isn’t Enough: The Power of Strategic Networking
What do LinkedIn and professional events have in common? They are the entry point to strategic networking. They bring people together often in ways that feel promising, sometimes even exciting. You meet new people, exchange business ideas, and expand your network. For many professionals, especially those stepping into new levels of responsibility, this visibility feels like progress. However, over time, a more important question begins to surface: what is all this networking actually leading to? Why Networking Alone Isn’t Enough You see, it is possible to connect with the right people, have good conversations, and still see very little come from it. Not because the interactions are meaningless, but because they are not always developed beyond the moment they happen. In fact, I was reminded of this two years ago at the Customer Service Innovation Conference. I met Peace Obi there – but our connection did not start at the event. We had first connected through Bright Okere’s masterclass. At the time, it was a simple interaction, the kind that happens often on LinkedIn or in learning spaces. And it could easily have remained there. But when I was invited to moderate a panel at the conference and realized it aligned with her field, I shared the registration link with her. She attended. Like you might have guessed, the interaction was different when we finally met in person. This is because there was already context, relevance, and a sense of continuity. We had moved from a simple connection to becoming something more intentional. That moment was a reminder that networking, on its own, is only the starting point. The real value comes from how you build on the connection. If networking is the starting point, then the question becomes: what does success actually look like? The Power of Strategic Networking For most professionals, the goal is not simply to have more conversations or accumulate more connections. It is to see those connections translate into something meaningful like collaborations, mentorship, partnerships, or even career progression. However, these outcomes rarely come from one-off interactions. They are the result of relationships that are developed with intention over time. This is where the distinction between networking and strategic networking becomes important. You can think of it this way: networking creates access. It introduces you to people, ideas, and spaces you might not have encountered otherwise. But access alone does not guarantee results. Results come from how intentionally you build and nurture the relationship after the initial connection. This is strategic networking. This is what turns a LinkedIn interaction into a professional relationship.It is what turns a brief conversation at an event into an ongoing exchange.And it is what creates the conditions for real opportunities to emerge. The Key is Intentionality, Not More Networking In practice, this does not require doing more. It requires being more deliberate in how you engage. Rather than approaching networking as a series of disconnected moments, the focus shifts to building strategic relationships – connections that are relevant, mutually beneficial, and developed with clarity of purpose. To become better at strategic networking, it helps to have a simple way to think about your actions after the initial connection is made. One approach I have found useful is what I call the 3 moves of strategic networking. These three moves are simple, but when applied consistently, they change the quality of your networking results – both online and offline. They shift your focus from “who did I meet?” to “what did I build?” The 3 Moves of Strategic Networking 1. Notice Opportunities Most networking interactions end at the surface level. In a bid to increase our number of connections or people we slip our business cards to, we often miss the opportunities inherent in these interactions. To increase your networking ROI, you have to pay closer attention to: This applies whether you are engaging on LinkedIn or meeting someone at an event. On LinkedIn, this might look like going beyond a post to notice patterns in what someone consistently talks about, what they are building, or what they might need. At events, it could be picking up on what someone shares in conversation like their interests, challenges, or goals. This is what allows you to move from a generic interaction to a relevant one. Without this step, networking remains broad and often forgettable. But with it, you begin to see clear entry points for building something more meaningful with the people you meet. 2. Act with Value Noticing alone is not enough. The next step is to do something with what you have observed. In my case, it was simple: I saw that the conference aligned with Peace’s field, and I shared the opportunity with her. That single action of sharing the link to the conference webpage shifted the relationship. It moved us from a passive connection to an active, relevant interaction. As you can see, acting with value does not have to be complex. It can look like: Keep in mind, what matters is not the size of the action, but the intention behind it. When people begin to associate you with relevance and usefulness, the dynamic changes. You are no longer just someone they met; you become someone worth staying connected to. 3. Strengthen the Relationship Having mutually recognised that you’re both worth staying connected to, it’s time to strengthen the relationship. To improve your networking results, the relationship has to be developed beyond the initial connection or value exchange. I’m talking about consistently acting with value here. Not in a forced or transactional way, but through continued, relevant engagement over time. Strengthening the relationship can take different forms: following up after an event or interaction, checking in when something relevant comes up, continuing conversations over time or creating opportunities to engage again, either online or offline. This is what turns an ordinary networking into something more sustainable. Over time, these repeated, intentional interactions create familiarity, trust, and openness to future opportunities. Building Professional Relationships That Actually Work
