The world is in dire need of solution providers that will solve global issues.

Foluke Michael is a Project Management Consultant, an author, IBM Enterprise Design Thinker, and an SDGs Implementer. She graduated with MSc in Project Management at the University of Salford Manchester, United Kingdom. She obtained a Certificate in Design-Led Strategy: Design Thinking For Business Strategy And Entrepreneurship from The University of Sydney, Australia.

Foluke is the CEO and Project Director of Creative Youth Community Development Initiative. She created CYIAC Corruption Busters and other anti-corruption initiatives to curb corruption through educational and creative development in children and youth. The anti-corruption educational materials were published by UNODC’ Education for Justice #SDG16 for Global Dissemination.

In 2018, Foluke won the United Nations SDG Action Award- Innovator at the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development. She also won the University of Salford Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of her exceptional contribution to society. Her works have been published globally.

She created “Solution17 for SDGs”. The initiative has been published twice by UN as GOOD PRACTICE, and INSPIRING BREAKTHROUGH that scaled up to help galvanize the momentum for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs Climate Action – The Publication.

She is currently leading Global Movement Against Climate Crisis, she designed ‘Solution17 Art for Climate Change’, an initiative, which has produced 34 Climate Action Enterprises on CANVAS that was officially launched on September 25, 2020, by the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

In October 2020, Foluke was recognized as the Hero of Climate Action by the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in support of #SDG13.

Her latest book “The Green Entrepreneurs” was published on Amazon in 2021.

Foluke launched Naija Climate Now towards sustainable climate action. The first phase was completed in December 2021 in partnership with United Nations, German Cooperation, Italian Consulate in Lagos, British High Commission and Sterling Bank.

How do you balance work and life responsibilities?

I have seen WORK and LIFE as Program A and B.

I divided each Program into Projects and appointed myself as Program Director for A and B.

I am also the Project Manager for each project under the two Programs.

The projects are being monitored by technology.

The projects have tasks, activities, timelines, and monitoring techniques to ensure success. I also have a lesson learnt catalogue to help reduce risk and perform better on the next activity.

The “WORK and LIFE Project Management Plan” has helped me prepare the Sustainable Vision Board each year, including home, SDGs, health, financial, travels, business, fitness, Projects, and Farming.

Most importantly, I am a project management expert, and my skills have contributed immensely to living a balanced life.

I am a wife, mother, founder, CEO, employer, creator, mentor and disruptive innovator.

As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?

The most significant barrier in my carrier in the past was ME/MYSELF, a mindset issue that has limited women globally.

I stepped out of that barrier years ago, with a new mindset that “I am possible”, “My Vision is doable”, “I can Do things RIGHTLY” and “No one can stop me from reaching my goal”.

To break away from the limitation, I highlighted the points to work on, achieve success, and become a great female leader. See 15 of them below:

1. Set very clear targets.
2. Stick to the plan.
3. Get out of my comfort zone.
4. Do new things.
5. Sell, Make Money.
6. Be bold and face my fears.
7. Never give up.
8. Have the mindset that no one is coming to save me.
9. Be resourceful.
10. Give a lot of value.
11. Take calculated risks to win.
12. don’t lose time feeling disappointed.
13. Make a tough decision.
14. Don’t be busy with the wrong things.
15. Get a coach.

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Who inspired you and why?

I draw inspiration from two important personalities in Africa. They are my mentors.
1. Prof Wole Soyinka, the 1986 Nobel Laureate in Literature
2. Chief Mrs. Nike Okudaye, Award-Winning Artist, Philanthropist, and A Great Woman Leader with a strong passion for women empowerment.

I have worked closely with both of them; implemented projects together for over 18 years.

They both inspired me because of their brilliance, hard work, integrity, sacrifice, possibility mentality, and passion for Social, Human Development, and Empowerment.

Today, when people interact with me, they see all the qualities listed above in me. They have truly influenced me to become a change agent.

What are some traits you think great leaders possess?

A great leader is always looking for opportunities to birth more leaders.
They are excellent team players, always looking to encourage people around them to be the best.
They have empathy.
They have the ability to delegate.
They are accountable.
They are great listeners.
They are men and women of integrity.
They communicate effectively.
They allow other people to make contributions.
They reward hard work and encourage others to do their best.
Great Leaders are not rigid.
They are accessible.
They take responsibility on behalf of their team.
They are focused.
They inspire others to think outside the box.
They are confident.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

I must congratulate the next generation of female leaders. They have technology at their disposal to navigate and arrive at their destination in a short period. I advise them to think, imagine and design the future they desire. They must believe in the future with no FEAR. They must then walk backward and determine the tools, knowledge, skills, methodology, and technology that will help them to achieve their dream.

They must access the right team (female and male), develop the relationship, collaboration, and partnership to achieve the goals. They must give no room to procrastination. They must be determined and possess a “can do” spirit.

Most importantly, the next gen must continue to learn, unlearn. relearn and re-skill for the journey ahead.

Do you experience resistance when you are leading men?

I have never experienced resistance when leading men. Perhaps my Civil Engineering background helped to overcome that as a teenager. The number of boys to girls in my year 1- 5 was an average of 88%: 12%. I had no choice other than to blend, read more, and gain respect. I work with men and women as a team member, not as a boss.

I also learned to show respect to boys whilst growing up. I was the ONLY girl in the family of 8 children. My brothers also respected me and were proud of me.

The above contributed to my excellent team spirit and team building.

What is your management style? How do you like to communicate with your team?

My management style is Democratic. I am completely accessible and always open to correction from my team.

I challenge my team to be transformational, push for innovation and growth whilst motivating them to boost performance. In addition, I also encourage and promote collaboration amongst my team.

I communicate with my team with calmness and respect. I allow them to express themselves while I listen attentively. Over the years, I have learn’t more from team members through this style.

Together we have built confidence, trust, and long-lasting relationship, which also enables us to break silos.

The management and communication style has helped me to become a disruptive innovator.

What was your organizational culture few years ago for women and working mothers? Do you feel the company should make annual efforts towards improving the culture for their cohort?

We are completely flexible. Working mothers can’t be harassed or intimidated in any organisation that I belong to. It’s necessary to maintain a satisfying work-life balance. I am a woman, and I support policies that accommodate women and working mothers.

Things have changed in the last 2 years with the outbreak of COVID19. A work-from-home culture has drastically helped men to rethink the roles women play to balance work and life. I feel a company should formulate better policies that will improve organisational culture that will favour women and working mothers. This won’t happen overnight, but the probability is very high.

Are there common threads from the backgrounds, experience and skills of current women leaders that future women leaders can learn from to inspire their own Global Goals leadership journeys?

The Global Goals are universal and can be adapted, promoted and utilised to solve problems across regions.

Future women leaders should search for women, leading change within and outside their territory and learn from their journey.

They should focus on their project approach, good practice, skills and enabling factor for success.

For instance, as a leader, the first thing the future women can learn from me is my passion for social good and zeal to drive any project from start to finish.

The next is dedication, discipline, and possibility mentality to achieve the desired goals and the last is my passion for knowledge and skills.