Hosting SocialGood Summit Lagos 2023: 5 Key Takeaways
On September 16, 2023, SocialGood Lagos, one of the local hubs of the United Nations Foundation plus Social Good program, held it’s 2023 edition of the SocialGood Summit Lagos. The theme of this year’s edition was Ideas Shaping the World. In line with this theme, SocialGood Summit Lagos 2023 focused on how we can leverage technology, new media and more young people participation to accomplish the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the 2030 deadline underway, the SocialGood Lagos team curated sessions and speakers to hone in on the theme. The speakers shared incredible ideas on how to go beyond awareness to actions that drive the achievement of these goals. From a keynote by Mr. Niyi Yusuf, to interactive plenary sessions on the topics: Moving from Ideas to Change and More Young People, More SDGs Action. We also had innovative speeches from the likes of Chioma Ukpabi and Fabia Ogunmekan. Lessons from Behind the Mic at SocialGood Summit Lagos 2023 I had the privilege of anchoring the summit as the official emcee, and the experience was one for the books. From guiding the conversations and engaging the stakeholders at the summit to keeping the excitement amidst a rainy day. Beyond creating an amazing experience for the attendees, I also penned down some wisdom from the speakers. In this post, I’ll be sharing 5 of those lessons. This is to help anyone interested in contributing to Nigeria’s efforts towards the achievement of the 17 SDGs before 2030. 1. You Have a Role to Play. Usually when we think about national development, everyone’s expectation is that it is the government’s sole responsibility to change the standard of living in the country. However, that isn’t entirely true. Granted, the government has a role it must play. However, you and I must also make our inputs if Nigeria is to cover enough miles in the accomplishment of the SDGs before the 2030 deadline. 2. Educate Yourself. Did you know that the 17 SDGs are further broken down into 169 targets? Did you know that Nigeria is only in time to accomplish only one out of these 169 targets: registration at birth? That is both shocking and sad. But it also buttresses the fact that each of us needs to join this movement. How can you contribute? Start by educating yourself on the 169 targets of the sustainable development goals. This will help you to discover the area(s) you would like to contribute with your skills and experiences. Educate yourself also on the best approaches for participating in this very important and challenging work. If you’re new to this terrain, and are looking to join a team that’s already working in this regard, Social Good Lagos is currently open to volunteers. Consider joining the team to learn more about the role you can play, and begin taking action. 3. Find Partners. It goes without saying that this work is not a one-man business. Hands must be locked if we’re going to make significant strides before 2030. In fact, the 17th SDG is Partnership for the Goals. Go figure. SocialGood Lagos is keen on partnerships too. So it wasn’t surprising that one of the panel discussions covered partnerships. If you’ve already got your foot in the game, and are looking to find the right partners, the panelists advise that you need to first define your goals. What are you trying to accomplish? What are the challenges you would likely encounter? Who would make an ideal partner? Who has the skills, resources or will to solve the same problems you are working on? Which organisation can you collaborate with? I particularly loved what Sheila Ojei said about partnerships: it doesn’t always have to be money. For instance, instead of asking an organisation to provide monetary sponsorship for your project(s), consider partnering with an organisation that already has what you would spend the money on. 4. Social Entrepreneurship is a Thing. Usually, when we think of the 17 SDGs, opening an NGO that creates awareness or provides education in an area comes to many people’s minds. But can there be for-profit organisations whose business is creating solutions to one or more of the problems identified in the #Agenda2030? The answer is yes. Muazu Africa by Tolulope Makinwa and ECO by Samuel Owolafe-Austin are good examples. Can your startup/business manufacture a health product that can directly contribute to the eradication of some of the diseases covered in the SDGs? Then make it available at a subsidized rate? #somethingtothinkabout 5. Philanthropy is a Vital Vehicle. Fabia Ogunmekan’s speech was one for the money. Let me reiterate it this way: imagine you and 9 of your friends come together and decide to contribute N50,000 monthly to be donated to a cause working towards any of the goals/targets? That’s N6,000,000 per annum. Or you could decide to purchase a key medical instrument for a local hospital to provide better diagnosis and/or care to patients. The list goes on. It doesn’t have to be N50,000, but I’m sure you get the gist. So, if you already have too much going on that directly working on any of the goals/targets isn’t feasible for you, send your money to go where you can’t. Every kobo helps. Those were my top lessons from this year’s SocialGood Summit Lagos. In general, the event was a productive one. And I had a blast creating a wonderful experience for everyone (including the virtual attendees) as the event host. How are you contributing to the SDGs? Which of these lessons resonates with you? Want to experience the SGS Lagos 2023 yourself? Here’s a replay of the livestream. Events are business tools, but they don’t work if the room is flat. As a professional event host, I help brands communicate their message clearly and create the right energy in the room. From conferences, AGMs, gala and award ceremonies, to red carpet events, I make sure the message comes through and the audience stays engaged. If you are planning something, contact me today, let’s talk.
How Breakout Rooms Make In-Person Events Better (and Way More Fun)
This is a complete guide to using breakout rooms at in-person events. So if you want to create more engaging, meaningful, and interactive experiences for attendees, you’ll love the practical insights and strategies in this post. Let’s dive right in. How Breakout Rooms Make In-Person Events Better (and Way More Fun) If you’ve ever been to a big in-person event, you know how it feels to sit in a huge room filled with people. You’re one of many, listening to a speaker, maybe taking some notes, but let’s face it—unless you’re really tuned in, it’s easy to zone out a bit. Now, compare that to sitting in a cozy circle with a handful of people, having an actual conversation, sharing ideas, and maybe even laughing together. That’s the power of breakout rooms. They take the big, sometimes impersonal event experience and turn it into something meaningful, interactive, and, honestly, a lot more fun. As a professional emcee and learning and development facilitator, I get to see firsthand how valuable these breakout sessions are, both for attendees and for the event as a whole. Recently, I ran a poll on LinkedIn, asking people what their favorite way to engage at events was. The majority picked breakout rooms, hands down, over other options like live Q&As, polls, or social media shoutouts. So, what makes these little sessions such a hit? Let me take you through it. Why Breakout Rooms Matter: It’s All About Connection Imagine this: you’re at a conference about digital marketing. There’s a speaker up front talking about the latest trends in social media algorithms. It’s fascinating, but as soon as the session ends, you’re left with this itch to discuss what you just heard. Now, let’s say the organizers have set up breakout rooms. One of them is on “Personalizing Marketing for Different Generations.” You join, and suddenly you’re in a group with 10 other people who are all facing the same challenges, brainstorming solutions in real-time, and exchanging tips. Now you’re getting specific, actionable insights—and making connections that last way beyond the conference. This is why breakout rooms work. They turn passive listeners into active participants, giving everyone a chance to really engage and dive into topics that matter to them. In smaller groups, people feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and sharing ideas that might have stayed hidden in a big crowd. The Key to Great Breakout Rooms: Make It Personal The beauty of breakout rooms is that they’re personal, but creating that vibe takes a little planning. Let me share a story with you from an event I attended. It was a tech conference, and the organizers had set up themed breakout rooms like “Future of AI in Healthcare” and “Cybersecurity Trends.” I joined the AI session, where the moderator kicked things off with an icebreaker: “What’s the one thing in healthcare you’d love to see AI solve?” Suddenly, people were opening up. Someone talked about using AI to streamline medical records, another shared a story about a family member who benefited from telemedicine. Before we knew it, everyone was sharing personal insights, and it felt like we were genuinely collaborating. Because the group was small, each person’s perspective added real value to the conversation, and I walked away with ideas and connections that I wouldn’t have found in a large session. Setting Up Breakout Rooms That Really Work If you’re organizing an event and want to include breakout rooms, a few little touches can make all the difference. Here’s what I’ve seen work best—both as an emcee guiding the experience and a learning professional designing impactful sessions. 1. Keep Groups Small and Friendly The magic number seems to be around 8-15 people. Smaller groups feel like conversations rather than presentations. People feel more comfortable, and no one has to fight for a chance to speak. If you have a large event, you can rotate groups or even set up different sessions to give everyone a chance to join the discussion they care about. 2. Create Themes People Care About Choosing the right topics is half the battle. Think about what the attendees would love to dig deeper into. Let’s say you’re organizing a career development workshop. Your breakout rooms could focus on themes like “Mastering Remote Work,” “Building a Personal Brand,” or “Leading with Empathy.” These are topics people want to discuss and learn about from each other. 3. Get a Good Moderator A skilled moderator can steer the conversation and make sure everyone feels heard. At a learning breakout session I once moderated, I kept the discussion dynamic and inclusive with prompts like, “John, what are your thoughts?” or “Has anyone tried a different approach?” This kind of gentle guidance encourages participation and keeps things moving. 4. Use Interactive Elements to Keep It Fun If you’ve been in breakout rooms that fell flat, you know how awkward it can be. To avoid this, make things interactive. I was in one room where we did a lightning poll on potential industry trends, then split into pairs to discuss our thoughts. This quick change in pace helped us get to know each other better and opened up the conversation for different viewpoints. Additional Tips to Make Breakout Rooms Effective and Memorable 5. Tech Setup Tips for In-Person Breakout Rooms Even in in-person events, a little tech support can go a long way. For larger breakout rooms, consider having small mics available or a mini sound system so people can hear each other comfortably. If your breakout is hybrid, set up a screen or tablet so virtual attendees can join, and designate a virtual moderator to help keep them engaged. This way, tech works to support—not detract from—the flow. 6. Icebreakers and Engagement Techniques Start with a creative icebreaker to get everyone comfortable. For example, in a marketing session, you could ask attendees to share a memorable ad they recently saw or to introduce themselves with their “personal tagline.” In my experience, these prompts quickly loosen